In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the one character that has so thoroughly captured the imagination of fans while simultaneously posing one of the franchise’s most perplexing dilemmas is none other than the Hulk. Despite consistently appearing since his solo debut in 2008, the Incredible Hulk hasn’t had his own film since – and we might finally learn why.
Mark Ruffalo, the latest actor to embody Bruce Banner’s alter ego, has recently shed light on the complex situation between his character’s potential and the stark realities of Hollywood’s financial and creative directions.
During an interview with GQ, the 56-year-old actor expressed his excitement about Marvel’s expansion but couldn’t help wondering about the allure lost in the transition from the traditional three-year wait for Marvel films to the relentless pace of content release on Disney+.
“It was really exciting. But the thing about Marvel movies is you had to wait three years, and that created a mystique.” This mystique, a crucial ingredient in Marvel’s recipe for anticipation and fan excitement, seems diluted in today’s fast-food-style consumption of media.
Last year alone, Marvel released a combined six films and television shows, which struggled to find an audience due to “superhero fatigue.” The vast majority of these have shown a consistent downward trend as far as financial success and critical reception goes.
With Marvel Studios reportedly pulling back on their content throttle, there’s a looming question of whether these “corrections,” as Ruffalo diplomatically puts it, can restore the studio’s former glory or if they’re merely a bandage for a much deeper wound. Might these changes be the reason why Marvel is hesitant to give the Hulk his own solo outing?
2008’s The Incredible Hulk, while achieving cult status over the years, has remained an outlier in a franchise where characters like Thor and Captain America have received multiple solo films. Ruffalo’s desire to helm a standalone Hulk movie has always been apparent. Still, it’s not lost on him the financial and logistical hurdles that such a project would entail.
“I’d love to do a standalone Hulk, I just don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” Ruffalo admitted in the GQ interview. Expressing the harsh reality of giving the Hulk a solo film, Ruffalo continued, “It’s very expensive if you did a whole movie, which is why they use the Hulk so sparingly. I priced myself out!”
Ruffalo’s belief aside, it seems Marvel’s decision against a standalone Hulk film might just be an excuse. The Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, focusing on Bruce Banner’s cousin, cost up to $25 million per episode, totaling nearly $250 million for the entire season! To put this into perspective, that’s the whole production budget for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
If Marvel had redirected its focus from She-Hulk, which wasn’t exactly a hit among audiences, the Hulk could have had his own solo film. Among the original six founding Avengers, Hulk is the only character without a new dedicated project since. Ironically, he appears to be the runt of the litter, at least from Marvel’s point of view.
Regardless, Ruffalo has built himself a respectable career outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a veteran of both indie darlings and blockbuster spectacles, Ruffalo can finally move on from the shackles of hoping for a standalone Hulk film to bigger creative ventures that might one day earn him an Academy Award.
