Last year, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four slate was announced at Comic-Con, one thing that fans noticed was the curious absence of the Hulk. Out of the six primary Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow were all taken care of in Avengers: Endgame, with the latter getting a belated solo movie, while Thor and Hawkeye have upcoming starring roles, but Bruce Banner was nowhere to be seen.
The big green meanie’s MCU outings have always been marred by rights issues with Universal, but Hulk is also one of Marvel’s most popular superheroes. It might be the right time for him to leave the MCU, but there’s still plenty of potential for this character.
Why Hulk Should Leave: His Character Arc Is Over
When Marvel heroes have left the MCU in the past, it’s because their character arc is over. Tony Stark and Steve Rogers are the most prominent examples, but the same goes for Yondu, Odin, and even Thanos. The Hulk’s character arc has already reached the perfect conclusion.
In fact, his arc ended off-screen in the five-year time jump at the beginning of Avengers: Endgame. The duality of Bruce Banner and the Hulk has been resolved as they’ve merged into the same person. There’s nowhere else for his character to go because he no longer has any conflict.
Team-Up We’d Love To See: Guardians Of The Galaxy
It was a lot of fun seeing the Hulk involved in a cosmic adventure in Thor: Ragnarok when he found himself stranded on Sakaar as the Grandmaster’s champion gladiator. He teamed up with Thor, Valkyrie, Loki, and Korg to become “the Revengers.”
At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Thor joined the Guardians of the Galaxy and termed them “the Asgardians of the Galaxy.” It would be a total joy for these two teams to merge into one hilarious supergroup.
Why Hulk Should Leave: He’s About To Pass The Torch To She-Hulk
Marvel has announced development of a Disney+ series centered around She-Hulk. With Jen Walters making the leap to the screen, her cousin Bruce Banner will be passing the torch to her. So if Earth’s Mightiest Heroes need a musclebound green monster, they can just call Jen.
Steve Rogers lined up his replacement before leaving and Robert Downey, Jr. has endorsed Ironheart as his own successor. The Hulk’s successor is also in place, so it’s time for him to bow out.
Team-Up We’d Love To See: Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool has yet to make the jump into the MCU after the dissolution of Fox’s X-Men franchise, but Disney has all but confirmed that the character will remain intact during the transition.
The Hulk’s pairing with Thor in Ragnarok proved that he can be a great straight man opposite a zany comedic character. The Merc with a Mouth would make a great scene partner and foil for Bruce Banner.
Why Hulk Should Leave: Mark Ruffalo Needs A Chance To Spread His Wings
As seen in such movies as Zodiac, Shutter Island, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mark Ruffalo is a terrific actor, perhaps one of the finest of his generation. Since his debut in 2012’s The Avengers, he’s been playing arguably the silver screen’s best incarnation of the Hulk yet.
But appearing in the MCU restricts Ruffalo's ability to commit to other projects and he’s gotten all the mileage he can out of playing the Hulk. He needs a chance to spread his wings and take on a wide range of roles.
Team-Up We’d Love To See: Ant-Man
Ever since the Hulk kindly gave Scott Lang a couple of tacos after his got blown away by the Benatar, Marvel fans have wanted to see an on-screen team-up between the pair.
As a couple of mild-mannered goofballs, Bruce Banner and Scott Lang are two of the least threatening superheroes in the MCU. It would be hilarious to see them fight crime together.
Why Hulk Should Leave: He Was An Infinity Saga Avenger
The 23-part Infinity Saga came to an end last year with Spider-Man: Far From Home (well, Avengers: Endgame was really the end; Far From Home was more of a postscript), and now, the MCU is moving onto new pastures with new characters leading a new saga.
The Hulk was integral to the Infinity Saga, but the next saga is being led by fresher faces, like Black Panther and Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel.
Team-Up We’d Love To See: Shuri
When Earth’s Mightiest Heroes arrived in Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War, Bruce Banner was stumped about what to do with the Vision situation. Shuri figured it out in a matter of seconds with a solution that Banner couldn’t even think of.
These are two of the smartest characters in the MCU. It would be fun to see them put their heads together before the Hulk departs from the franchise. Banner lost his science bro and Shuri never had one; it could be a scientific match made in heaven.
Why Hulk Should Leave: He Needs To Make Room For Lesser-Known Characters
A few years ago, the only Marvel characters known to the mainstream public were Spider-Man, the Hulk, and a couple of X-Men. Thanks to the MCU, dozens of other characters, from the Guardians to Captain Marvel, have made it into the mainstream. And the MCU hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface of the comics’ universe.
Phase Four will introduce Shang-Chi and the Eternals, and we still have yet to meet Namor, Nova, the Silver Surfer, Squirrel Girl, Ironheart, Captain Britain, Beta Ray Bill — there are literally hundreds of characters to choose from. The Hulk had a good run, but he needs to make room on the MCU’s slate for lesser-known Marvel characters.
Team-Up We’d Love To See: Spider-Man
Like the Hulk, Spider-Man’s MCU stint is also on its last legs. But while the Hulk has exhausted his character arc, Spidey’s is still very much at play.
Before Spidey and the Hulk leave the MCU, arguably Marvel’s two most popular, or at least most recognizable heroes, should team up on the big screen.