There are several things I would love to see from Marvel regarding Avengers: Doomsday, but my biggest wish is that the studio doesn’t continue the tragic trend of wasting the Hulk 18 years after his debut in The Incredible Hulk. A surprise announcement from Marvel recently confirmed the main cast for Avengers: Doomsday and triggered a predictable firestorm of speculation. While the reveal that the likes of Ian McKellen and Channing Tatum would be joining the cast was stunning, it was arguably just as surprising to see that a litany of well-established MCU actors were omitted entirely.
All the same, the number of confirmed actors to star in Avengers: Doomsday now totals 27. This is a gargantuan cast set to rival that of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but the fact remains that it could be bigger. While story details for Avengers: Doomsday are still forthcoming, Marvel finds itself in a somewhat unenviable position as it will be expected to spotlight its newer cast, like Shang-Chi and Namor, while suitably rounding out the stories of its legacy cast. Regarding the latter, I sincerely hope Hulk is at the forefront of the studio’s priorities.
The Hulk Has Been Criminally Underused In The MCU Thus Far
He Boasts Few Appearances And Is Typically Nerfed
Hulk should be spotlighted in Avengers: Doomsday because Avengers movies are practically his only stomping ground. Unlike most of his Avengers colleagues, who received trilogies to help flesh out their characters in addition to their outings with the Avengers, Hulk has received just one solo movie. Granted, it took too long for his non-superpowered co-stars, Black Widow and Hawkeye, to enjoy something equivalent – but that doesn’t make Hulk’s overall exclusion any less egregious.
What makes this so frustrating is that Hulk and Bruce Banner are two of the most compelling characters in Marvel Comics.
Marvel’s aversion to spotlighting the Jade Giant was laid bare as recently as Captain America: Brave New World. Despite the movie’s тιтle, it was a sequel to The Incredible Hulk in every other way, spotlighting villains from Hulk’s mythos and continuing the character arcs of Thunderbolt Ross and Samuel Sterns, all in the Hulk’s very conspicuous absence. With Red Hulk now imprisoned on the Raft, it looks unlikely that Marvel will ever deliver on a classic Hulk vs. Red Hulk fight.
What makes this so frustrating is that Hulk and Bruce Banner are two of the most compelling characters in Marvel Comics. While I understand if Marvel Studios couldn’t make a solo Hulk movie, it could have at least left it to the likes of Avengers: Doomsday to at least somewhat spotlight the character, and perhaps deliver on a scene where Hulk’s power isn’t used as a platform to demonstrate the power levels of another character. Instead, I fear Avengers: Doomsday won’t feature the Hulk whatsoever.
Avengers: Doomsday’s New Cast Announcement Suggests The Hulk Could Be Missing From The Fourth Avengers Movie
Mark Ruffalo’s Name Did Not Appear On The Cast Chairs
A handful of characters are still a part of the MCU after being established in the Infinity Saga. Among them are Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, who were two of the first to be revealed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast in Marvel’s announcement livestream. Despite expectations, Mark Ruffalo’s name did not appear, and it is difficult to reconcile this with a bigger picture.
Like Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Mackie, I think Mark Ruffalo’s inclusion in the Avengers: Doomsday lineup would not have been surprising. While many believe that Wanda Maximoff will return, including Elizabeth Olsen’s name in the lineup would have spoiled the big reveal. Spider-Man and Vision, meanwhile, are both due for solo outings in a movie and series, respectively. With no such privilege being afforded Ruffalo, and no mystery surrounding his whereabouts (he was last seen in California with his family), the only conclusion we can draw from his exclusion from the Avengers: Doomsday lineup is that he simply won’t appear.
The Hulk Being Missing From Avengers: Doomsday Would Be A Waste
Marvel Is Running Out Of Time To Give Hulk The Story He Deserves
If Hulk truly is to be excluded from Avengers: Doomsday, my mind boggles. Set-ups like the arrival of his son, Skaar, on Earth are still to be resolved, and as Hulk only ever appears in Avengers movies or the solo outings of other characters like Thor and She-Hulk, it’s hard to see where the next could be. For example, it is doubtful that Hulk would have been omitted from Captain America: Brave New World only to appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Spider-Man 4.
Failing an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, it is still possible for Hulk to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Bruce Banner already shares a connection with one of the main stars of Avengers: Doomsday: Shang-Chi. Avengers: Doomsday will presumably address the beacon emanating from Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings, as teased in the post-credits scene of his solo movie, and Bruce Banner was among those discussing the development. In fact, none of the other characters privy to that conversation were announced to appear in Avengers: Doomsday.
Ultimately, Avengers: Doomsday would be the first Avengers movie that Hulk doesn’t appear in, and it makes no sense. In the absence of confirmation of his involvement, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for one of two eventualities. If it is not the case that Bruce Banner is among several Avengers mainstays whose names are to be announced (Benedict Cumberbatch also said he would appear in Avengers: Doomsday, after all), then I hope there is an upcoming MCU project due to spotlight him instead.
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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MCU Spider-Man 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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