the Hulk has had a tumultuous journey throughout his past decade in the franchise. The character had one solo film with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, where Bruce Banner was portrayed by Edward Norton. He was subsequently recast and replaced with Mark Ruffalo, who would go on to play the character from 2012’s The Avengers and onward.
Ruffalo’s Hulk has some of the most MCU appearances and is one of the few characters introduced in Phase 1 that is still somewhat active. The Hulk’s future in the franchise is uncertain considering that Ruffalo hasn’t been seen on-screen since She-Hulk in 2022 and has yet to be confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, but one of Ruffalo’s best Hulk portrayals is in a recent underappreciated project. The actor voiced Bruce in season 3 of What If…? in 2024, and he plays two versions of Hulk that feel like compensation for the MCU’s failure with the character.
The MCU Hasn't Shown Off A Lot Of The Hulk At His Full Strength
Hulk Was Majorly Sidelined In Avengers: Infinity War And Endgame
Despite the Hulk being a part of the MCU’s original Avengers and a steady presence throughout the franchise’s long history, he is a character that has been majorly sidelined. The obvious reason is the character’s lack of solo projects, which is due to Universal having the distribution rights to any Hulk project, not Marvel. The character started as a pure rage machine in the early MCU, slowly developing into a version of himself who was more in control as a ing character in other projects. However, Hulk has been taking some huge steps back in the MCU since.
Things started to go downhill when Hulk was sidelined for the entirety of Avengers: Infinity Wars, as the Hulk persona struggled to come out after being embarrassed by Thanos. Bruce fought the battle in Wakanda entirely in the Hulkbuster suit. In Avengers: Endgame, Bruce and the Hulk have merged into the Smart Hulk persona. While it was fine for a few projects, Banner is still the Smart Hulk in the MCU to this day. It’s uncertain when or if he will change back to his normal form, and the Smart Hulk persona is hindering Bruce and Hulk’s full potential.
The Most Powerful Look We've Gotten At The Hulk Isn't In The Main MCU Timeline
What If…? Introduced Two Powerful Hulks
The live-action Hulk hasn’t been seen in the MCU since playing a ing role in She-Hulk, but Ruffalo returned to voice the character last year in What If…? season 3. The show explores situations in alternate timelines that go against the MCU canon, which is how it managed to introduce one of the most powerful versions of Hulk that fans have gotten yet. In an attempt to get rid of the Hulk entirely, Bruce blasts himself with gamma radiation. It turns him into a much more powerful version of the Hulk named the Apex, resembling a kaiju.
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The Apex is so strong that the Avengers can only go toe to toe with it in mech suits. However, the Apex still manages to wipe them out regardless. When Sam Wilson and his team step up, Sam goes to Bruce for help. Living in isolation since the creation of the Apex, Bruce decides to use a gamma bomb to become a Godzilla-like version of the Hulk called Mega Hulk. These are two of the coolest depictions of the Hulk that the MCU has gotten yet, and it’s a shame that it doesn’t even happen in the main timeline.
What If...? Season 3 Provides A Great Look At Just How Powerful The Hulk Can Be On-Screen
Hulk’s Powers in What If…? Can Translate To Live-Action
Though What If…? is an animated series, it still translates to how much is still possible with the Hulk character in the live-action MCU. If Marvel decides to finally make the good decision of reverting Bruce to his separate human and Hulk forms, the studio could still do something new with the hero besides having him punch his way out of situations. The Apex and Mega Hulk have some incredible powers that are rooted in gamma, so it still feels true to the Hulk character.
The Apex could spawn Gamma Beasts out of his skin, creating his own army. Mega Hulk is even more powerful as he easily defeated the Apex, taking his spot as the leader of the army. Reminiscent of Godzilla, Mega Hulk can blast gamma energy with his breath. Introducing these sorts of powers into the MCU wouldn’t be that difficult of a task, considering all Bruce would have to do is blast himself with gamma. What If…? managed to school the main MCU’s Hulk in just one episode, and the studio should take note for future live-action Hulk appearances.
What If...?
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024
- Showrunner
- Ashley Bradley
- Directors
- Bryan Andrews
Cast
Stanley Tucci
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Ashley Bradley, Matthew Chauncey
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
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