Since 2008, the Hulk has been part of the MCU, but Mark Ruffalo, who took on the role in 2012, has not yet had a solo film. Even though he would finally love to have his own film, he also doesn’t believe that it will happen anytime soon.
What does Mark Ruffalo say about a solo Hulk film? In an interview on the YouTube channel GQ, Mark Ruffalo was asked various questions about his films. He was also asked questions about his roles in the many Marvel films. He was asked if he ever wished for a solo Hulk film. He gave a clear answer:
Yeah, I would love to have a solo Hulk film. I don’t know if you know the story, but it [the Hulk brand] doesn’t really belong to Marvel. It’s property of Universal. I don’t know if it will ever really happen, to be honest.
Mark Ruffalo on a solo Hulk film (Source: YouTube)
While Marvel can use the character as a side character in films or series, the distribution rights for a solo film lie with Universal. Even in the MCU film The Incredible Hulk (2008), Universal handled the distribution in the USA. At that time, Edward Norton played Bruce Banner.
In the interview, he goes on to say that they probably have regular discussions about the topic, but he doesn’t know if audiences still want a Hulk film. However, if they could approach it correctly, he believes that fans would definitely love it.
In 2012, Mark Ruffalo took over the role in Avengers and since then, he has played the Hulk in various Marvel productions, just not in a solo film. That is not so easy in today’s MCU.
The Hulk is at a Standstill
What does MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes say about a Hulk solo film? Basically, I find the hero Hulk
incredibly interesting. He is at his core a tragic figure who has been burdened with a great weight. But Marvel has not built on that.
The character development of the Hulk has happened off-screen in the MCU since Age of Ultron, meaning not actively in the films.
- Between Age of Ultron and Thor: Ragnarok
- Between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame
- Between Avengers: Endgame and She-Hulk
This has wasted a lot of material if no film is made between the films. The Hulk seems to have overcome his tragedy and now lives comfortably with his burden. Within the films, he even has had a son. These are all possible storylines that could have been implemented as a film.
Unless you film a Hulk from another universe, it’s difficult to do something with the character. But what do you think?
Could Marvel make a new Hulk film? It is unknown how exactly and for how long the rights distribution with Universal lies. However, Marvel and Disney could negotiate. The film character Spider-Man also does not belong to Disney. The film rights for the web-slinger lie with Sony, even though they could have gotten even more.
What’s next for the Hulk in the MCU? His last appearance was in the series She-Hulk in 2022. Since then, it has been relatively quiet around the Hulk. It has not yet been confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as the Hulk for Avengers: Doomsday. Allegedly, he is also supposed to appear in the next Spider-Man film, but in September 2025, Ruffalo stated that he had not seen a script for the film yet (Source: GamesRadar).
This is particularly unusual because filming is already underway. In 2026, viewers can expect not only a new Spider-Man film. With Avengers: Doomsday, the next big cinema event is also coming in 2026. Everything you need to know about it can be found here: Avengers: Doomsday – All about the cast, release, and trailer – Everything about the upcoming Marvel film
