The Marvel rumor machine is churning out another actor-fired story every few months, and this time it hit Mark Ruffalo right in the face. The rumors that Disney had secretly severed its relationship with the longtime Hulk actor went viral, with the company speculating about his political remarks.
Ruffalo, though, appears to be more amused than alarmed, and his reaction indicates that the green giant is not going anywhere.
Mark Ruffalo Isn’t Going Anywhere And He Knows More Than He’s Saying
Ruffalo did not hesitate to dismiss the idea when questioned directly about whether he had been fired by the MCU. “Not that I know of,” he said with a laugh, adding that people keep asking him the same question. His voice was enough to tell: if Disney had let him go, no one bothered to tell him. More importantly, Ruffalo stressed that his relationship with Marvel Studios is good.
Related: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Could Finally Bring Back The True Hulk Fans Miss
He joked that he’ll stick around “as long as they’ll have me,” before teasing that there may already be projects in motion that fans don’t know about yet. It is the type of well-thought-out playful response MCU actors usually provide. It’s not specific as to spoil the news, but enough to silence the speculation. In a franchise that is based on secrecy, the relaxed attitude of Ruffalo speaks volumes. Fired actors do not tend to suggest that they are around.
Why Hulk’s MCU Future Still Makes Sense
Ruffalo’s comments arrive at an interesting moment for the MCU. As ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ approach, it is evident that Marvel is setting itself up to have a huge convergence of legacy characters. Hulk, being one of the founding members of the Avengers, is still a major source of emotional connection, particularly with his transformation into Smart Hulk in the past few phases.
In case you missed it: Mark Ruffalo Explains Why Hulk’s Next Big Moment Isn’t ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Although Ruffalo has not been confirmed to play in ‘Doomsday’, his next role in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ already demonstrates that Marvel is not finished with him. The fact that he shares the screen with Tom Holland as Peter Parker opens up the possibility of a new dynamic. It also reminds us that Hulk does not have to be the star of a movie to still count. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ reshoots are anticipated this spring, and Marvel is notoriously secretive about unexpected returns.
Ruffalo teases, and with his natural confidence, it is difficult to imagine that the studio would marginalize him at this point. To the audience, the message is straightforward: the Hulk is not breaking out of the MCU any time soon. Ruffalo, at least, sounds like a person who knows more than he is telling, and is enjoying watching the internet jump to conclusions while he stays firmly in the green.
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