The MCU Has 2 Chances To Bring Back the Real Hulk in 2026 (& I’ll Be So Mad if Neither One Happens)

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2024 was a surprisingly solid year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it didn’t completely fix the issues of recent years, it was definitely a step in the right direction. Both Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t do as well in theaters as hoped, but Thunderbolts was a relatively strong film, and The Fantastic Four offered a promising beginning to a new phase. The only real disappointment was Captain America: Brave New World, which clearly suffered from production problems and extensive reshoots.

The highlight of this was definitely Red Hulk. We haven’t seen the classic, powerfully angry Hulk in a long time – the last time was in the opening of Avengers: Infinity War back in 2018. Fans are eager to see that version of the Hulk return to the MCU, and thankfully, there are two opportunities for that in 2026.

Hulk Had to Change to Remain Interesting, but It Would Be Fun to See Him in Smash Mode Again

Marvel has two movies planned for 2026: Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st, and Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th. Currently, Mark Ruffalo is only confirmed to be in the Spider-Man film. However, with other established MCU actors like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, and Tom Hiddleston already set to appear in Doomsday, most fans would be surprised if Ruffalo didn’t make an appearance at some point.

Ultimately, it depends on what happens to his character after the Brand New Day storyline. Also, Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man, isn’t currently planned to be in Doomsday. It’s possible both Holland and Mark Ruffalo are just known for accidentally revealing plot details. Alternatively, Ruffalo might be unavailable due to his work on HBO Max’s Task and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.

In The Avengers, Bruce Banner began to come to terms with his lack of control over the Hulk. During the battle with Ultron, Black Widow assisted him in managing his transformations. He left Earth seeking peace, but ended up stranded as the Hulk on the planet Sakaar for two years. After facing Thanos at the start of Avengers: Infinity War and being defeated, we don’t see the Hulk again.

Bruce Banner was still around, but the Hulk wasn’t appearing. Banner kept attempting to transform, but couldn’t manage it. Eventually, in Avengers: Endgame, he achieved a balance and became Smart Hulk. This was great because it allowed Mark Ruffalo to play a more prominent role and showcase his acting. However, the novelty of Smart Hulk didn’t really last beyond that one film.

Despite previously merging into a single form, Smart Hulk reappeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Throughout the series, he shifts between his Bruce Banner persona and Smart Hulk to help Jennifer Walters learn to manage her powers and emotions. By the end of the show, he remains Smart Hulk, and it’s revealed he has a son.

Hulk’s portrayal has become a bit repetitive, even with appearances in films like Endgame and the She-Hulk series. Hopefully, the new Brand New Day storyline for Spider-Man can inspire a similar revitalizing approach for the Hulk.

It’s very likely Smart Hulk will continue to be a key character. Bruce Banner has made significant progress integrating the Hulk into his personality, and it would require a complicated story to undo that. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used in the upcoming Brand New Day storyline, especially since, like the rest of the Avengers, he doesn’t remember Spider-Man’s secret identity. However, with Skaar now introduced, it seems almost certain we’ll see a team-up between father and son in an action-packed scene.

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2025-11-07 01:40