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Hulk Smash! Everything We Know About Marvel's Potential World War Hulk Movie!
TheHulkhas been aMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) staple since2008(rememberEdward NortonasBruce BannerinThe Incredible Hulk?). Now,Mark Ruffalohas become this iconicHulk, appearing everywhere; becoming a mainstay all the way up to and beyondAvengers: 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 ifMarvel Studiosis seriously setting this thing up; many viewers also believe a sequel involvingWorld War Hulkis a viable possibility, given how many related storylines and themes have appeared recently! Yet there's a crucial thing here: the rights toHulkmovies still reside withUniversal. EvenDisneyandMarvel Studioshave that important deal to includeHulkin movies and shows, this never allows aHulksolo film.This sounds really tricky. CanWorld War Hulkwork as anMCUevent? How will it possibly work in this environment?
World War HulkfollowsHulk's banishment from Earth and his awesome, rage-fueled return to enact serious vengeance on those who exiled him. Now we encounter another problem – someMCUchanges affect that story. Let's discuss a couple of important concepts!
The original story shows theIlluminatiexiling theHulk. But theIlluminati(inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) are fromanother universe, a problem for this current storyline intheMCU. This would greatly limit the storytelling possibilities, forcing writers to introduce significant narrative differences compared to what might have otherwise been possible. How wouldthis story adapt then?
ThePlanet Hulkstoryline—that sets upWorld War HulkonSakaar— got adapted partially forThor: Ragnarok. Yet many significant plot details got omitted! Can theMCUeffectively rebuild those important aspects to make sense? That seems challenging!
The signs remain tantalizing for all those eagerly awaitingWorld 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 inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law? This introduction involvesHulkandJennifer Waltersveering off the road (after seeing that Sakaarian spaceship) setting things up forHulk'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 takesHulkaway toSakaar. 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 Ruffalosaid 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 currentHulkplot, despite stating outright in an earlier interview (February 2024) with Kevin Feige that there’s probably no possibility for an individual, soloHulkfilm 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 surroundingHulk'spossible role!
To graspWorld War Hulk, you’ll need to understandPlanet 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 theMCUwill probably show up: Mark Ruffalo(Hulk/Banner), definitely. Then She-Hulk(and maybe evenSkaar). It would involve others as well:
Yet characters likeIron Man(deceased), andBlack Bolt(currently non-canonical)might not work! Those other significant plotlines featuring theX-Menand even theInhumansneed those massive world-building steps, so expect a wait before we see aWorld War Hulkfilm—years!
World War Hulkis immense. Even theMCUwould need some space for this mega-crossover, but all these carefully introduced elements really build for this anticipated epic event!It will completely overshadowPhase 6.But we needsome key groundwork—X-Menintroductions,Inhumansshowings – that sets the perfect context!