The Green Goliath may not have been in the spotlight during Marvel’s recent casting announcements, but fans can breathe easy. Mark Ruffalo‘s Hulk isn’t going anywhere, and he may have some powerful company when he returns. For over a decade, Mark Ruffalo has brought emotional depth and a human touch to Bruce Banner, a.k.a. The Hulk.
Yet when the massive 27-name cast list for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ was revealed, fans were quick to notice that the beloved Avenger was nowhere to be seen.
A Standalone Hulk Movie Is Still Not On MCU’s Slate
Thanks to recent rumors from insider Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus, we now know that the Green Goliath will be back for both ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’, and his presence might be more important than ever. Ruffalo’s portrayal of the Green Goliath has evolved significantly since his debut in 2012’s ‘The Avengers’. From a rage-fueled monster to the “Smart Hulk” seen in ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
Related: The Real Reason Why Red Hulk Doesn’t Speak In ‘Captain America: Brave New World’
When we last saw Bruce, he had returned from Sakaar with his son, Skaar, hinting at major narrative threads to come. However, Skaar’s CGI-heavy introduction felt rushed, and the reveal was met with lukewarm reception from fans who expected something more impactful. Marvel seems to recognize this, and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’ could be their opportunity to course-correct.
With rumors of Ruffalo returning for both mega-films, there’s ground for the Hulk’s next chapter. With the Multiverse now wide open, anything is possible. Ruffalo himself has hinted at this complexity. Speaking earlier this year, he revealed a conversation with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
“What would you do if you had a standalone Hulk movie?” Feige asked. “I’d like to take him from this raging maniac to this integrated character,” Ruffalo replied. Feige’s response? “We’ll never give you a standalone Hulk. But we’ll do it over the course of four movies.” While a standalone may not be on the table (yet), the plan to evolve Green Giant through ensemble films seems firmly in place.
‘Thunderbolts*’ Almost Made Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent The Red Hulk
While Mark Ruffalo’s future looks solid, another Hulk-related twist nearly exploded in ‘Thunderbolts*’. According to screenwriter Eric Pearson, the original idea involved John Walker (Wyatt Russell) becoming a Red Hulk, the film’s surprise antagonist. It turns out Valentina Allegra de Fontaine had been secretly dosing Walker, not with medicine, but with a chemical time bomb that she could use to transform him into a monster if needed.
In case you missed it: The Incredible Hulk: Inspirations Behind Marvel’s Green Goliath
Let’s just pause for a moment and appreciate how wild that would have been: U.S. Agent turning into a rage-fueled Red Hulk as a result of government manipulation. However, according to Pearson, the storyline was ultimately scrapped. “It didn’t feel right,” he explained. Having two Red Hulks, especially when Harrison Ford’s General Ross is already set to become one in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, felt redundant.
Instead, Marvel chose to introduce Sentry, played by Lewis Pullman, bringing in a character who balances immense power with psychological torment. Still, the seeds for a gamma explosion have already been planted. Between Red Hulk, Smart Hulk, She-Hulk, Abomination, and Skaar, the MCU has quietly built a Gammaverse. The only question now is when and how it will be fully unleashed.
