After the Thor: Love and Thunder post-credits scene introduced Hercules, it's only a matter of time before the MCU finally pits Hercules against the Hulk. A live-action Hulk vs. Hercules fight could go either way, as both characters are known for their limitless strength. This interaction could happen as early as MCU Phase 5 - and indeed, having this storyline come earlier in the MCU would benefit the franchise.

The Hercules vs. Hulk rivalry is almost as old as Thor vs. Hercules. Hulk and Hercules first came to blows in 1966, in Tales to Astonish #79's "The Titan and the Torment!" - a classic deadlocked battle that was only ended by the Air Force dropping bombs on Hulk. Meanwhile, the Thor vs. Hercules rivalry was established just a year earlier, in 1965's Journey into Mystery Annual #1.

Related: Hercules Can Create A New MCU Team For Phase 5's Secret Invasion

Following Thor: Love and Thunder, any real confrontation between Thor and Hercules can only really happen in Thor 5, which is why the Hulk vs. Hercules fight needs to happen soon. While the entire MCU Phase 5 slate has been revealed, there are still several unannounced movies in MCU Phase 6, and one of them could be Thor 5 - which can only be released as early as 2024. In the meantime, the MCU could satisfy audiences' need for a titanic battle of raw strength through pitting Hercules against the Hulk at some point in MCU Phase 5 - possibly in Secret Invasion, Thunderbolts, or any upcoming MCU crossover event. Moreover, since the inconclusive Hulk vs. Thor fight in Thor: Ragnarok, there hasn't been a real test of strength for Smart Hulk. At the same time, going up against a more tactical version of the Hulk could be the perfect MCU return for Hercules. The MCU definitely needs to use Hercules again soon in order to properly hype up the Thor vs. Hercules fight, and there's no better way to do it than through an epic one-on-one fight with the Hulk.

Is Hulk Stronger Than Hercules?

Whether Hulk is stronger than Hercules is a question that can only be answered by whichever writer or director will be in charge of bringing this fight to the MCU. This is because Hercules essentially has the same powers as Hulk: much like how Hulk's strength and durability are determined by his level of rage, Hercules' physical prowess is only limited by his willpower. In the comics, it's never really answered whether Hulk is stronger than Hercules, as all of their confrontations have been ultimately inconclusive. The only time Hercules bested Hulk was in the Maestro series, in which Hercules fought an old and evil version of Bruce Banner from an alternate reality. Meanwhile, in World War Hulk - which could get adapted into the MCU soon - Hercules stood down and took 3 blows from possibly the most powerful version of Hulk - enough to give Hercules a black eye and a broken nose. When Hercules reflexively struck back once, it was enough to knockdown Hulk, though Hulk seemed to suffer no damage. While inconclusive, these comic book fights offer some insight into how the Hulk vs. Hercules fight could go in the MCU.

Although Thor: Love and Thunder revealed very little about Hercules, the fact that Zeus entrusted him with the task of killing Thor shows that Hercules could be stronger than even Thor or Hulk. Moreover, as Hulk's strength is canonically determined by his rage, there's a possibility that Smart Hulk might not be able to stand up to Hercules. On the other hand, as the MCU has never really revealed Hulk's limitless strength and potential, Hercules' MCU return could be the perfect way to reveal just how powerful Hulk truly is. Whatever the outcome might be, the Hulk vs. Hercules fight needs to happen soon. Though Hercules' greatest rivalry is with Thor, Hulk fighting Hercules might be an even bigger test and showcase of raw strength in the MCU.