Heroes of the MCU should expect to have their universe turned upside-down by Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but the 2025 team-up movie will be especially vital for Hulk. Following the universe-shaking events of the Infinity saga, MCU Phase 4 has taken its sweet time building another overarching narrative, but an endgame is now firmly in sight. Loki, Shang-Chi, and Ms. Marvel each included varying degrees of setup for Kang the Conqueror's arrival as the next MCU big bad, while Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania and Captain Marvel 2 will kick the foreshadowing up a gear. That all builds toward Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as the next major crossover.
As the first team-up movie since the Battle of Earth, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty represents a huge moment in the MCU - even more so due to the Multiverse saga ending promises all manner of interdimensional mayhem. Exactly which heroes appear in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty remains unknown, but the scale of Kang's threat means every character Kevin Feige can get his hands on will likely join the fun, and that includes Mark Ruffalo's Hulk. Bruce Banner has appeared sparingly since Avengers: Endgame, making an extended cameo in She-Hulk to crack jokes and introduce his son. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will be much more important for Hulk's MCU journey.
Hulk Is The Last Original Avenger Without An MCU Ending
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is so vital for Hulk because no other MCU movie is better poised to offer this original Avenger a proper ending. Avengers: Endgame brought closure to Iron Man and Captain America, which was then cemented by Phase 4 passing-the-torch arcs, with Ironheart and Sam Wilson emerging as their successors. Phase 4 completed Natasha Romanoff's storyline in Black Widow, while Hawkeye put a meaningful last note on Clint Barton's story. While Thor 5 could happen, 2022's Thor: Love & Thunder gave Chris Hemsworth's character a conclusion of sorts. That leaves only Hulk without a meaningful final chapter, since his She-Hulk appearances were minimal, mysterious, and mostly amusing.
Unlike his fellow OG Avengers, Hulk is subject to issues surrounding movie adaptation rights. Effectively, this means Marvel Studios is unable to make a solo movie with Mark Ruffalo's Hulk as easily as it can with Thor, Black Widow and the rest. Consequently, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty could be the best, maybe even the only, opportunity for the MCU to bring Bruce Banner resolution.
Hulk Needs A Key Role In Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Each original MCU Avenger has either taken a natural step back, enjoyed a Phase 4 solo story of their own, or is very much dead. Hulk being the only exception means Avengers: The Kang Dynasty needs to compensate. As the last "science bro" standing, Bruce Banner should be an authority on quantum science and the mechanics of Kang's presence in the MCU multiverse. Hulk's awesome power, meanwhile, will be invaluable in smashing Kang variants from one universe to the next.
Hulk is arguably the natural leader of the Avengers in the absence of someone named "Stark" or "Rogers." Watching him call the shots in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would give Banner a new, more central role. Avengers: Endgame closed out Iron Man's story through the introduction of his daughter and a 1970s fatherly reunion, then wrapped Steve Rogers' arc by giving Cap a long-awaited emotional moment with another iconic MCU character - Mjolnir the Asgardian hammer. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and maybe Avengers: Secret Wars, can do the same for Hulk, focusing on the emotional connections he holds in the MCU, and examining his role as Earth's angriest, greenest protector.
When Will Hulk's MCU Story Actually End?
As an original Avenger, Hulk's MCU story is coming to an end sooner rather than later, but exactly when that end comes remains to be seen. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty could be that ending. The upcoming crossover needs a big exclamation point moment to lead into Avengers: Secret Wars, but cannot merely recycle the mass death of Avengers: Infinity War's ending. Killing off Hulk would certainly be a worthy final act shock. On the other hand, saving Hulk's big moment for Avengers: Secret Wars could give Bruce Banner an emotional goodbye, although whether that takes the form of a Stark-style sacrifice or a Rogers-style happy ending presents a larger debate.
The MCU has also been not-so-subtly setting up a World War Hulk movie. She-Hulk hinted toward Bruce Banner's involvement in an intergalactic mystery, while also confirming how other Hulks could be created. The She-Hulk season 1 finale then introduced Skaar, Hulk's son, cementing the potential for a future World War Hulk event in the MCU. Due to Edward Norton's recasting and the aforementioned rights issues, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk has never before received such spotlight. Putting that right with a World War Hulk movie would represent the perfect farewell storyline for MCU Bruce Banner - if Avengers: The Kang Dynasty doesn't get there first.