The Incredible Hulk has been a central character in the MCU: we look at six projects from Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU in which the Hulk could appear.
Summary
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Hulk’s future in the MCU is uncertain due to film rights issues, but rumors of a World War Hulk project suggest he could play a larger role.
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Hulk could make a quick cameo in “The Marvels” and “Captain America: Brave New World,” with possible appearances in “Thunderbolts” and “What If…? Season Two” as well.
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Hulk’s most significant return is expected in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” where he will likely play a crucial role in defeating the main villain.
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There are numerous movies and shows in phases five and six of the MCU in which the Hulk could appear. As one of the original Avengers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one of the longest-serving heroes we know, is still active, the Hulk’s future is a particularly pressing question. Movie rights issues have always made Hulk’s MCU future somewhat confusing, but long-standing rumors about a World War Hulk project could suggest that’s about to change. Even without that, Hulk may remain a key part of the MCU through other appearances.
Following Avengers: Endgame In the end, which saw the permanent retirement of at least 3 of the original Avengers from the MCU, Hulk has actually reappeared more than once. Even as the MCU movie timeline looks to introduce new heroes and villains, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk still has some loose ends and story threads to resolve (including the appearance of his son in She Hulkis ending), and seems likely to return soon. Here are six MCU movies and shows Hulk could be seen in next in the MCU.
6 The wonders
the wonders will reunite Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as cosmic trios or heroines, and is the first upcoming MCU project in which Bruce Banner or the Hulk could appear. What lends credence to this idea is the end credits scene of Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings, in which Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers have a brief encounter with Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) about the ten rings. The scene makes it clear that Bruce and Carol still work together quite closely after Avengers Endgameand making the two appear together on screen again completely plausible.
With Bruce having returned to his human form in Shang-ChiUnlike Smart-Hulk, any appearance he might make in the wonders It seems likely that he still has it in this state as a way to actively take advantage of that cameo. Besides, the wonders will become one of the shortest MCU movies to date with its 100-minute running time, leaving very little room for the Hulk to do anything in a movie that has to unite all three Marvels. This means that if Bruce Banner appeared in the wondersIt will likely be a quick cameo in which he briefly chats with Carol or possibly Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury.
5 Captain America: Brave New World
2024 Captain America: Brave New World will ultimately see Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) fully take on the mantle of Captain America, but the film also arguably has a more direct tie to The incredible Hulk than another MCU project. Tim Blake Nelson and Liv Tyler will respectively reprise their roles as Samuel Sterns and Betty Ross from The incredible Hulk in brave new world, with Harrison Ford taking over as General Ross after William Hurt’s death. Although Edward Norton has long since left the role of Bruce Banner, such brave new worldThe cast depends so much on The incredible Hulk Bruce Banner makes an appearance in brave new world a different possibility.
An even bigger clue to this can be found in Nelson’s return specifically as Sterns, with brave new world to also present him completely transformed into the Leader. It may have taken the MCU 16 years to pay off Sterns’ villainous metamorphosis teased in The incredible Hulk, but it is also very likely that it alludes to Marvel in the hope that Hulk and the Leader will finally meet as hero and villain. Mark Ruffalo making at least a cameo in brave new world It could be the perfect time to set up whatever plans Marvel has for the two.
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4 rays
Phase Five of the MCU will serve as a launching pad for the franchise’s first real team of heroes besides the Avengers, namely the eponymous heroes of Good heavens. Although the Thunderbolts will be a considerably darker government operations team than the Avengers, Bruce Banner’s association with the latter could make him a potential candidate for a cameo or supporting role in Good heavens. As a veteran Avenger and with his former ally Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in the Thunderbolts, Bruce could go on to provide some words of wisdom for the up-and-coming team of heroes.
Additionally, Harrison Ford will also appear as General Ross in Good heavens. While Ross’s role will likely involve him attempting to provide a level of oversight to the team, any film he appears in opens up the possibility of Hulk joining him. This could also provide insight into what Bruce’s possible appearance would be in Good heavens could be, and Bruce possibly arrives to warn the team not to trust Ross. Furthermore, as with brave new world, Good heavens It could also involve Thunderbolt Ross turning into Red Hulk to prepare for his fight with his green counterpart.
3 What if…? The second season
The Marvel animated series on Disney+ And if…? opens the doors to the multiverse, presenting alternate versions of heroes and villains in different realities. And if…? The first season included a variant of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who became Star-Lord instead of Black Panther, Peggy Carter (Haley Atwell) as the heroic Captain Carter, and many other radically reinvented MCU characters. And if…? It also showed Hulk dying not one but two deaths, but this doesn’t stop him from returning in the show’s second season.
Something as simple as cloning the Hulk from his exploded corpse in the episode “What If… The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?” I could bring him back And if…? the second season. Furthermore, the very concept of the multiverse establishes an unlimited number of variants of Bruce Banner in other realities of the MCU’s Earth-616. And if…? The second season could easily bring a different Hulk from a completely different universe into the story, allowing him to stick around longer than his shocking demise from the first season allowed.
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2 Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Phases five and six of the MCU are building up Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) as the heir to the Thanos franchise (Josh Brolin), with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania properly introducing Kang and his plan to destroy the multiverse. As with Thanos, the battle against Kang will surely require all of the MCU’s heroes and heroines to join forces. That includes Hulk, who returns in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty anything but a foregone conclusion.
Since Bruce’s Smart-Hulk personality is apparently something he can turn off from Shang-Chi and the legend of the rings, The Kang dynasty There could be a conflict where Bruce feels that Savage Hulk’s strength is necessary to win. Additionally, Bruce’s experience as an Avenger could possibly see him being an active recruiter, gathering as many new and old heroes as he can to defeat Kang. One way or another, Hulk’s role in The Kang dynasty It is probably the most significant since Avengers Endgame.
1 Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars be Avengers Endgame to The Kang dynasty‘s Avengers: Infinity War, the two films function as a two-part finale to a multi-phase MCU story. Based on the Marvel Comics story of the same name, secret wars It will also be an expanding multiverse story, featuring many stars from pre-MCU and Fox Marvel films. X Men Movies are rumored to appear. Of course, the MCU’s current heroes will also be on board to take on Kang, and the Hulk will surely be among them.
What could I do too? secret wars One particularly special event for the Hulk is the film’s multiverse story that opens up the possibility of previous Hulks meeting Mark Ruffalo’s version of the character. Lou Ferrigno’s Hulk The Incredible Hulk TV The series is a case in point, as is Eric Bana’s Hulk variant from Ang Lee’s 2003 film. Helmet. Still, even in the absence of the appearance of other Hulks, with the fate of the multiverse at stake, Avengers: Secret Wars It surely wouldn’t be complete with Hulk joining the battle.