Mark Ruffalo Suggests Hulk’s Journey in the MCU May Be Over
When it comes to the original six Avengers, most of their destinies have either concluded or have fallen into a foreseeable future. Captain America and Tony Stark bid the MCU farewell with tearjerking final bows. Stark sacrificed himself for humanity, and Captain America performed a time heist to seize the life he never got a chance to life, ultimately relinquishing the Cap mantle to Sam Wilson’s Falcon.
Natasha’s Black Widow will presumably exit the franchise following the upcoming Phase 4 prequel. Clint Barton’s Hawkeye will train the next archer, Kate Bishop, to follow in his footsteps come the Disney+ series, and Thor will likely hand the hammer over to Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster in Thor: Love and Thunder. However, what about Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner? Where does the Hulk fit in, and is Ruffalo’s journey as the big, green super savior in the MCU over? Did Endgame damage his arm beyond repair to insinuate that his superhero days were no more?
A recent interview with Mark Ruffalo leaves Hulk’s future in the MCU undetermined. And, without film or tv appearances on the horizon — none confirmed that is — many are beginning to wonder: Will the Hulk return to the MCU following Avengers: Endgame?
Mark Ruffalo talks about the Hulk’s role (or lack thereof) in the MCU post-‘Avengers: Endgame’
As We Got This Covered (WGTC) notes, Mark Ruffalo recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show and talked about his role in the MCU. When questioned about a possible return, Ruffalo stated, “I don’t know,” before going on to explain, “it is supposed to be over and that [Avengers: Endgame] was supposed to be the end.”
Mark Ruffalo’s recent words regarding the matter — “supposed to be the end —” do not sound all too promising and, if the actor doesn’t even know the plan for his character, fans may have to relinquish hope that Banner will rise once again.
While Marvel Studios ensures that their actors do not spoil any surprises, Ruffalo has been notorious for spilling the beans in the past, and he may sincerely be in the dark this time around. However, Mark Ruffalo deserves a return to the MCU, as the last movie stripped Banner’s dignity, turning him into comedic relief, as he took selfies and dabbed for the youth. With the entire Phase 4 slate released, a few options seem most plausible.
Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk could appear in ‘She-Hulk’ or ‘Moon Knight’
If Marvel Studios has a trick up their sleeve concerning Banner, it will likely involve the She-Hulk series or Moon Knight. In the comic books, Bruce Banner transforms his cousin, Jennifer Walters, into She-Hulk, so the studio could offer Ruffalo a two or three-episode deal simply to cement her classic origin tale. Or, he could play a larger role in introducing the character to Captain Marvel and helping to build the A-Force.
As for Moon Knight, the character’s origin is connected to the Hulk comic books as well, and if the show writers tinker with the facts a little bit — while still relying on the source material — a Hulk appearance is more than possible in Moon Knight.
