With Marvel Studios building up the hype around ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, fans have been searching through every interview to find out who will and will not be present this time around. The Hulk has been one of the greatest question marks.
Now, Mark Ruffalo has finally provided a refreshingly straightforward response, even though it is not the answer that audiences were hoping to hear.
What Hulk’s Absence From ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Could Mean For The MCU
Having spent over ten years as Bruce Banner, Ruffalo is the first to understand how closely his words are followed by fans. However, his recent remarks indicate that the ‘Doomsday’ can take place without the Green Giant breaking into the scene. Ruffalo, in a recent interview with Empire, affirmed that Hulk does not feature in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. “As long as they keep finding cool things to do with Hulk. It’s given me so many gifts. You know, I probably wouldn’t be in Crime 101 if it wasn’t for The Avengers,” he stated.
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Considering the film’s massive lineup, which already includes returning Avengers, Wakandans, the Fantastic Four, and even the Fox-era X-Men, that omission is striking. Hulk has been a classic Avenger since 2012, and his absence instantly begs the question of Marvel’s long-term strategy. With that said, Ruffalo clarified that it is not a goodbye. The actor stressed that he is more than happy to keep playing Bruce Banner, provided that Marvel can keep finding significant uses of the character.
His remarks were full of gratitude rather than frustration, and he explained how much the role has influenced his career. There is also the practical side. Ruffalo is already signed to appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. This puts Hulk directly in the MCU 2026 schedule, but not in the Avengers event that fans thought he would be involved in. For a character who has oscillated between rage monster, comic relief, and introspective scientist, that flexibility may be intentional rather than limiting.
Is Hulk Really Missing From ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?
Naturally, Marvel fans are conditioned to distrust. The studio has a history of weaponizing secrecy, and actors have notoriously denied participation before appearing onscreen a few months later. Even Chris Evans himself publicly disavowed his reappearance as Captain America just before he appeared in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ marketing. So, naturally, some viewers are not convinced that Hulk is actually sitting this one out.
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Nevertheless, there is an increasing amount of evidence that ‘Doomsday’ is narrowing down on a very particular list. Spider-Man and the Punisher, both confirmed for ‘Brand New Day’ alongside Hulk, also haven’t been announced for the Avengers film. That trend indicates a premeditated division and not a sudden shock. If Hulk is missing from ‘Doomsday’, his role may simply be delayed. ‘Avengers: Secret Wars‘, scheduled for the following year, is expected to reboot or radically reshape the MCU.
