Hulk Smash! Everything We Know About Marvel's Potential World War Hulk Movie!
World War Hulk: The MCU's Next Epic Crossover Event?
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?
The Challenges and Opportunities of Adapting World War Hulk to the MCU
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 Illuminati: An Altered Reality?
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?
Sakaar's Story Needs a Revamp!
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 MCU’s Hints at World War Hulk
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:
She-Hulk's Cryptic Tease:
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's Cryptic Comments:
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!
Understanding the World War Hulk Story
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:
- Hulk's Exile: Hulk's rampage in Las Vegas led the Illuminati to banish him to Sakaar.
- Gladiator School: Forced into gladiator combat on Sakaar, Hulk wins support, builds a crew (“Warbound”), and then gets revenge on those who harmed him, in the planet.
- Return with a Vengeance: The Warbound arrives at Earth, seeking revenge on the Illuminati.
- Rampage & Confrontations: He then engages Professor X, decimates X-Men, battles the New Avengers, Fantastic Four, and more.
- Ultimate Confrontation & Defeat: An insane battle with the Sentry leaves them both unconscious. Then Iron Man stops him using those weaponized satellites, ending the threat posed from the Hulk. The Hulk gets imprisoned underground, with all the others!
When and How Might World War Hulk Arrive in the MCU?
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.
- Phase 6 Time Slot?: A very big question that all fans want to have answered. This gigantic event might really make a nice fit between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (but it's way too massive for a side-story in Phase 6!).
- Post-Secret Wars!: After Avengers: Secret Wars (it’s the Multiverse Saga’s climax) might create far better storytelling opportunities, using that period as that essential “reset” following an epoch of many big storyline events. However, significant world-building and character setups should also have been addressed first! Many essential and other needed elements of this massive event are already completely missing in the MCU, so this might only work after multiple major events and character changes have already taken place.
Who’s Coming? A Potential World War Hulk Cast
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:
- Red Hulk(likely after Captain America: Brave New World)
- Doctor Strange
- Mister Fantastic
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!
Conclusion: A Mammoth Marvel Event Awaits…Eventually!
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!
