Movies News Talk
Hulk Smash! Everything We Know About Marvel's Potential World War Hulk Movie!
The Hulk has been a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) staple since 2008 (remember Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk?). Now, Mark Ruffalo has become this iconic Hulk, appearing everywhere; becoming a mainstay all the way up to and beyond Avengers: Endgame. But there's one major Hulk storyline missing: World War Hulk! This massive event from Marvel Comics sounds really fun – is it coming to the MCU?
Rumors have been flying for ages! Lots of subtle hints and Easter Eggs make fans wonder if Marvel Studios is seriously setting this thing up; many viewers also believe a sequel involving World War Hulk is a viable possibility, given how many related storylines and themes have appeared recently! Yet there's a crucial thing here: the rights to Hulk movies still reside with Universal. Even Disney and Marvel Studios have that important deal to include Hulk in movies and shows, this never allows a Hulk solo film. This sounds really tricky. Can World War Hulk work as an MCU event? How will it possibly work in this environment?
World War Hulk follows Hulk's banishment from Earth and his awesome, rage-fueled return to enact serious vengeance on those who exiled him. Now we encounter another problem – some MCU changes affect that story. Let's discuss a couple of important concepts!
The original story shows the Illuminati exiling the Hulk. But the Illuminati (in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) are from another universe, a problem for this current storyline in the MCU. This would greatly limit the storytelling possibilities, forcing writers to introduce significant narrative differences compared to what might have otherwise been possible. How would this story adapt then?
The Planet Hulk storyline—that sets up World War Hulk on Sakaar— got adapted partially for Thor: Ragnarok. Yet many significant plot details got omitted! Can the MCU effectively rebuild those important aspects to make sense? That seems challenging!
The signs remain tantalizing for all those eagerly awaiting World War Hulk. It seems there were multiple attempts and methods employed to prepare that initial release and further details are explored here. Several points made are analyzed in depth here, and the specific references show just how intentional those inclusions really were:
Remember the very first episode in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? This introduction involves Hulk and Jennifer Walters veering off the road (after seeing that Sakaarian spaceship) setting things up for Hulk's later actions and plans as shown through subsequent interactions and references within that very storyline and later scenes with his ship; hinting at that eventual voyage that completely takes Hulk away to Sakaar. His dialogue ("I've got some things to take care of”) only strengthens it! But remember Jessica Gao said she planted this possibility if Marvel felt that such plans should be included for this major plotline.
Mark Ruffalo said lots about those hinted moments and how they should come about, this very key player in the series implied these are going to impact the current Hulk plot, despite stating outright in an earlier interview (February 2024) with Kevin Feige that there’s probably no possibility for an individual, solo Hulk film in the near future, not eliminating other kinds of movies based around that key figure. This shows that several narrative decisions are being intentionally withheld, awaiting future releases to generate a clearer perspective surrounding Hulk's possible role!
To grasp World War Hulk, you’ll need to understand Planet Hulk. It set things up in 2006! This plot is important, so follow carefully, here's what it looked like:
There are multiple gaps and plot opportunities throughout this upcoming saga, allowing space for this really huge project, and given how long this plot involves, even several releases are plausible.
Many faces from the MCU will probably show up: Mark Ruffalo (Hulk/Banner), definitely. Then She-Hulk (and maybe even Skaar). It would involve others as well:
Yet characters like Iron Man (deceased), and Black Bolt (currently non-canonical) might not work! Those other significant plotlines featuring the X-Men and even the Inhumans need those massive world-building steps, so expect a wait before we see a World War Hulk film—years!
World War Hulk is immense. Even the MCU would need some space for this mega-crossover, but all these carefully introduced elements really build for this anticipated epic event! It will completely overshadow Phase 6. But we need some key groundwork—X-Men introductions, Inhumans showings – that sets the perfect context!