So Captain America: Brave New World was a Hulk movie without the Hulk, right? At the next Avengers get-together, Bruce Banner owes Sam Wilson a drink or two for dealing with a parade of the Big Green Guy’s problems. Wilson and the newly minted Falcon – Joaquin Torres – were undoubtedly up to the task of taking down Samuel Sterns and his gamma-radiated brain while also dealing with a gamma-infused, rage-filled Thunderbolt Ross, but those are Hulk’s villains, not Cap’s. The Marvel Cinematic Universe film once again raised the question that Marvel fans have been asking for over a decade: Why haven’t we gotten a Hulk movie?
Until the events of Brave New World, the unquestioned black sheep of the MCU was The Incredible Hulk. Aside from a quip now and then about Hulk wrecking Harlem and a surprising redemption tour for Emil Blonsky – a.k.a The Abomination – in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, the second film of what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been all but pushed aside. But now that Hulk’s foes are back, audiences deserve to see more of the hero himself.
There’s never been a better time for a Hulk movie. Rumors have floated around recently – though they’re hardly the first – that the brass at Marvel have something in the works for the character, but nothing official has been announced. And why not? Mark Ruffalo’s turn as Bruce Banner and his alter ego has been one of the most well-received performances in the entire MCU. From delivering an all-time line in The Avengers – honestly, who doesn’t always feel at least a little angry – to teaching his cousin the ropes of super strength, the Hulk’s scenes in the MCU deserve all of the flowers and more.
Now, thanks to She-Hulk and the introduction of Red Hulk, the family of brightly-hued gamma giants is finally rounding into form. Oh, and don’t forget that Maury Povich-style reveal at the end of She-Hulk: Bruce has a son! With Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner, Thaddeus Ross, and the briefly introduced Skaar, there are more than enough Hulks to fill out a film.
One of the best parts of the MCU is the interconnectedness of the properties, but sometimes, a standalone project is necessary. While She-Hulk was full of winks and nods to the larger MCU, the show did something almost entirely unique and stepped outside of the narrative framework in the fourth-wall breaking way that only Jennifer Walters and Deadpool have brought to the franchise thus far. So, why not use that and take it one step further? Find a way for the Hulks to step outside of the main storyline and smash their way through a solo film.
Yes, consequences make for good storytelling, but sometimes, audiences just want to see their favorite characters cut loose and make a mess. That’s the greatest potential for a Hulk movie: Marvel can finally let the monsters loose.
Ultimately, the Hulk should remain a part of the MCU for as long as Ruffalo wants to play the part. If that means guest and co-starring appearances in other properties, so be it, but the character deserves a starring role. And who knows, maybe Hulk feels the same. If so, not getting a solo film might make him angry, and you won’t like him when he’s angry…