Rewatching theHulk’s journey in theMarvel Cinematic Universein 2025 offers a fresh perspective on one of the franchise’s most complicated characters. With nearly two decades ofthe MCU timeline, Bruce Banner’s evolution has taken unexpected turns, from a recast lead to a comedic supporting player and even a father. But with recent MCU projects shifting focus away from Hulk, his past appearances hit differently in hindsight. Some moments now seem strangely out of place, while others feel nostalgic for a simpler time in Marvel’s history.
Bruce Banner’s place in the MCU has always been unusual. The character started as one of the founding Avengers but never received the same level of solo storytelling as his teammates. Universal’s ownership of Hulk’s distribution rights prevented Marvel Studios from making direct sequels, forcing Hulk’s development into side stories across multiple films. This led to an inconsistent evolution, as Hulk shifted from an uncontrollable monster inThe Incredible Hulkto a tragic warrior inAvengers: Age of Ultron, and later, a comedic scientist inThor: RagnarokandShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
10The MCU’s Skaar Reveal Feels Even Wilder In 2025
Skaar Was Revealed In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
One of the most baffling moments inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwas the sudden introduction of Skaar, Hulk’s long-lost son. It was framed as a huge deal, seemingly setting up major future stories, but in the years since, the MCU has barely mentioned him. Now, in 2025, the reveal feels even more forced and random. Skaar’s rushed introduction lacked any emotional weight, andwith no follow-up appearances, it’s hard to see why Marvel pushed so hard to include him.
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The reveal seemed like a setup for something urgent like a pending Young Avnegrs team, but without any resolution, it now plays like a meaningless afterthought. This makes the entireShe-Hulkfinale feel stranger in retrospect, as if the MCU wastrying to tease a new Hulk-centric saga that never came. A rewatch in 2025 only highlights how disconnected this reveal was from the rest of Hulk’s story.
9The Avengers' Hulk Story Is Painfully Nostalgic Looking Back
The Hulk’s Early Days Are A Refreshing Change
Going back to 2012’sThe Avengers, Hulk’s role feels refreshingly straightforward compared to later MCU stories. Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner was introduced asa tragic but functional hero, while his Hulk persona was a fearsome force that turned the tide of battle. At the time, audiences were eager for more depth, but in hindsight, this version of Hulk is oddly comforting. The divisive elements that would later define his character – like Professor Hulk’s humor, his reduced power level, and the sidelining of his rage – weren’t present yet.
Instead, Hulk was at his best:monstrous, unpredictable, and incredibly strong. Looking back, this era of Hulk feels like a golden age, before the character was diluted into comic relief or given underwhelming arcs. The 2012 version of Hulk now carries an air of nostalgia, standing as his most iconic and unfiltered portrayal.
8So Much Of Hulk’s Development Occurred Off-Screen
Hulk Mostly Develops Between Movies
One of the most frustrating aspects of Hulk’s MCU journey is how many major developments happened off-screen. Rewatching his arc in 2025 only reinforceshow much storytelling was skipped over. The biggest example isAvengers: Infinity War, where Hulk refuses to transform after his fight with Thanos, only forAvengers: Endgameto reveal that Bruce Banner and Hulk somehow merged into Smart Hulk during the five-year time jump.
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This was a monumental change, but viewers never got to see it happen. Similarly,She-Hulkbriefly mentioned that Hulk spent time on Sakaar, leading to Skaar’s introduction, but the events themselves were never shown. Hulk’s biggest character moments were often treated as afterthoughts or background details, making it frustrating to track his evolution. A rewatch in 2025 only amplifies how much potential storytelling was left on the table.
7Ed Norton’s Hulk Feels Like A Multiverse Variant
Ed Norton Was Recast With Mark Ruffalo For The Avengers (2012)
WatchingThe Incredible Hulkin 2025 feels like peering into an alternate reality of the MCU. Edward Norton’s portrayal of Bruce Banner is so different from Mark Ruffalo’s that it now plays more like a multiverse variant than an earlier version of the same character. Indeed, the tone ofThe Incredible Hulkis darker, the action more brutal, andBanner himself more intense and paranoid.
Norton’s take feels closer to classic Hulk stories, with a real sense of inner conflict and horror. By contrast, Ruffalo’s Banner gradually became more comedic and relaxed, making itharder to reconcile the two performances as the same person. With the MCU embracing the multiverse concept in recent years, it’s now easier than ever to view Norton’s Hulk as an alternate version rather than part of a continuous timeline, making the film feel even more disconnected upon rewatch.
6The Hulk’s Villains Feel Overlooked
Only 3 Major Hulk Villains Have Appeared In The MCU
RewatchingThe Incredible Hulkin 2025 makes it clear how much potential the film set up for future MCU stories that were left unexplored for years. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross was positioned as a key adversary for Bruce Banner, yet he only reappeared sporadically in the MCU, primarily in non-Hulk-related projects likeCaptain America: Civil WarandBlack Widow. Meanwhile, Emil Blonsky’s Abomination, a formidable foe introduced inThe Incredible Hulk,completely vanished from the franchise for over a decadebefore resurfacing inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsandShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
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Perhaps the most glaring omission was Samuel Sterns, whose transformation into The Leaderwas teased and then forgotten for years. Thankfully, Sterns found his place inCaptain America: Brave New World– which notably did not feature the Jade Giant himself. The long absence of these characters makes the MCU’s handling of Hulk’s rogues’ gallery feel like a missed opportunity.
5Inconsistencies In Hulk’s Power Levels
Hulk’s Strength Changes Depending On What Movie He’s In
One of the most frustrating aspects of rewatching the Hulk’s journey in the MCU is the inconsistency in his strength and durability. InThe Incredible Hulk, he was shown as a near-unstoppable force, surviving direct military assaults and defeating Abomination in hand-to-hand combat. Yet, inThe Avengers, while still powerful,his strength seemed slightly nerfed, particularly in his fight against Thor.
Later,Thor: Ragnarokreestablished Hulk as an almost unbeatable warrior, capable of going toe-to-toe with the God of Thunder, but thenAvengers: Infinity Warcontradicted this again by having himeasily defeated by Thanos. By the timeAvengers: Endgameintroduced Smart Hulk, his combat abilities were barely utilized at all. These fluctuations make it difficult to track a consistent power level for Hulk, especially when compared to the steady evolution of characters like Thor or Captain Marvel.
4Thor: Ragnarok Has Become Hulk’s Most Important Story
The Most Important Movie Since The Incredible Hulk
WhileThe Incredible Hulkwas meant to be Banner’s defining solo outing, it’sThor: Ragnarokthat has ultimately become the most crucial chapter in his MCU journey. This film provided more insight into Hulk’s character than any previous appearance, exploring his intelligence, emotional depth, andability to function independently of Banner.Ragnarokalso set up major developments, such as his first real character arc outside of Earth and him fathering a son.
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Additionally, it redefined his dynamic with Thor, showing the two as comedic foils and battle-hardened allies. BecauseThe Incredible Hulkis so disconnected from the larger MCU,Thor: Ragnarokhas become the version of Hulk most associate with the character. Watching the franchise in 2025, it’s clear that this filmprovided the most meaningful expansion of Hulk’s personalityand role in the MCU.
3She-Hulk’s Introduction Changed Hulk’s Legacy
Hulk Changed From A Loner To Mentor
For years, Hulk was portrayed as a loner – a wandering fugitive inThe Incredible Hulk, a reluctant team player inThe Avengers, and a wildcard force of destruction inThor: Ragnarok. However,She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawsignificantly altered this perception by making him a mentor figure to Jennifer Walters. This shift reframed his entire MCU legacy, showing that he wasn’t just a creature of chaos but alsoa guiding presence capable of teaching othershow to navigate their powers.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawalso humanized Hulk in new ways. It depicted his struggles with family, responsibility, and even personal loss, particularly in regard to Tony Stark’s death. Watching Hulk’s earlier MCU appearances in 2025, this evolution stands out,making his character feel more well-roundedand giving his journey a sense of progression that wasn’t previously as evident.
2The Absence Of A Solo Hulk Sequel Is Even More Noticeable
Hulk Needs His Own Movie
With so many MCU heroes receiving multiple solo films, the fact that the Hulk only had one in 2008 feels more glaring than ever in 2025. Other Phase 1 characters, like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor,all developed extensive sub-franchisesthat deepened their characters and explored their arcs in greater depth. Even Spider-Man, who entered the MCU much later, received three solo films within five years.
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Meanwhile, Hulk’s story has only been told through team-up films and supporting roles in other heroes' movies. This makes it difficult for his character to experience the same level of focused storytelling as his counterparts. The demand for a proper solo sequel, possibly adaptingWorld War HulkorImmortal Hulk,remains high among Marvel audiences, and rewatching the MCU only amplifies the frustration that it still hasn’t happened.
1Hulk’s Position In The MCU Feels Uncertain
It’s Never Clear Whether Hulk Will Ever Reemerge In The MCU
Hulk was once a cornerstone of the MCU, one of the six original Avengers who played a pivotal role in saving the world multiple times. However, because hehas never received the same solo film treatment as his fellow founding members, his future now feels unclear. Other Phase 1 heroes either received definitive endings (Iron Man,Captain America,Black Widow) or continued in major ways (ThorandHawkeye).
Yet Hulk’s arc has been largely undefined post-Endgame. WhileShe-Hulkhinted at his ongoing story, there is no clear indication of when or where he will appear next and is notablyabsent from theAvengers: Doomsdaycast. Without a solo project to anchor him, his presence in the MCU seems sporadic, leaving audiencesunsure whether Marvel has long-term plansfor theHulkor if he’s simply relegated to occasional cameos.
