The Incredible Hulk is a long-time fan favorite Marvel character. After over 64 years of different versions in comics and movies, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a chance to truly capture the character’s original concept in 2026. Hulk has been portrayed in many ways – sometimes as a simple green-skinned man, other times as a huge, roaring CGI creature, and even as the smart and articulate Professor Hulk. But a fresh take on the character might be on the way.
While Edward Norton was the first actor to play the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo is now the Bruce Banner most fans recognize. Ruffalo took over the role in 2012’s The Avengers and has been a key part of the MCU ever since, appearing in films like Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers: Infinity War. In Avengers: Endgame, the character evolved into Professor Hulk, and he’s largely remained in that form.
Grey Hulk Could Appear In Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Mark Ruffalo is set to reprise his role as Hulk in the upcoming 2026 film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will be his first appearance in a Spider-Man movie. While his exact role hasn’t been confirmed, a report from Daniel RPK suggests this version of Hulk will be the Grey Hulk. The report also claims Spider-Man will need to join forces with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to subdue him.
Many Marvel fans know the Hulk wasn’t always green. He first appeared in comic books as a grey character. However, Marvel decided to change his color to green because the grey printing process was unreliable and more expensive. Green was simply a more practical and cost-effective choice for production.
The story of Grey Hulk has become quite complex over time. Originally, some versions of the Hulk story showed him starting as grey before becoming green. Later, writers changed the origin to say he was always green. Eventually, it was revealed that the green “Savage Hulk” and the grey Hulk were actually two different personalities: the Savage Hulk embodying Bruce Banner’s anger, and the Grey Hulk representing his self-centeredness.
The Grey Hulk is frequently called Joe Fixit because of a famous story arc. Once, a spell stopped the Hulk from changing back into Bruce Banner. He discovered he could intentionally transform from his usual, powerful form into the Grey Hulk using sheer willpower. He then seemingly disappeared, and everyone thought he was dead. But it was revealed that the Grey Hulk had been living in Las Vegas, working as a security professional under the name Joe Fixit.
In the comics, a character named Doc Samson combined Bruce Banner’s different Hulk personas – including the Savage and Grey Hulks – using hypnosis. This process resulted in the creation of Professor Hulk, a much more controlled and stable form of the Hulk. While the Professor Hulk we see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) differs from the comic book version, it’s notable that elements of the Grey Hulk have already appeared in the films.
The comic series Spider-Man: Brand New Days could open the door for the Grey Hulk to reappear. If this version of the character shows up in a movie, it would allow Marvel to revisit the original Hulk concept. While the Grey Hulk hasn’t been as popular as the green, angry version, Brand New Day might give him a chance to shine and gain a wider following.
Brand New Day Can Finally Bring Back the Best Cut Age of Ultron Storyline
It’s still unclear how the Grey Hulk will appear in the MCU’s Brand New Day, especially since the current Hulk (Professor Hulk) is often considered a more stable version of the Grey Hulk. However, the upcoming 2026 film might draw inspiration from a discarded storyline from Age of Ultron.
The filmmakers initially planned to include Grey Hulk in Age of Ultron, a movie that already focused heavily on Hulk. Early story ideas involved Wanda Maximoff using her powers to trigger a more furious, grey-skinned version of Hulk. This Grey Hulk was intended to be the one causing destruction in South Africa, but the final cut of the movie instead features the standard green Hulk in that role.
There’s been a lot of talk that the next Spider-Man: Brand New Day story will feature a villain who can control minds. This has led to speculation about Professor Hulk potentially becoming a much more aggressive version of the Hulk. If the Grey Hulk does show up, it’s possible this villain could trigger his appearance by taking control of Bruce Banner, similar to what was originally planned for Wanda Maximoff years ago.
As a huge Hulk fan, I’m seriously hyped to see him back in Brand New Day! I’d love to hear what you all think, so head over to the ComicBook Forum and let’s chat about it!
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2026-01-17 20:42