Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk Set to Return for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ After Months of Denial

Tena Milakovic
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For months, fans have been left wondering about the fate of the Hulk in Marvel’s upcoming crossover event, with many receiving disappointing news from the actor himself. Mark Ruffalo had previously advised fans to temper their expectations regarding the Hulk’s presence in the studio’s most ambitious ensemble film. However, recent reports indicate a change in that narrative.

According to new information, Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner’s Hulk in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ contradicting his earlier statements about the character’s absence. This update marks a significant shift from what Ruffalo told Empire Magazine back in January, where he had confirmed that Hulk would not be part of the Russo Brothers-directed film.

At that time, Ruffalo maintained a calm and optimistic demeanor regarding the Hulk’s absence, stating, “As long as they keep finding cool things to do with Hulk. It’s given me so many gifts. You know, I probably wouldn’t be in Crime 101 if it wasn’t for The Avengers.” His comments left the door open for a potential return, but he did not commit to any specific timeline. This, along with March’s official cast reveal that notably excluded Ruffalo’s name, seemed to settle the matter for many fans ahead of the film’s December release.

However, the narrative began to shift this week following leaks about ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore,’ a theatrical re-release of the 2019 blockbuster that is designed to lead directly into ‘Doomsday.’ According to scooper MyTimeToShineHello, the re-release reportedly features a post-credits scene where Doctor Doom approaches Hulk, seemingly trying to recruit him for his plans, with Banner depicted as imprisoned in a military complex before Doom’s voice interrupts him.

This leak left some ambiguity regarding whether the scene features the true Bruce Banner or a multiversal variant, and whether Ruffalo himself would need to appear on screen. Some outlets speculated that the sequence could tie into a separate Hulk-like variant seen during filming, suggesting that Doom might be borrowing the character’s likeness rather than directly recruiting Ruffalo’s mainline version.

If Ruffalo’s return is confirmed, it wouldn’t be the first time a Marvel star has publicly denied involvement in a film only for that denial to later be proven misleading. Chris Evans also claimed he wouldn’t return for ‘Doomsday,’ only for his Captain America to appear in the film’s first teaser trailer shortly after, a tactic Marvel has frequently used to maintain secrecy around its biggest surprises.

Additionally, Ruffalo’s Hulk was confirmed to appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ released earlier this year, where the character was taken over by Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey and transformed into a more feral “Savage Hulk” persona, ending the film in an ambulance with his fate left uncertain. This storyline had previously fueled speculation that Banner’s arc was being kept separate from the main Avengers roster, making his potential appearance in ‘Doomsday’ feel like a natural continuation of unresolved storylines.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set to premiere on December 18, featuring the largest ensemble cast in franchise history, this latest twist adds another layer of intrigue to a marketing campaign that has heavily relied on secrecy and misdirection. Whether Ruffalo’s Hulk will make a grand return or appear in a smaller capacity tied to Doom’s mysterious plans remains to be seen, but fans won’t have to wait much longer for answers.

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