Bruce Banner has been prevalent in the MCU since the franchise’s inception, and the character’s most exciting story, World War Hulk, is rumored to be finally in the works. The Hulk first entered the MCU timeline in 2008 with The Incredible Hulk, though the character looks a lot different in the film, as the тιтular hero was played by Edward Norton. Four years later, in The Avengers, the actor was replaced by Mark Ruffalo. While Hulk hasn’t had a second solo movie in the MCU, Ruffalo became a major player in the series up to and beyond Avengers: Endgame.
Hulk is one of the few original Avengers to have a role in the Multiverse Saga. Also, The Incredible Hulk has surprisingly become one of the most important MCU Phase 1 movies, as Abomination returned in two MCU projects in 2022: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Meanwhile, The Leader made his appearance as the main antagonist of Captain America: Brave New World and Red Hulk joined the MCU. With all the returning Hulk-related characters and Bruce’s own appearances, a lot has been hinted at regarding a possible World War Hulk movie.
World War Hulk Has Long Been Rumored In The MCU
It’s The Most Wanted Solo Hulk Project
World War Hulk has been rumored to be a focus in the MCU for years, and many Easter eggs have been dropped throughout the cinematic universe, hinting at the idea that the storyline could eventually be adapted for the universe. Thor: Ragnarok incorporated ideas from Planet Hulk, the comic that leads into World War Hulk, and Mark Ruffalo has expressed interest multiple times in adapting it. Honestly, likely the biggest issue that held Marvel Studios back from making it is the rights over the character.
Universal has owned the film rights to Hulk since 1990. However, the company has a deal with Disney and Marvel Studios that allows the MCU to include Hulk in various ensemble projects. Unfortunately, this doesn’t allow Disney to make a solo movie for the Hulk, as Universal still owns those rights. To do World War Hulk, the MCU would have to really focus on making it an ensemble piece instead.
The MCU Has Changed A Key Setup For World War Hulk
Some Aspects Can’t Happen Because Of MCU Storylines
Though World War Hulk could still easily work within the framework of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there have been a number of changes made in the MCU that messed with some key setups to the storyline. The most notable are the Illuminati and Sakaar and the role they play within the story and where they were introduced in the MCU.
One of the inciting incidents that leads into World War Hulk is the Illuminati banishing Hulk from Earth. The Illuminati have appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but they were from another universe, and it is relatively easy to ᴀssume they never crossed paths with Hulk from the sacred timeline. One of the main driving forces behind Hulk’s rampage is his desire for revenge.
Sakaar plays an important part in setting up World War Hulk as well, as it was the main setting for Planet Hulk, the storyline that led into World War Hulk. Though Sakaar is featured heavily in Thor: Ragnarok, it left out a lot that would be needed to really make sense of the events that lead to World War Hulk.
Another aspect of World War Hulk that was changed is that Red Hulk isn’t around during the events of World War Hulk, instead coming in after that, and is revealed to be Ross during the events of World War Hulks. Given that Red Hulk has now appeared in the MCU, this would also change a bit if they were to adapt the storyline.
How The MCU Has Set Up World War Hulk
She-Hulk Was Key In Setting Things In Place
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law teased the story as early as its first episode, “A Normal Amount of Rage,” when a Sakaarian spaceship appeared, causing Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters to veer off the road. Sakaar is the planet in Thor: Ragnarok, and in the comics, World War Hulk follows the Hulk’s departure from that world. In She-Hulk episode 2, “Superhuman Law,” Banner says, “I got some things to take care of” before flying away in another Sakaarian ship, which all but confirms what’s next for the super scientist.
Sakaar plays an important role in the World War Hulk comic book story, and though Thor: Ragnarok pulled from parts of the story, such as Hulk being a gladiator, it didn’t go any further than that. Mark Ruffalo commented on the tease after admitting that not much had been mentioned about the Hulk’s time on Sakaar or turning into Smart Hulk.
The actor explained, “I do think that the trip to Sakaar is a good place to start, and what that means to the idea of what the fans have been asking for,” hinting that World War Hulk could fill in the gaps. However, he didn’t give much away.
While Marvel Studios has left viewers wondering what happens next as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law had a lot of loose ends, Ruffalo’s comments are at least positive. And while it might have been totally cryptic, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s head writer Jessica Gao addressed the World War Hulk tease by saying, “I think it kind of opens up the possibility, if Marvel chooses to do something with that, to pick up that story. If they wanted.”
Captain America: Brave New World dove into the Hulk side of the MCU, albeit without the presence of Bruce Banner. Now that the Leader has officially been introduced into the MCU, and was shown to manipulate President Thaddeus Ross into becoming Red Hulk, they can incorporate these characters into the MCU’s version of World War Hulk, which would already need significant changes to the source material to work within the cinematic universe.
World War Hulk Story Explained
It’s An Intergalactic Hulk Tale
To really understand World War Hulk, a familiarity with Planet Hulk which initially released in April 2006 is necessary, as it is the storyline that lead directly into the next one. During an incident where Hulk lost control and attacked Las Vegas, the Illuminati decided to banish Hulk from Earth because they felt he was too dangerous. During his journey, Hulk crash lands on the planet Sakaar and is forced into gladiator fights for the emperor. He gains favor of the planet and forms his “Warbound” team to eventually leave Sakaar and make their way to Earth.
This is where the story of World War Hulk begins. His first stop is the moon where he defeats Illuminati member Blackbolt before touching down in Manhattan. He travels to the home of the X-Men and defeats several members before leaving. He continues his rampage, fighting members of various teams including, the New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, and the Fantastic Four.
Hulk intends to destroy New York City but not necessarily kill innocent people. Eventually he squares off against Sentry and the two battle it out furiously before both of them pᴀss out and revert back to their other selves, Robert Reynolds and Bruce Banner. Eventually Tony Stark uses weaponized satellites to overcome Hulk and get him back to an unconscious Banner. He is then imprisoned in an underground facility along with the rest of his Warbound team.
When A World War Hulk Movie Could Happen
Pinpointing When Is Hard Given The Current Timeline
There are some clear places in the Multiverse Saga timeline where World War Hulk would fit perfectly if it was to happen. In particular, there are some huge gaps in MCU Phase 6, notably in the year between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, where the only movie scheduled is the fourth installment for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
However, the best possible time for World War Hulk would be after Avengers: Secret Wars, which concludes the Multiverse Saga. World War Hulk would be too much of a distraction from the Avengers movies if it was released in MCU Phase 6. It’s such a mᴀssive story on its own that it could be the main story arc for multiple projects in the MCU.
Given that World War Hulk story includes not only the Hulk, but the Avengers, the Inhumans, and the X-Men, the MCU could risk being overstuffed. World War Hulk wouldn’t be the same without the mutants, so they need to be well-established in the universe by the time the movie is released. The MCU doesn’t seem intent on fully bringing in Mutants during the Multiverse Saga, meaning a World War Hulk movie could still be many years away.
World War Hulk Cast: Who Could Return
Bruce, Jennifer, & Others Are Possible
The most obvious candidate for a World War Hulk movie cast is Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner and Hulk. Notably, while Ruffalo has made comments that suggest the film would be possible, he has also stated that Kevin Feige told him there would never be a solo MCU Hulk movie in February 2024 – but this doesn’t strictly make the movie null and void, as it could simply be an ensemble film. What it would perhaps mean, however, is that the focus would have to be more on other heroes, with the Hulk more squarely being the antagonist of the story.
The potential World War Hulk roster was also opened up by She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, which introduced not only the тιтular character and her transformation, but also brought in Hulk’s son Skaar. As figures close to Banner – and Hulks in their own right – this raises a lot of potential for the duo to either be the emotional heart of the story as they try and find and calm their raging family member, or to themselves have turned rogue and require Banner and the Hulk to try and help them.
It makes a World War Hulk storyline feel all the more viable, given the behemoth is also a key part of the comic iteration’s plot.
A fourth Hulk has also recently been brought to the table after years of hopes they would appear, as Thaddeus Ross turns into Red Hulk towards the end of Captain America: Brave New World. This was exciting not only because the Red Hulk reveal had been decades in the making following Thaddeus Ross’ debut in The Incredible Hulk, but also because it makes a World War Hulk storyline feel all the more viable, given the behemoth is also a key part of the comic iteration’s plot.
Other than this, it stands to reason that the MCU would use all the introduced and living members of the comic storyline in an MCU movie adaptation, meaning Doctor Strange and the about-to-be introduced Mr. Fantastic could also play a key role, given they were core members of the Illuminati team that sent Hulk from Earth in the original narrative. However, Iron Man would be impossible to bring into the story following his MCU death despite being a main character in the original edition of World War Hulk, and Black Bolt similarly doesn’t yet canonically exist in the main universe.
Notably, the World War Hulk comic also includes several of the X-Men, Black Bolt, Ghost Rider, and a number of as-of-yet-unestablished superhero teams. This means the franchise may wish to wait until at least some of these figures are brought in to use the prospective story, particularly the X-Men.
World War Hulk Story Details
The World War Hulk movie could be the Multiverse Saga’s Civil War, as it’s an epic crossover. The comics follow Hulk being tricked into going to space by the Illuminati, and once he arrives back on Earth, seeking revenge on the superhero group. Hulk confronts Professor Xavier, kills several X-Men, and fights The New Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and Gamma Corps. While elements of the story have been used in the MCU, such as Bruce Banner being exiled — though it was of his own volition — the events between that moment and his reappearance in Thor: Ragnarok remain unknown.
Along with the hints in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Illuminati was introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, leading to the possibility that the Hulk could have an altercation with the group in the future. However, given that the current iteration of the superhero is Smart Hulk, who isn’t all that angry, he isn’t exactly vengeful either. But that’s where the Hulk’s son, Skaar, comes in. Introduced at the end of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, in World War Hulk, he could be vengeful after being abandoned by his father, making him a potentially vital character story-wise.
Then there’s the potential for Red Hulk to be involved, as the character was first introduced in the World War Hulk comic storyline. Captain America: Brave New World also ended with the possibility that Thaddeus Ross could eventually become the Red Hulk again despite being stopped by Captain America, and he’d be a viable option for a prospective MCU Hulk movie. Indeed, this may open ways for the franchise to explore a rampaging Hulk without undoing Banner’s own storyline of finding inner peace, potentially instead placing him as the best candidate to face off against the berserker Red Hulk.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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