WhenThe Incredible Hulkjoined the MCU in 2008, the franchise was only in its infancy, and no one had any idea just what the Marvel Cinematic Universe would become. Partly for that reason, the second movie in the MCU has always seemed a bit disjointed, with only William Hurt’s Thaddeus Ross as a connecting thread for many years. Thanks to Mark Ruffalo taking over the role of Bruce Banner fromEdward Nortonin the Hulk’s next appearance in 2012’sThe Avengers,there were many debates on ifThe Incredible Hulkwas actually canon within the MCU.
Updated July 09, 2025: In honor of both the 15th anniversary ofThe Incredible Hulk’s release and recent developments regarding the MCU, this article has been updated to be up to date with additional information.
Originally the forgotten film in theMCU, shows likeShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawand various recent announcements for films likeCaptain America: Brave New WorldandThunderboltshave now madeThe Incredible Hulkmore vital to the MCU than ever before.The Incredible Hulkis finally set to arrive on Disney+ on August 19, 2025. This is how after years of being almost forgotten, acknowledgingThe Incredible Hulkis setting up major changes for the MCU.
Hulk Is A Different Person
She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawis made good use of its comedy, whether it is within the universe itself or via the fourth-wall-breaking moments when Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters addresses the audience directly. However, it is Mark Ruffalo who has delivered one throwaway comment that is a deeper remark in reference to the long overdue acknowledgment of the actor swap that took place between Banner’s first and second MCU appearances. The comment is said by Banner while discussing Emil Blonsky, aka the Abomination, who, after making a surprise comeback inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,once again returned to the MCU inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
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Blonsky is played in the show by Tim Roth, who also played Emil Blonsky inThe Incredible Hulk. The storyline around Roth’s character’s return sees Walters being asked to represent Blonsky in his parole hearing. Initially, she sees it as a conflict of interest thanks to the events ofThe Incredible Hulkwhen the Abomination and Hulk duked it out. However, Ruffalo’s Banner tells her it’s fine and the issue has been put behind them. He drolly comments, “That fight was so many years ago, I’m a completely different person now – literally.” The moment is accentuated by Walters looking, directing at the audience, and laughing.
The joke not only plays as the progress both Banner and Blonsky have made as characters since the 2008 film but also a nice reference to the fact that Bruce Banner was recast and is played by a new actor. It was a humorous acknowledgment ofThe Incredible Hulkas part of the MCU despite it featuring a different lead actor. Yet recent developments in the MCU now suggest long dangling plot threads from that film will now help shape the MCU’s future.
Return of the Supporting Characters
While the Hulk/Bruce Banner was always technically the same character, despite feeling disconnected, for many years, he was the only Hulk supporting character. there are more characters who have made the transition from the one oddball film to the grander MCU. As previously mentioned, Hurt’s character had continued pastThe Incredible Hulk, showing up inCaptain America: Civil War,Avengers: Infinity War, andBlack Widow. While William Hurt passed away, Thunderbolt Ross will live on in the MCU. As shown by recasting Bruce Banner, Marvel is comfortably recasting the part of Thunderbolt Ross with Harrison Ford stepping into the role, which is rumored to involvehim turning into The Red Hulk. Ross is suspected to be the new President of the MCU and will make his first appearance inCaptain America: Brave New Worldand also in the following MCU film,Thunderbolts.
Yet there are even more characters fromThe Incredible Hulkreturning to the MCU. Tim Blake Nelson played Samuel Sterns, who in the comics becomes one of the Hulk’s arch-enemies, The Leader. He was teased in the 2008 film, but in the years since, that plot point seemed to be an opened ended one that would never be resolved. However, Nelson will return to the MCU asThe Leader inCaptain America: Brave New World. With the addition of General Ross also being in the film, it appears that the film will be as much a Hulk sequel as a Captain America one.
To further supportCaptain America: Brave New Worldalso being a sequel toThe Incredible Hulkas well,Liv Tyler is set to reprise her role as Betty Rossin the film. Betty is Bruce Banner’s great love in the comics, yet the film side has largely forgotten about her asAvengers: Age of Ultronshowed Banner having a relationship with Black Widow, and nowShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawshows he had a kid while on the planet Sakaar.
While Bruce and Betty’s life may have taken them down different paths, Betty Ross could still play an important part in the MCU. In the comics, she becomes The Red She-Hulk, and Liv Tyler’s return to the MCU could follow that of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor with her getting the chance to get in on the action.
Fans Hope To See Edward Norton Reprise His Hulk Role In The Multiverse
WhenDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesshinted at a number of cameos of alternative universe versions of Earth’s mightiest heroes, many believed it was a chance to see Norton reprising his role as Banner in a fun acknowledgment of his history as the character. However, that didn’t happen. While it seems unlikely that Norton would ever return to the MCU, given that he and the studio had a big following over creative differences onThe Incredible Hulk, it is never something that can be ruled out. After all, many figured that Natalie Portman would not return to the MCU, yet she eventually did. The creators ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Laweven considered a joke swapping out Ruffalo for Norton.
Related:Why the MCU Has Not Made a Sequel to The Incredible Hulk
If Norton and Marvel were to make up after all these years, the best way to bring him back into the MCU would be through the Multiverse Saga. Even as a cameo inAvengers: Secret Warsas one of the alternate universe Hulks for a one-off joke, it would be a nice way to bring the entire franchise full circle. If they could also bring back Eric Bana from 2003’sHulk, it would be a nice moment to see Bana, Norton, and Ruffalo share the screen as thethree cinematic Hulks. The trio could even have a fun face-off with the three cinematic Spider-Man actors. The Incredible Hulk might not be the most popular MCU movie, but it certainly has become a much more important part of the franchise, and it goes to show that it is never too late for Marvel to bring back characters to their cinematic universe.
