The actor who portrayed the original live-actionHulkjust gave some sound advice on how theMCUshould handle its own Hulk in the future. Hulk is one of Marvel’s most enduring characters, withfour actors portraying the Jade Giant(with one more portraying Bruce Banner) across several live-action TV and movie adaptations. Discussions aboutwhich live-action Hulk is bestare among the most divisive for Marvel fans, but it’s safe to say that Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has had plenty of time to make a strong impression as the definitive rendition - but it could be better.
The MCU’s Bruce Banneris not only the longest-running adaptation in Hulk’s history but one of the longest-running characters in the entire MCU. The Incredible Hulk was released in June 2008, just one month after Tony Stark’s seminal debut in Iron Man. Five years after Tony Stark’s death, however, an aging Bruce Banner is still alive in the MCU - only his role has significantly diminished. This needs to change for many reasons, and one erstwhile Hulk actor knows how.
The MCU’s Smart Hulk Future Is Completely Unknown
There Are No Movies Lined Up For The MCU’s Bruce Banner
The MCU’s Hulk has undergone a significant metamorphosis since his 2008 debut.Hulk’s MCU arcmostly took place in Avengers movies afterThe Incredible Hulk, with an additional supporting role inThor: Ragnarokhelping to propel his story forward with a mild adaptation of the iconicPlanet Hulkstory from Marvel Comics. Most recently, Bruce Banner figured out (off-screen) how to merge the brains and brawn of Banner and Hulk, respectively, debuting Smart Hulk inAvengers: Endgame. This culminated inSmart Hulk revisiting Sakaar to retrieve his son, Skaar, and introducing him inShe-Hulk: Attorney At Law.
Despite this setup, Hulk’s MCU future is decidedly up in the air. Skaar’s introduction teases the long-anticipated adaptation ofWorld War Hulk, but it is difficult to see how the MCU can slot this into the current Multiverse Saga narrative while other movies circle a final Incursion that should bring most, if not all, of the MCU’s characters together in Doctor Doom’s Battleworld inAvengers: Secret Wars.While there are still a few gaps inthe MCU’s release schedule,it remains conspicuously devoid of another solo Hulk movie, and this isn’t likely to change any time soon.
2026’sAvengers: Doomsdaywill be the first Avengers movie since 2019’sAvengers: Endgame.
Marvel Studios' intentions with Hulkaren’t exactly clear, but the last word said about a sequel toThe Incredible Hulksuggests that this is not on the cards, with Mark Ruffalo stating at theSanta Barbara International Film Festivalpanel:
Yeah. Kevin [Feige] was like, ‘What would you like to do?’ And he said, ‘What would you do if you had a standalone Hulk movie?’ I said, ‘Well, I’d like to take him from this raging maniac to kind of this integrated character.’ And he’s like, ‘Okay. We’ll do that over the course of four movies. We’ll never give you a standalone Hulk…I Don’t mean to burst your bubble, but that’s just not going to [happen.] So, we’ll do it over four movies, how does that sound?’ As far as I know. [when asked if it’s still true that Marvel Studios doesn’t want to do a Hulk movie.] I can talk more about it, but I’ve been told not to.
This isn’t a great sign for Hulk’s solo movie prospects, but it doesn’t necessarily mean his MCU career will be sidelined from hereon. Despite his lack of solo ventures, Hulk is still a fan-favorite member of the Avengers andis likely to join the newest iteration when they finally assemble in the Multiverse Saga. When he reappears, an iconic Hulk predecessor has some pertinent advice for his reprisal.
Lou Ferrigno Says The Hulk Needs To Be “Mean” Again
Lou Ferrigno’s Suggestion For Hulk Closely Resembles His Own Rendition
Lou Ferrigno was the first actor to portray Hulk in live-action from 1978 to 1990, first in theThe Incredible HulkTV series and its three subsequent TV movies. Unlike subsequent depictions of Hulk, which used a hefty amount of CGI to render the big green beast, Lou Ferrigno portrayed a CGI-free Hulk exclusively, while his co-star Bill Bixby portrayed Bruce Banner. Ferrigno has since cameoed in bothHulkandThe Incredible Hulk, and has apparently been following Mark Ruffalo’s tenure after expressing his views on the MCU’s Smart Hulk, stating in an interview withWho Let Us Out:
“I would say change the concept and make it more like the original Hulk, authentic, organic, mean, green.”
How Powerful The MCU’s Hulk Is Compared To The Comics
The MCU’s Hulk and the Hulk of Marvel Comics weren’t exactly created the same - but which version of the character is the most powerful?
Lou Ferrigno’s comments certainly fly in the face of Ruffalo’s desire to shift from a “raging maniac to an integrated character,” by mostly suggesting that the MCU’s Hulk should more closely resemble his version. Nevertheless,Ferrigno’s comments speak to a commonly held belief among Marvel fans. After offering his brilliant mind and gamma-resistant constitution to aid in the Avengers' plight inAvengers: Endgameand helping his cousin Jennifer Walters get abreast of her newfound Hulk powers, Smart Hulk may have run his course.
Smart Hulk Has Written The MCU Into A Corner
Bruce Banner Has Seemingly Reached The End Of His Character Arc
The somewhat tragic reality for the MCU’s Hulk is that, even if Feige reneged on his assurances, there isn’t very far for Smart Hulk to go.World War Hulk, for instance, hinges on Savage Hulk’s rage being so vast as to demand the intervention of several superheroes. The chances of Smart Hulk becoming a villain, however, are slim.Bruce Banner’s conflict with his raging alter-ego is long gone, and with it goes the feature that makes Bruce Banner and Hulk such interesting charactersin the MCU.
Hulk’s overall value as the Avengers' muscle was counterbalanced by his volatility and the possibility that the Avengers may have to drop the mission to deal with his rampages at any moment - and this is what made him such an interesting addition to the team.
With Tony Stark gone, Smart Hulk is a suitable replacement as the brains behind the Avengers' outfit, buthis new role isn’t as compelling as his previous one. Hulk’s overall value as the Avengers' muscle was counterbalanced by his volatility and the possibility that the Avengers may have to drop the mission to deal with his rampages at any moment - and this is what made him such an interesting addition to the team. Now, SmartHulkhas resolved the main character flaw that made him so compelling, lending credence to Lou Ferrigno’s suggestion that Marvel Studios should change course.
Hulk
The Hulk, a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is physicist Bruce Banner transformed by gamma radiation. He morphs into a giant, green-skinned creature of immense strength and invulnerability when angered. Struggling with his transformations, Hulk allies with other heroes, battling villains while balancing his intellect with uncontrollable rage, making him a central figure in Marvel’s universe.
