It is safe to say that Mark Ruffalo is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's longest-standing actors. Despite the fact that he wasn't the original actor to play Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk, in the MCU franchise (Edward Norton originally portrayed the character in 2008's The Incredible Hulk before being recast), he has carved out a cinematic legacy for the comic book legend. And, from those early Avengers movies right through to this year's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he has been a fixture of the franchise for a very long time.
Considering that the original Avengers actors are (mostly) retired from the MCU after 2019's Avengers: Endgame, Ruffalo's future as the Hulk has been the topic of discussion for some time now. Considering that he wasn't as active in the Multiverse Saga movies and / or TV shows on Disney Plus, fans were beginning to wonder if the MCU was moving on from both the Hulk and Ruffalo's portrayal of him.
However, Marvel has made it clear that the rumors of Mark Ruffalo's departure / recast as The Hulk couldn't be further from the truth. Before we reveal how, you should know that this article contains MAJOR SPOILERS from both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers Endgame: Encore.
Marvel confirms that Mark Ruffalo's Hulk will return in an unexpected place
Marvel Studios has officially confirmed Mark Ruffalo's future as the Hulk in a very unexpected way. Despite rumors that the actor was done with the role, he appeared in two Marvel Studios productions this year. Fans will know that he made his highly-anticipated return as Bruce Banner and his meaner, greener other half in Spider-Man: Brand New Day this summer and he has since appeared in one of the post-credits scenes for Avengers Endgame: Encore.
The scene picks up months after Banner's imprisonment due to the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (when Jean Grey infiltrated his mind and unleashed the Hulk). He's in a military facility located two miles underground, so there is no hope for even the Hulk clawing himself out of that one. But as he films his daily progress, he is visited by what appears to Doctor Doom, who shows up and takes him - and the Hulk - through a mystical passage.
This is a pretty significant development because it means that Ruffalo will likely appear in Avengers: Doomsday, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes do battle with Doctor Doom himself. Interestingly, Ruffalo isn't listed as part of the film's main cast, which would have made it the first Avengers movie that he didn't appear in. But this seems to suggest that he will be involved in some capacity - perhaps even as a weapon for Victor von Doom to wield.
Considering the questions circulating among Marvel fans about Mark Ruffalo's fate as the Hulk, many believed that the character's imprisonment was an attempt to write him off for now. For such a beloved character - an original Avenger no less - to be quietly imprisoned in a military facility for an outburst that he didn't cause (and Spider-Man not being allowed to save him), it had to mean something. And now, it turns out that it did.
Over the years, Marvel Studios has made some missteps when it comes to the Hulk character. Fans often felt that Ruffalo's acclaimed portrayal deserved his own movie to get that long overdue spotlight while others felt that the humorous approach that some of the Infinity Saga's movies took completely undermined the interesting character that he was. The Professor Hulk iteration that came about as a result of the latter was the final straw for many.
Through the return of Bruce Banner in the Multiverse Saga and now a more vicious Incredible Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the MCU might be one step closer to achieving the ultimate version of Ruffalo's Hulk. The next step, however, might just involve his return in Avengers: Doomsday. Considering that Doctor Doom is directly involved in that return, you can bet that it too will be a high-stakes one.
Rumors of Mark Ruffalo's departure have been greatly exaggerated for Marvel Studios clearly has big plans for his Hulk going forward. And we can't wait to see what they are!
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026. Avengers Endgame: Encore is in theaters now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google