Warning: This post contains spoilers for the new scenes in Avengers Endgame: Encore.
Doom is not only inevitable, but it's already here. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing up to release its most ambitious superhero crossover ever in the form of Avengers: Doomsday. However, the studio had little time to set the scene for this catastrophic tale. A sudden switch in plans meant all the story-building done with Kang the Conqueror had to be set aside in favor of Doctor Doom's big introduction. Fortunately, Marvel still found the perfect way to tease the events to come in the upcoming superhero ensemble.
The re-release of Avengers: Endgame, titled Encore, is finally here, and it features four new scenes meant to connect directly to the events of Avengers: Doomsday. Better yet, one of these sequences not only reveals the fate of a beloved hero but also confirms that he will return to the big screen later this year despite not being in the original casting announcement for Doomsday. Unfortunately, once we see him again, he may not be on the right side of history.
Original Avenger confirmed to be back in Avengers: Doomsday during the Encore post-credits scene
One of the post-credits scenes of Avengers Endgame: Encore features Bruce Banner incarcerated in a containment unit inside a military complex. This takes place after the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, where the gamma scientist lost control of his other half for the first time in a decade and turned into the destructive Hulk. This brief incident was more than enough for Banner's freedom to be taken away, but he's been making the most of his time as a prisoner, trying to come up with a new gamma suppression serum.
Before Banner can share his findings, the lights in the containment unit start to flicker, and the monitors in his room display static. A green light then appears in front of Bruce, but before the audience can see what's going on, the screen cuts to black. We then hear the original Avenger ask an unseen guest, "Who are you?" to which the mysterious figure responds: "Mr. Banner, I've come here to collect you."
Meanwhile, the theater's screen glitches, briefly showcasing magic runes similar to the ones seen in WandaVision. We can then hear the Hulk's roar, and when the lights come back, we get a look at a large green rune carved into the floor of the containment unit. The worst part? Banner is nowhere to be seen.
For an unknown reason, Doctor Doom took the Hulk out of his cell and took him somewhere else. However, it isn't far-fetched to assume that the Ruler of Latveria simply wanted to recruit the Green Goliath ahead of the events of Doomsday. Since Banner has appeared in all four Avengers movies released so far, it isn't surprising to learn that he will be back for a fifth ride.
Back in January 2026, insider James Mack revealed that Doom would have multiple followers who wear attire similar to his, and one of them would be the Hulk. These followers have now been confirmed to be the Latverian Witches—mysterious characters whose masks hide their real identities. We now know Banner will be one member of the group, and it has been all but confirmed that Doctor Strange will be another. Furthermore, industry scooper Alex Perez revealed that the Scarlet Witch will also be one of Doom's followers.
While Stephen Strange and Wanda Maximoff's magical abilities make them prime candidates for Doom to recruit, the same cannot be said about Bruce Banner. Maybe the doctor's scientific expertise will come in handy when trying to deal with the incursions happening all across the multiverse. That being said, it's also likely that the ruler of Latveria wants a strong enforcer to do his bidding. Regardless of the case, we finally have confirmation that the Hulk won't miss out on Avengers: Doomsday, and we can't wait to see what his role will be.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on Dec. 18, 2026.
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