Marvel may be staging a Heartstopper reunion in the MCU (yes, seriously)

Anything can happen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That much has always been true, but it rings that much truer now that we're in the midst of the Multiverse Saga. Throughout Phases Four and Five, we've had classic Marvel heroes from different earths appear, as well as the introductions of a ton of new heroes who are destined to become fixtures of the MCU going forward.

Among those new characters is the one named Teen from upcoming Disney Plus series Agatha All Along, played by Heartstopper star Joe Locke. Fans are convinced that the character is actually Billy Kaplan, the son of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch. And if that is indeed the case, a new rumor suggests that we might be about to get a Heartstopper reunion in the MCU.

Marvel reportedly interested in casting Kit Connor as Hulkling

According to veteran Marvel scooper MyTimeToShineHello, Marvel Studios would like to cast Kit Connor as Hulkling in the MCU. Now, it's too early to tell whether this will actually come to fruition or not, but what is interesting is that fellow Marvel insider Alex Perez corroborates the rumor, adding that he "heard similarly folks".

Connor is, of course, best known for playing Nick Nelson in Netflix's Heartstopper and, like Joe Locke, his career has ascended into the stratosphere because of it. It wouldn't be too surprising if he found his way to the biggest franchise in Hollywood rather early into his career, especially as that's what has happened with Locke.

But the MCU is a big franchise and it doesn't necessarily mean that two actors who have worked together would ever cross paths in a saga that expands across the world, the galaxy, the timeline itself, and now different universes. However, it's the character that Marvel seemingly wants Connor to play that ensures they absolutely would.

Hulkling was introduced into the Marvel Comics in 2005's Young Avengers. He has similarities to the Hulk, but he can also shapeshift, which means that his powers are more versatile that just that of super-strength. He ends up developing a relationship with Wiccan, a.k.a. Billy Kaplan, which was a major step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in both Marvel Comics and comic books in general. Known as "Marvel's most prominent gay couple", Hulkling and Wiccan's relationship has been acclaimed by fans and critics, and they continued to make history as the two ended up getting married.

Needless to say, if Connor is cast as Hulkling in the MCU, it would only be a matter of time until he crosses paths with Locke's character (if Locke is indeed playing Billy, that is). And it's not that the idea of Hulkling's arrival would come out of nowhere, either, as there could be a case made for two separate storylines laying the groundwork for his introduction.

The MCU is currently placing a focus on the Hulks once again, through both She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and Captain America: Brave New World, so it wouldn't be too surprising if Hulkling was born out of the aftermath of those. Meanwhile, new rumors suggest that Billy will return after Agatha All Along in a Young Avengers project (which may or may not involve a plot to locate his mother Wanda), and given that Hulkling is an important part of the Young Avengers in the comics, it would make sense for him to be a part of the team's line-up in the MCU, too.

Connor and Locke have incredible on-screen chemistry (and we will no doubt see it on-screen again in Heartstopper season 3), so there couldn't be two better candidates to bring the love story of Hulkling and Wiccan to life. If Marvel chooses to tell that story, the Heartstopper stars would be inspired casting - and given how popular the Netflix series is, it could open the MCU up to a whole new legion of fans in the process.