The Hulk’s MCU Return Can End A Ridiculous 13-Year Streak

With the reintroduction of the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following a four-year absence, the upcoming film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will at last put an end to an unexpected and disheartening 13-year streak. Since its inception, the MCU has been enriched by Bruce Banner’s presence, although he has only starred in a single solo movie, portrayed by Edward Norton. Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of the Hulk graced all four Avengers films, and has collaborated with characters such as Thor, Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, and in 2026, will team up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”.

No Way Home” wrapped up Peter Parker’s origin story within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the end of director Jon Watts’ trilogy. This paves the way for new director Destin Daniel Cretton to lead an exciting new chapter titled “Spider-Man: Brand New Day“. It was announced in 2023 that another solo “Spider-Man” movie is in development, with Tom Holland reprising his role as a Peter Parker who’s now anonymous and forgotten. Filming for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” began on August 3, 2025, and since then we’ve received significant updates, such as the confirmation of a returning original Avenger, which could potentially disrupt an ongoing MCU pattern.

The Hulk Hasn’t Transformed On-Screen Since 2012’s The Avengers

On August 1, 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Ruffalo is set to reappear as Bruce Banner in the upcoming movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Ruffalo will team up with Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal, hinting at a possible three-way conflict between Spider-Man, the Punisher (Frank Castle), and the Hulk. The Hulk’s anticipated transformation back into his savage form could shake things up, as this version of the character has not been seen since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Interestingly, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will mark an even more intriguing break in the Hulk’s absence from such a formidable state.

Transforming the Hulk back into his wild form in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” could potentially mark the return of the Avenger’s on-screen transformations, a spectacle we haven’t witnessed since 2012’s “The Avengers”. In that movie, Bruce Banner declared he was always angry before morphing into the Hulk to deliver a powerful punch. However, in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the Hulk transformed back into Banner but not the other way around, much like in “Thor: Ragnarok”. In “Avengers: Infinity War”, the Hulk remained untransformed due to his apparent impotence. In contrast, “Avengers: Endgame” introduced us to Smart Hulk, a new version of Banner.

Attorney at Law,” although we only caught a glimpse of Bruce Banner starting to transform into the Hulk. Notable characters like Jennifer Walters (played by Tatiana Maslany), Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), Todd Phelps (Jon Bass), and Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) have all turned into Hulks in recent times, but not Bruce Banner. The upcoming series “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” hints at Bruce Banner’s transformation, making Mark Ruffalo’s return even more intriguing.

Mark Ruffalo’s Return as the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day Explained

In the upcoming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” I’ll be making a comeback, marking my first appearance within the MCU since 2022’s “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” This return could potentially set the stage for me to step back into the role once more in the Russo brothers’ forthcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” I initially stepped into the Hulk’s shoes in 2012’s “The Avengers,” and since then, I’ve been a key figure in the franchise. Despite the distribution rights to the Hulk being with Universal Pictures, which makes creating solo movies challenging, the character continues to be part of other heroes’ tales.

Over the years, Bruce Banner has been a crucial member of the Avengers team. He battled alongside Thor in 2017, greeted Shang-Chi to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, and worked with his cousin Jennifer Walters in the series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. However, after Spider-Man: No Way Home, it appears that Bruce Banner has lost all memory of Peter Parker, despite their joint efforts against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. This has led some to speculate that the relationship between Banner and Parker may be adversarial rather than cooperative in the upcoming Brand New Day.

In a potential turn of events, following short skirmishes, Spider-Man and the Punisher might find common ground to confront a ferocious incarnation of the Hulk. With Michael Mando reprising his role as Mac Gargan’s Scorpion, along with whispers about Mister Negative, the Inner Demons, and potentially even an appearance by Mephisto (portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen) in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, these adversaries could restore the Hulk to his original self. This would offer a remarkable transformation scene for Banner and pose a serious threat to the heroes of New York, as an unbridled Hulk, incapable of control, could wreak havoc on a colossal scale.

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2025-08-17 23:11