Mark Ruffalo has revealed he’d love to do a solo Hulk movie, though the rights to the character have long been tangled up with Universal Pictures.
The actor opened up to GQ about the issue, explaining why it’s been difficult for Marvel to move forward with a standalone Hulk film.
Universal Still Holds the Rights
“I’d love to have a solo Hulk movie,” Ruffalo said. “I don’t know if you know the story of that, but [The Hulk’s movie rights are] not really owned by Marvel. It’s a Universal property.”
That’s been the case for years, which is why Marvel Studios avoided making a direct Hulk sequel after 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Instead, the studio worked around the contract by featuring Hulk as a supporting character — most notably in Thor: Ragnarok, which borrowed heavily from the Planet Hulk storyline but was titled as a Thor movie to bypass Universal’s rights.
Ruffalo on More Hulk Movies
Ruffalo said there have been talks about what a new Hulk film could look like, but also questioned audience appetite.
“We keep talking about it, what it would be,” he said. “There’s been so many Hulk movies already, it’s like, does anyone really want another one? But I’d love one, and I do think the audiences would be into it if we could crack the nut of it.”
Fans Say the MCU Has Already “Ruined” Hulk
While Ruffalo might be open to returning, many fans are not — at least not if it means continuing the version of the character seen in recent Marvel projects.
Following Avengers: Infinity War, the transformation into “Smart Hulk” in Endgame turned the once-raging powerhouse into a comedic figure, something fans saw as a major downgrade. The trend worsened in the She-Hulk Disney+ series, where Hulk became a full-on parody of himself.
Ruffalo’s outspoken political stances have also turned off parts of the fanbase, who see his real-life activism as spilling into the tone of his MCU appearances.
What’s Next for the Hulk
Rumors suggest Marvel may be planning to bring back Ruffalo as a more traditional “Savage Hulk” in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie, which could mark a course correction for the character.
Update: First look at Mark Ruffalo revealed.
There’s also been long-time rumors of a potential Hulk vs. Wolverine film featuring Hugh Jackman — a match-up comic book fans have wanted to see for decades. If true, it could give Marvel a chance to reintroduce the Hulk as the uncontrollable force fans originally fell in love with.
