Decades of source material, not to mention developments that have occurred within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, underscore the storytelling potential attached to the Incredible Hulk. Murk Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner has more movie appearances than the vast majority of the MCU’s heroes, and yet there’s still so much more than what can be done with him on the big screen.
Obviously, it’s not ideal that Marvel has limitations on what it can do with the Jade Giant. Due to rights issues, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk remains the last solo Hulk film, and there’s no indication that will change anytime in the near future. The Hulk can certainly carry his own movie, so it’s understandable why this can be disappointing to Hulk fans. However, various moments in the MCU – from Hulk’s humiliating beatdown of Loki in The Avengers to his team-up with Thor in Thor: Ragnarok demonstrate that there is fun to be had with Hulk serving in a supporting or co-starring role.
The comic books support this idea too. While it’s true that there are some missed opportunities that come with the MCU not getting any more Hulk movies, there’s plenty that happens in the comics that the MCU can pull from that wouldn’t involve Hulk headlining his own film to make up for it. Just by leaning on the comics, the MCU can pump out great stories for the Hulk using the same formula that it’s already been working with since 2012’s The Avengers.
6
Hulk Vs. Rhino
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a welcome turn of events for fans of the Hulk, as it finally reversed Avengers: Endgame’s controversial change to the character. Thanks to Jean Grey, the Savage Hulk persona returned to the big screen for the first time since Avengers: Infinity War, setting off a dramatic showdown between the character and Spider-Man. A Hulk vs. Spider-Man fight was something the MCU has always needed, but it doesn’t have to be the end of their association.
Bringing Hulk back for Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s sequel can lay the groundwork for one of Hulk’s greatest comic rivalries, which is the one he shares with Rhino. The two first came to blows in 1968 when Rhino, upon receiving a gamma-powered upgrade, picked a fight with Hulk, and found out the hard way that he wasn’t the strongest being on the planet. The story made a clear point about Hulk’s strength by letting the latter nearly beat Rhino to death.
The Hulk has engaged in several intense slugfests with the Rhino, whose colossal strength and size makes him a suitable opponent for the Green Goliath, even if his primary foe is still Spider-Man. By featuring the Hulk again and including one of Spider-Man’s biggest villains still missing from the MCU, Marvel Studios can scratch several itches at once.
5
Hulk Vs. The Thing
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Although Rhino is a key adversary to the Hulk, he’s hardly the Jade Giant’s number one rival. That title instead belongs to the Thing, who has long contested the Hulk’s claim to the title of “the strongest one there is.” Their iconic relationship has its roots in 1962’s The Fantastic Four , when the team took on the challenge of trying to stop one of Hulk’s rampages. Naturally, it was the Thing who took on the brunt of the fighting, and that has since driven the formula of most storylines that draw the Hulk into the Fantastic Four’s orbit.
Depending on how the multiversal shenanigans of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it’s possible that the Fantastic Four’s current situation will change in a way that will make meeting other MCU heroes easier. If that happens, it’s not hard to imagine the Hulk being a character in the cast. After all, he has shared histories with several Fantastic Four villains who could be candidates for the role of the main antagonist in a sequel to Fantastic Four: The First Steps, including Blastaar and Tyrannus.
4
Secret Wars
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Of all the Hulk moments the MCU could potentially adapt in the next few years, the one with the best chance of actually reaching fruition pertains to the classic scene of Hulk holding up a mountain so that his fellow heroes could proceed with their plan. That’s because the event in question happened within the pages of Secret Wars. And, Mark Ruffalo is expected (albeit not confirmed) to be among the cast of Avengers: Secret Wars.
The last two Avengers movies unfortunately sidelined the Savage Hulk in favor of the Bruce Banner character, which is all the more reason why he deserves an opportunity to step up and be a hero. Avengers: Secret Wars can do just that if there comes a time where the Hulk has to perform one of his greatest feats of strength – protecting his allies from the collapse of a mountain amid a desperate attempt to defeat the film’s villain.
3
World War Hulk
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Whereas Secret Wars reveals Hulk’s potential as a team player, “World War Hulk” takes the opposite position. Rather, it shows how dangerous the Hulk can be when wronged by those he counts as his friends. In the comic books, the “World War Hulk” arc was a consequence of the Illuminati shooting the Hulk into space as a preemptive measure. Instead of preventing destruction, they invited it, as Hulk returned from outer space on a crusade of vengeance against the likes of Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, and Iron Man.
The MCU may not share the same setup for a “World War Hulk” story, but a foundation for it to happen (but under different circumstances) does exist, thanks to Avengers: Endgame. Hulk’s own teammates never protested Bruce Banner’s Smart Hulk change onscreen, even though it effectively meant the Savage Hulk persona was repressed for years. It’s not hard to imagine the Hulk taking that as a betrayal and striking out at his former allies in a sixth Avengers movie, or perhaps a different team-up film.
2
Hulk Vs. Wolverine
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One of the most exciting possibilities for a future Hulk appearance calls for him to cross paths with Wolverine. After all, it was a battle with the Hulk that famously introduced Wolverine in the first place. Sent by Department H to stop the Hulk after he crossed into Canada, Wolverine got caught in a heated showdown between Hulk and the snow-dwelling monster known as Wendigo.
Adapting the three-way battle in the snow (even if Wendigo is swapped for a more recognizable character) would be a fantastic way of honoring this huge piece of comic book history. Alternatively, Marvel could use the Wolverine-Hulk conflict to introduce whoever it ultimately chooses to take over from Hugh Jackman.
1
The Defenders
Another possible scenario for the MCU relates to the formation of the Defenders, which the Hulk played an integral role in during the Bronze Age of Marvel Comics. The Hulk joined forces with Namor the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Strange in 1971’s Marvel Feature to battle an otherwordly villain known as Yandroth. Afterward, Hulk became one of the group’s most consistent members, even as its lineup fluctuated constantly over the years.
Marvel introducing the original Defenders into the MCU is far from implausible. Doctor Strange, the Incredible Hulk, Namor, and Valkyrie (another of the team’s most important members), are all available now and could theoretically could be brought together to battle a powerful threat from their comic book rogues’ gallery, such as Dormammu, Nebulon, or The Presence.
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