Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has been a staple in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the character’s debut in 2012’s The Avengers. Before that, the green monster has had a couple of movie adaptations in the past, none of which thrived at the box office.
While Edward Norton famously starred in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, it was Ruffalo who left an impression among the fans, especially after the Hulk branched out and had significant roles not only in the Avengers saga but also in other franchises, too, such as Thor: Ragnarok and Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
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Mark Ruffalo Responds To A Possible Solo Hulk Movie
During the premiere of his newest project, Poor Things, actor Mark Ruffalo revealed to ComicBook if a possible solo Hulk movie would happen following the recent Disney and NBCUniversal’s deal for Hulu. He stated:
“Not that I know of. I’ve been asked not to comment on it, that specifically. Hopefully, one day though they’ll work it out. I think it could be really cool, and I’ve been putting a lot into what it could be to be cool, but I don’t know yet.”
It’s plain to see that the Hulk franchise struggled to make it big on its own. Edward Norton’s version was heavily criticized despite its mild performance at the box office. The reason for the complicated set-up of getting a solo film lies in the same problem regarding rights and ownership.
Universal’s deal with Marvel permitted them to hold the rights to the 2008 movie for 15 years, which expires this year. Fans have become hopeful that Marvel Studios will be able to proceed with their own solo Hulk film, but the company confirmed last March that Universal still owns the distribution rights of any Hulk movie.
Ruffalo’s remark on the possibility of a new Hulk project only ignites fans’ hope that a much-awaited World War Hulk adaptation will happen soon. In 2021, Geeks WorldWide reported that the film was in the works at Marvel Studios, with a potential release date window in early 2024.
There was no confirmation from Marvel or Disney about the rumored project, so only time can tell if this plan is truly going to push through or if it will be just another failed attempt at reviving the Hulk franchise.
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Hulk Fans Express Disappointment At Marvel Studios
Fans lamented how the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasted the potential of the Hulk becoming more than just a side character. They remarked how he had a lot of stories to tell, but he was consistently pushed to the sideline. Check out their tweets below:
The biggest waste of a character in the mcu. The hulk has so much potential for interesting, nuanced stories yet they consistently sideline him 😑
— noah (@bestreviewsevr) December 7, 2023
Why can’t Disney just scoop up the rights to these characters from Universal? They’re just gathering dust over there.
— Chombe (@Chombe1080) December 7, 2023
MCU Ruined Hulk 🤦
— Sir~James~Nsane‼️ (@SirJamesNsane) December 7, 2023
Bring it on. Please. I will be waiting for another Hulk movie
— Uche Mercy Musics (@uchemercy84) December 7, 2023
A World War Hulk movie would be amazing.
— The Wanderer (@aladarvskron3) December 7, 2023
There is still hope for Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk to have its own solo movie. The actor has expressed his interest in reprising the role, and fans have also been clamoring for a new Hulk project, so it is only a matter of time before they find the right material to adapt to the screen.