Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner/The Hulk isn’t going anywhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actor, who has been playing the role of the Incredible Hulk since 2012’s Marvel’s The Avengers, recently addressed rumors that Disney had fired him from the franchise.
Mark Ruffalo’s future as the Hulk includes two major MCU movies
It’s already been confirmed that Ruffalo will appear as the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will be released this summer by Sony. However, according to notable scooper Daniel Richtman, Ruffalo’s Hulk will also appear in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Production on Secret Wars is scheduled to begin in mid-2026 and last for around six months. Plot details remain heavily under wraps, although Marvel has revealed that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the main antagonist, reprising his role from Avengers: Doomsday.
As for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, rumored plot details for the upcoming MCU movie have suggested that the Hulk will be a “secondary antagonist” for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
According to X user @Majestic_ucm, who is known for sharing reliable rumors and leaks, “Jean [Grey]’s powers end up transforming Banner into the Grey Hulk,” leading to Spider-Man and Punisher teaming up to fight him.
Ruffalo was last seen as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The 2022 Disney+ limited series ended with Banner introducing his cousin, Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, to his son Skaar, who was conceived during the Hulk’s time on Sakaar. It is unclear at this time if this dangling plotthread will be continued in either Brand New Day or Secret Wars.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following over a year later on December 17, 2027.
