Marvel’s plans for She-Hulk present the MCU with an opportunity to bring Hercules back earlier than expected. Played by Brett Goldstein, Hercules made his MCU debut in the mid-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder. The Lion of Olympus has a reputation as a major Marvel Comics superhero, a rival of Thor, and a pillar of the Avengers.

While Thor: Love and Thunder positioned Hercules to become an enemy of Thor, there’s very little expectation for him to be Thor 5’s villain. With his history in the comic books, it’s much more likely that Marvel is building him up to be a new MCU hero. However, Marvel’s slate for the next few years indicates that it could be a long time before Hercules shows up again. In addition to appearing alongside Chris Hemsworth’s character in an unannounced Thor movie, Hercules has the potential to be a member of the next Avengers team in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. But while there are two confirmed MCU projects that Hercules could easily be a part of, neither of them will arrive until 2025.

Related: The MCU's Next Mutant Character May Arrive Sooner Than You Think

What’s known about Marvel’s She-Hulk show raises the possibility that Brett Goldstein’s Hercules will make his second MCU appearance as early as 2022. Due to all the years they spent fighting side-by-side as Avengers in the 1980s, Hercules and She-Hulk have strong ties to each other. Based on what was shown in the second She-Hulk trailer, Hercules crossing paths with Jennifer Walters in her Disney+ show isn’t all that unlikely. The trailer emphasizes the inclusion of multiple super-powered characters, including at least two who look like they might be from other worlds. One appears at the 1:12 mark while the other can be seen at 2:27. If that’s the case, a Greek demigod wouldn’t be out-of-place in She-Hulk.

What Hercules’ Role In She-Hulk Could Be

She-Hulk-Trailer-Reveals-Full-CGI-Design-Hulk-Return-Human-Tim-Roth

Given that She-Hulk’s story will directly involve legal matters concerning “superhuman” individuals, it shouldn’t be difficult for Hercules to be worked into an episode. In fact, the series could adapt a version of a Hercules story from She-Hulk’s comics. In the 2010s, Walters had to defend Hercules in court after he was sued for injuring a supervillain in a fight. It’s not hard to imagine a similar situation playing out in the MCU, particularly since the humorous elements of Hercules’ character would match up well with She-Hulk’s comedic tone. Also, the crush that Walters had on the Prince of Power in the comics could possibly come into play as well.

If Hercules gets into trouble with the law while looking for Thor on Earth, he may end up finding himself in She-Hulk’s orbit in Phase 4. If that happens, Marvel can use Hercules’ role in She-Hulk to help establish him as a key Multiverse Saga character. If Hercules really is going to be an Avenger in Phase 6, it would be important for Marvel to give him some degree of visibility ahead of The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.

More: She-Hulk Continues MCU Phase 3’s Bruce Banner Insult

Key Release Dates