The Incredible Hulk has always been the odd movie out of the MCU, but the franchise’s latest release makes it the most relevant it’s been in almost two decades. 2008 marked the iconic start of the MCU with Iron Man being a huge success for the superhero genre. The impact of that film on the studio cannot be overstated, but it does mean that another 2008 Marvel release is often overshadowed. Even though The Incredible Hulk wasn’t a bomb, it has achieved nowhere near the same amount of reverence as Iron Man has.
The Hulk had a difficult MCU debut from the start with many obstacles affecting the film from production even to post-release. Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in the 2008 film, but he left the franchise after creative differences with Marvel. Mark Ruffalo was recast as the hero soon after, but the continuity of the character in the MCU had already taken a hit because there’s never been an Incredible Hulk sequel. Marvel’s black sheep film may have faded into obscurity if it weren’t for the MCU’s latest release, granting it a new wind 17 years later.
The Incredible Hulk Never Quite Fit The MCU
Before Disney’s acquisition, Marvel Studios was not a proper distributor and relied on third parties to distribute their films. While Paramount Pictures distributed the first two Iron Man films, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor, Universal Pictures had the rights to the Hulk for the next 15 years. Even though the MCU was still able to produce solo Hulk films, Universal would have first refusal and would receive a larger chunk of the profits. This has deterred Marvel from making any Incredible Hulk sequels and has affected the original film’s legacy.
With how little the film was referenced throughout the franchise, The Incredible Hulk became an overlooked movie that never quite fit into the MCU.
Disney seemingly got the rights to distribute the Hulk back in 2023, but so much time has pᴀssed since 2008 that it seemed like The Incredible Hulk would be doomed to fade into obscurity. The film did gain some traction when the late William Hurt reprised his role of Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Civil War, but the character wasn’t a huge factor in the subsequent MCU films. With how little the film was referenced throughout the franchise, The Incredible Hulk became an overlooked movie that never quite fit into the MCU.
The Incredible Hulk Is Now Impossible To Ignore
Almost two decades after its 2008 release, The Incredible Hulk has become relevant in the MCU once again and is now impossible to ignore. Ross is a major character in Captain America: Brave New World, acting as an opposition to Sam Wilson’s Captain America. Though Harrison Ford now plays the character, he is confirmed to play the same version of Ross from The Incredible Hulk. With his newfound presidency, Ross’ war on Bruce Banner is constantly referenced as a reason why he’s unfit for office.
Brave New World also featured some rare appearances by other Incredible Hulk characters, with Tim Blake Nelson returning as Samuel Sterns and Liv Tyler making a cameo as Betty Ross. Tim Roth previously returned as Emil Blonsky, but this was the first time that characters from the 2008 film were returning to the big screen outside of Banner and Ross. Brave New World confirms the events of The Incredible Hulk as canon, and it’s even made it relevant all these years later. For a film that was often looked over by fans, it’s finally marking its place in the MCU.
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
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
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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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