The last we saw of Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was flying off to parts unknown in a Quinjet in the aftermath of the final battle in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
As things stand, it isn’t known when or where he will return. Recently, it has been said that he won’t appear in the next movie in the franchise – Captain America: Civil War – but we all know too well that rumours like that shouldn’t necessarily be believed.
With that in mind, we have to start contemplating when and where he might re-emerge in the MCU – and that’s exactly what we’re going to do here.
So, starting with the least likely and ending with the most obvious, here are ten ways that the Hulk could theoretically re-emerge in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
On Television
In theory, Hulk (or, more likely given the budgetary restraints of television, Bruce Banner) could re-emerge for the first time in one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe television shows.
It’s very unlikely, but it could happen and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seems like the most obvious one in which he might appear.
Phil Coulson’s team do actively seek out individuals with superpowers and Hulk is indeed an individual with superpowers who happens to be currently missing – it would, therefore, make sense for them to be the ones who find him (and there’s precedent for big actors not being averse to appearing on television – just look at Samuel L. Jackson).
In A Marvel One-Shot
Marvel Studios have set a new precedent for explaining things in a different way now that they have come out and made a short One-Shot movie which confirms the existence of the real Mandarin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – could they do something similar regarding the whereabouts of the Hulk?
A five minute movie showing the green hero’s route after he flew off in a Quinjet at the climax of Avengers: Age of Ultron would be a potentially great way to set up his next appearance.
For instance, the One-Shot could be called something like “That Time I Woke Up in Space” and could depict Bruce Banner crash-landing on a distant planet and waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, ready for an appearance in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie – if indeed that’s the direction Marvel Studios want to take him.
In His Own Solo Movie
Given that no Hulk solo movie is happening in Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which doesn’t end until 2019), the likelihood of this happening seems slim – it would mean Hulk wouldn’t be a part of the Avengers: Infinity War movies, for example – but don’t be too surprised if Marvel Studios pull a complete curveball and exclude him from the entire third act of the MCU.
If Marvel Studios want to start completely afresh with the big green guy, having him disappear for a while before re-emerging in another solo movie (Planet Hulk, perhaps?) in Phase Four could be the way to go about it.
Fans were disappointed when Phase Three was announced without a Hulk movie included in it – the fourth phase of the MCU franchise could be a good way to rectify that and it would have an even bigger impact on audiences if the character had been missing for a while prior to its release.
As A Pawn Of Loki’s In Thor: Ragnarok
As far back as the end of Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – in the first Avengers movie, to be specific - Loki was planning on using Hulk to his advantage by unleashing him on his fellow heroes, utilising him as a distraction while he went about his attempts to conquer the Earth.
Of course, that attempt failed and Loki was extradited back to Asgard, where he has now manipulated his way onto the throne.
In Phase Three, Loki will be part of a plot to bring Asgard down – in the Thor: Ragnarok movie – and he will need allies in order to do so. Could one of those allies be an unwilling Hulk? If Hulk ends up in space, Loki could manipulate him to attack his home realm – something he has done in other media before, such as in the critically acclaimed “Hulk Vs Thor” animated movie.
In Space In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
We’ve touched upon the idea of Hulk re-emerging in space already in this article, but could that cosmic re-emergence occur for the first time in the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie (suitably entitled Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2)?
There has been an awful lot of talk about this possibility in the media and amongst fans – potentially having a Planet Hulk storyline occurring as a sub-plot in a Guardians of the Galaxy movie – and having the super-strong green hero mixing with the likes of Star-Lord, Groot and Rocket Raccoon would certainly go down well with fans.
It would also set the scene for a triumphant return to Earth for the Hulk in the Avengers: Infinity War movies – a movie in which he could bring reinforcements for the fight against Thanos in the form of his new pals; the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Captured By General Ross
In Captain America: Civil War, General Ross is set to reappear for the first time since his initial and only appearance to date in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in The Incredible Hulk. William Hurt’s character is set to be involved in the Superhuman Registration Act (or the “Accords“, as they will be known in the MCU) and will play a key role in the movie.
Of course, any time General Ross is around, you can expect him to be keeping an eye on the Hulk and, in spite of what has been stated in the press, don’t be surprised to see him on the Hulk’s back in the third Captain America movie.
In fact, it may well be announced that Ross has been on the trail of the Hulk since the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and he might even have captured him – it would certainly throw a spanner in the works if the Hulk was incarcerated.
As The Man To End The Civil War
As stated in the previous entry on this list, Hulk has supposedly been left out of Captain America: Civil War, if reports in the press are to be believed, but don’t be surprised to find that he actually has a key part to play in the movie and its titular conflict.
The big green hero hasn’t been listed on either Iron Man or Captain America’s respective teams, but he could still be the big gun whose contribution to the battle is key to its outcome.
As a good friend of Tony Stark’s, Bruce Banner could re-emerge as the Hulk and win the war for his pal or, more likely (given that it’s a Captain America movie), he could jump in the middle of the battle and – in what would be a strange turn of events, given the Hulk’s angry nature – stop the remaining heroes from killing each other and bring it to an end. He’s powerful enough to do so, after all.
In Any Given Mid Or Post-Credits Scene
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its mid and post-credits scenes, with some big reveals coming in them – such as Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, the Mad Titan Thanos and… Howard the Duck.
With that in mind, a mid or post-credits scene does seem like the ideal place to reveal the whereabouts of Hulk, after he jetted off to parts unknown in a Quinjet following the final battle in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Given that mid and post-credits scenes can be totally unrelated to the movie they follow, such a scene could happen after any upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe offering – Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok or even the new Spider-Man movie, for example.
As One Of The First Defeated In Infinity War: Part 1
In all likelihood, the Hulk will make his eagerly-awaited return in one of the Avengers: Infinity War movies, with Part 1 being the less likely of the two.
Should he take part in the first half of the event, there’s a distinct possibility that he could be part of the first wave of heroes that Thanos defeats comprehensively, setting the scene for the second wave to come in during the second movie and defeat the Mad Titan.
Seriously though – what better way would there be to establish Thanos as a credible threat to the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe than by having him kill the Hulk in the first Infinity War movie? Hulk is the strongest physical specimen in the Avengers’ ranks and his death in the first act would certainly let the heroes and the audience know that Thanos means business.
As The Cavalry In Infinity War: Part 2
Without a doubt, the most likely place for Hulk to re-emerge in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be in the second Avengers: Infinity War movie.
You can imagine the first wave of heroes being destroyed by the Infinity Gauntlet-wielding Thanos and consequently being in desperate need for backup. The first movie will end on a cliffhanger, with the Mad Titan about to deliver a blow that will devastate the heroic ranks of the MCU, leaving audiences on the edges of their seats.
Cue the second movie’s opening sequence in which Hulk reappears and delivers a massive punch to the Mad Titan’s face that will let him know the battle isn’t over yet. Expect a scenario along those lines to play out in 2019.
What do you think? Will Hulk return in any of these ways? Which other ways might he re-emerge? Have your say below.
