Let’s face the facts, MCU fans: The chances of a Hulk solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (since the first one, that is) have been fairly grim in the last few years. Mark Ruffalo, the beloved rage monster incarnate, recently spilled the beans on the future (or lack thereof) of Hulk’s cinematic solo film, and it’s anything but pleasant news.
During a chit-chat at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where Ruffalo was crowned with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, no less, the actor delved into discussions he’s had with Marvel Studios’ chief, Kevin Feige. The gist of that conversation was that Hulk’s path in the MCU would revolve around making guest appearances in other Marvel films instead of his own standalone film.
Feige’s proposition was for the Hulk to have a character arc spanning four films, transforming the green “raging maniac” into an “integrated character.” So, essentially, this evolution would unfold without Hulk ever getting his own spotlight film or show.
Ruffalo seemed to take this news in stride, despite it dashing the hopes and dreams of Marvel fans clamoring for a World War Hulk epic or any standalone Hulk smash-fest. In the same interview, Ruffalo hinted at the Hulk’s return in the upcoming film, Captain America: Brave New World, setting the rumor mill ablaze with speculation.
Unfortunately, a swift reality check came not too long after, courtesy of Variety, debunking the Hulk’s appearance in the said film with the explanation that he “misspoke.” Ultimately, this further strengthened the theory about the Red Hulk making his debut as the alter ego of General Thunderbolt Ross.
Harrison Ford will play the aforementioned role, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from his interviews, it’s not to ask him about the characters he plays. Some MCU actors have a penchant for letting things slip, but Ford is not one of them.
Going back to the Hulk solo film saga, we’d do well to remember that The Incredible Hulk‘s rights were entangled in a legal maze between Universal Pictures and Marvel Studios, which only recently saw the distribution rights swing back to Marvel last year.
Despite being a much better film than its 2003 counterpart, The Incredible Hulk failed to set the box office on fire, grossing $265 million worldwide against a $138 million production budget. Even so, it was right there at the dawn of the MCU and helped build the biggest shared universe in cinema.
Furthermore, Marvel Studios’ decision to replace Edward Norton as the Hulk with Mark Ruffalo was not a popular one. Sure, Norton has a reputation for being difficult to work with, but the irony is that he bears a commanding presence in any role he takes on. More than that, if you ask us Ruffalo’s Hulk feels second-rate compared to Norton’s.
When it comes down to who the Hulk really is, what do you picture? A feral, animalistic creature whose only voice of reason is unbridled rage, or a PG-rated Hulk who smashes on cue from his Avengers teammates and understands human language?
The Hulk is supposed to induce fear in audiences. Remember when Scarlet Witch messed with Bruce Banner’s mind and turned the Hulk into a raging beast that needed the Hulkbuster to bring it down? That’s exactly what the Hulk is supposed to be.
Sadly, Marvel Studios doesn’t like to take risks. By giving audiences a chaotic good Hulk, Marvel caters to all kinds of audiences, making it possible to draw in thousands of people at the box office (until that well runs dry).
In the end, the Hulk’s solo film prospects may never come to fruition because the studio that owns the rights to the character is unwilling to do him justice. Unless there’s a huge shift in approach to the Hulk, I can’t envision a future where a standalone Hulk film would turn into a money-maker for Marvel, let alone a critical success.
