A number of rumors are flying around regarding Spider-Man: Brand New Day and what villains will be in Spider-Man 4. The biggest rumor suggests that Savage Hulk may be the main villain. This would have a devastating effect on the Marvel Cinematic Universe if true, given that this alter ego of Bruce Banner is even more dangerous than the original Hulk.
Why people think Savage Hulk will be in Spider-Man 4
The first rumors of Savage Hulk being in Spider-Man: Brand New Day started after several insiders reported on a sizzle reel for the film. Several classic Spider-Man villains, like Tombstone and Scorpion, were reportedly in the reel. However, the alternate Bruce Banner form was identified as the movie’s main villain by two different reporters.
These rumors gained further credibility after Mark Ruffalo was reported to have been cast in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Marvel insider DanielRPK was the first to report this, along with rumors of Oscar winner Nicole Kidman being offered a villainous role. It is still unknown, however, if the MCU Smart Hulk will regress into a more brutal form, or if Ruffalo may play a variant Savage Hulk from elsewhere in the multiverse.
Who is Savage Hulk, and how is he different from the regular Hulk?
The Savage Hulk first appeared in 1984’s Incredible Hulk #300. The previous issues found Bruce Banner being manipulated by the villain Nightmare, who hoped to turn Hulk against Doctor Strange. Instead, the Jade Giant destroyed Nightmare’s psychic realm. This battle took a toll on Bruce Banner, whose consciousness seemed to die, creating the Savage Hulk — a being of pure rage with no mind and no memory.
The Savage Hulk went on a rampage through downtown Manhattan, facing a SHIELD strike team and many superheroes. Even the combined might of the Avengers (which included Thor, Captain Marvel, and Scarlet Witch at the time) was unable to stop him. Ultimately, Doctor Strange was only able to save the city by tricking the monster into running through a portal and sending it elsewhere.
The Savage Hulk was later revealed to be the ultimate expression of Bruce Banner’s anger over his abusive childhood. However, without Bruce’s memories and mind to repress it, this alter ego became powerful beyond belief. Thankfully, Bruce’s consciousness eventually returned. However, the Savage Hulk would return whenever Bruce became angry beyond reason or his mind was shut down by psychic attacks.
The Savage Hulk’s strength and durability are incalculable. He is stronger than Hercules, who can lift the infinite mass borne by the titan Atlas. He once defeated the dread Dormammu, who exists beyond the rules of normal time and space, just with the shockwave created by clapping his hands. He can crush Adamantium with his bare hands, and once survived being thrown into a black hole.
How Savage Hulk’s appearance in Brand New Day could change the MCU
Given the power possessed by Savage Hulk, his introduction into the MCU would be an all-hands-on-deck crisis. Not only would he be a threat to all life on Earth, he could easily menace the multiverse. This could be the setup for an adaptation of the Planet Hulk storyline, where Bruce Banner was shot into space when he was deemed too dangerous for Earth.
This, in turn, could set up a new MCU film story to follow the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars. However, it is unclear just how the Savage Hulk would fit into the story of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While Peter Parker has faced the Hulk before in the comics, he largely focused on protecting civilians over direct combat. On the other hand, Spider-Man facing an enemy who is far outside his weight class is not entirely uncommon.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
