8 Hulk Stories In The MCU That Went Nowhere

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has left several Hulk plotlines hanging over the years, with some that just went absolutely nowhere. While Bruce Banner remains a core Avenger, many of his narrative threads from the MCU timeline entries have either been abruptly dropped or quietly ignored. From relationships that fizzled out off-screen to character introductions that led nowhere, the Hulk’s cinematic journey has been more fragmented than most Marvel heroes.

Bruce Banner’s character arc in the MCU has been a unique case among the Avengers. Due to Universal Pictures retaining distribution rights to solo Hulk films, Marvel Studios has avoided producing standalone Hulk movies since The Incredible Hulk (2008). This effectively forced Banner’s development to unfold in other movies, such as Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers: Endgame. Consequently, many threads from his solo film and subsequent appearances were either resolved off-screen or just forgotten. Captain America: Brave New World rectified some of these, but several unresolved Hulk plots remain.

The Incredible Hulk

In The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner’s entire motivation revolves around finding a way to rid himself of the Hulk. The film sees him experimenting with different techniques and even reaching out to Mr. Blue (later revealed to be Samuel Sterns) in an effort to develop a cure. This desperation drives his character and represents a key part of his internal struggle. However, after The Incredible Hulk, the search for a cure is essentially abandoned without explanation.

By the time Bruce returns in The Avengers (2012), he appears to have accepted his dual idenтιтy to some extent, with no mention of a continued quest for a cure. While later films show Bruce attempting to balance his two personas (most notably with the emergence of Smart Hulk) there’s no proper closure to his original mission. It’s a major aspect of his character that simply fades away as the MCU shifts focus to team dynamics and larger crossover stories.

7

Bruce Meets Doc Samson

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk teased a deeper exploration of Hulk’s supporting cast with the introduction of Dr. Leonard Samson, played by Ty Burrell. In the comics, Leonard Samson becomes the gamma-powered superhero Doc Samson, often portrayed with flowing green hair and immense strength. The film version, however, presents him only as Betty Ross’s new boyfriend, a mild-mannered psychiatrist concerned about Bruce’s return.

Despite being a notable name from the comics, Samson’s role in the movie is small and undeveloped. Many naturally ᴀssumed the MCU was planting seeds for his transformation or expanded role in future installments. However, Samson never appears again, nor is he even mentioned in any subsequent MCU film. His potential arc, either as a rival, ally, or new gamma experiment, is left unexplored, a casualty of the MCU’s previous decision to distance itself from the 2008 The Incredible Hulk and its unique cast of characters.

6

Bruce And Natasha’s Romance

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

One of the more unexpected storylines introduced in the MCU was the budding romance between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff. Developed in Avengers: Age of Ultron, their relationship becomes a subplot that adds emotional depth to both characters. Natasha helps Bruce calm down and transform back into his human form, suggesting a deep emotional connection. There’s even a plan for them to run away together after Sokovia.

However, the storyline abruptly disappears after Age of Ultron. By the time Bruce returns to Earth in Avengers: Infinity War, their reunion is awkward and barely acknowledged. The relationship is never revisited in Endgame, though Hulk’s grief over her death certainly made it more poignant. For a pairing that was once portrayed as a meaningful emotional anchor, the romance is quietly dropped, making it one of the most glaring unresolved threads in Hulk’s MCU history.

5

Hulk Introduces His Son Skaar

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law

The Marvel Cinematic Universe shocked viewers with a surprise in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘s final episode: Bruce Banner shows up out of nowhere with his fully grown son, Skaar. The moment, played almost like a throwaway gag, raises a mulтιтude of questions that have yet to be answered. Primarily, it opens up more questions about Hulk’s time on Sakaar that remain a mystery.

Rather than setting up a new Hulk storyline, the reveal was treated like a light sitcom twist, quickly brushed over without substance. Since then, there’s been zero mention of Skaar in the MCU, though many have speculated that he could become a part of the MCU’s Young Avengers line-up. For such a potentially important character from the comics, this appearance felt more like a joke than a setup, making it one of the MCU’s most baffling abandoned Hulk arcs.

4

Bruce’s Love For Betty Ross

The Incredible Hulk

In 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner’s tragic romance with Betty Ross was a central emotional anchor. Played by Liv Tyler, Betty was not only Bruce’s confidante but also his moral compᴀss, someone who saw the human behind the monster. Their bond added emotional depth to the Hulk’s story and was clearly intended to be a recurring thread. However, following that film, Betty Ross vanished completely from the MCU narrative until Captain America: Brave New World.

Despite Bruce appearing in multiple major MCU films, there’s no mention of Betty — not even a pᴀssing line. Her absence is even more glaring considering her father, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, later reappears in Captain America: Civil War. With Betty returning and visiting her imprisoned father after Brave New World, the MCU could finally reunite the former lovers in a future project. Still, over a decade of silence makes this one of the MCU’s longest-running loose ends.

3

General Ross Hunts The Hulk

The Incredible Hulk

General Thaddeus Ross was originally defined by his relentless pursuit of the Hulk. In The Incredible Hulk, Ross wasn’t just a military man; he was a one-man vendetta machine, willing to sacrifice lives and morals to capture and weaponize the Hulk. This central conflict seemed poised to define Bruce’s long-term arc in the MCU. However, after that film, the feud is never meaningfully revisited. When Ross next appears in Captain America: Civil War, he’s inexplicably shifted into a bureaucratic role, pushing the Sokovia Accords and largely ignoring his Hulk obsession.

Even more strangely, Ross and Banner briefly coexist as uneasy allies in later films without acknowledging their intense past. It’s a jarring shift that overlooks years of character tension. What could have been a nuanced story of mutual distrust evolving into grudging respect instead becomes an unspoken truce, stripping away one of the MCU’s most promising antagonistic relationships.

2

Hulk And Bruce Have Relationship Problems

Avengers: Infinity War

One of the most intriguing MCU teases came during Avengers: Infinity War, when Hulk refused to come out during the battle, forcing Bruce to fight without him. This suggested an inner conflict between the two personas — something that the comics and The Incredible Hulk animated series did perfectly. Hulk and Banner’s struggle for dominance could have led to a powerful arc about idenтιтy, trauma, and co-existence. Instead, the conflict was ignored.

By Avengers: Endgame, Banner offhandedly reveals he’s merged with the Hulk to become “Smart Hulk,” resolving their issues entirely off-screen. What could’ve been a rich, character-driven evolution is summed up in a few lines, robbing audiences of the psychological drama and catharsis that made the Hulk so compelling. The choice to skip over this arc remains one of the MCU’s biggest missed opportunities, especially given how prominently it was hinted at in the lead-up.

1

Bruce Designs The Hulk Inhibitor

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

In the post-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Bruce Banner is seen in human form, his arm still in a sling from using the Infinity Gauntlet. Notably, he’s wearing a sophisticated device on his wrist, later identified as a “Hulk inhibitor,” allowing him to suppress his transformation. It was a fascinating detail, suggesting new Hulk tech and deeper lore to come.

However, when She-Hulk aired, the device was quickly introduced and just as quickly destroyed in the very first episode, with no further explanation or payoff. Its destruction seemed to serve no real narrative function beyond getting Bruce back into Hulk form temporarily. Since then, the inhibitor has been ignored, raising the question: why include it at all? It had the potential to explore Banner’s evolving control over Hulk or open the door to a more vulnerable version of the character — but instead, it was discarded.