Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is Officially Addressing the Biggest MCU Hulk Theory

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The new Spider-Man movie, Brand New Day, picks up the story after the events of No Way Home. Remember how Doctor Strange’s spell made everyone forget Peter Parker? This movie takes place years later, with Peter living a secret life. But things get complicated when he starts developing the ability to create organic webs! Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), is also in the film, initially using a device to control his transformations. However, it looks like the classic, powerful Hulk will be back, and marketing materials suggest his return is confirmed. This could tie into a popular fan theory and fit perfectly with the story of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The idea is that the Savage Hulk might not have been affected by Doctor Strange’s memory spell. The spell worked by changing what everyone in the world remembered, specifically targeting people’s minds. While the “Smart Hulk” from Avengers: Endgame likely was changed by the spell, the Savage Hulk might be a completely separate being with its own memories. If that’s true, the Savage Hulk could be the first to remember Peter Parker, breaking the universal amnesia. This idea is supported by Marvel Comics, where the Hulk has often been shown as unaffected by events that change people’s minds on a global scale.

In Marvel Comics, the Hulk Remembers What Everyone Forgot

In Marvel Comics, it’s often shown that the Hulk remembers things others have forgotten, a concept first highlighted in the Sentry miniseries by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee. This story revealed that the world collectively forgot about the hero Robert Reynolds, whose existence was considered a danger. While geniuses like Reed Richards and Tony Stark had no memory of him, the Hulk somehow retained a subconscious awareness of the “Golden Man.” This suggests the Hulk’s mind works in a unique way, allowing him to sense or remember information that has been deliberately hidden or erased from everyone else’s memory.

Recently, in Immortal Hulk: Great Power #1, the Hulk directly acknowledged his unique memory. He told Peter Parker that while Bruce Banner forgot Spider-Man’s secret identity after the One More Day storyline, the Hulk retained it. The Hulk’s statement, “Banner forgot. But I don’t forget,” clearly shows that his memory isn’t affected by reality-altering deals or magic like most other things in the Marvel Universe.

Beyond his incredible strength, the Hulk can also perceive things others can’t, like ghosts and magical illusions. This ability developed from Bruce Banner’s difficult childhood and his fear of his father’s ghost, essentially becoming a way for the Hulk to see through deception. Over the years, he’s even noticed Doctor Strange in astral form when other heroes haven’t. This power could be particularly useful now, potentially helping to resolve lingering issues from the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has mostly focused on the Hulk’s physical power, his return to a more primal state gives filmmakers a chance to explore his hidden, mystical abilities.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 31st.

Okay, so as a huge movie fan, I’m really curious about this whole memory spell situation in the latest film. Honestly, having the Hulk be the one who remembers Peter Parker feels… a little odd, doesn’t it? Is it the best way they could have broken the spell? I’d love to hear what you all think! Let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – come join the discussion now!

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2026-04-23 20:13