Marvel fans are about to get a big dose ofThe HulkinThor: Ragnarok, as he’s featured heavily in the newThorsolo adventure. The movie is getting rave reviews so far, and that’s in no small part thanks to Mark Ruffalo giving another reportedly solid performance as Marvel’s loveable, green rage monster. But that opens up, once again, the question of whether or not we’ll ever see a soloHulk moviein the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Kevin Feige, that door isn’t closed. However, it’s not something that’s happening right now.
The man who makes Marvel Studios run has been making the press rounds forThor: Ragnarokrecently. As has been the case ever since Mark Ruffalo debuted as The Hulk inThe Avengersin 2012, he was once again asked about the possibility of a soloHulkmovie. Though he makes it clear that it’s not in the cards (yet), he does love that people are so eager for something like that, when not all that long ago, there was concern about such a movie even being financially viable. Here’s what he had to say.
“I think that back and forth continues, and I don’t know if it will ever happen. But I will tell you, it makes me very, very happy going from a world, ten years ago, when people were questioning the viability ofHulk in a standalone film, to getting asked every other interview, ‘When will there be another standalone Hulk?'”
There’s already a standalone movie featuring Bruce Banner in the MCU in the form ofThe Incredible Hulk, but since it features Edward Norton in the role, and because it was in the earliest days of the universe we all know and love, it feels pretty disconnected. Having Mark Ruffalo do his own solo movie is something fans would love, but it’s complicated. Despite the fact that Ruffalo would love to do one, Universal owns the rights toHulksolo movies, but Marvel can use him in teamup movies. During Disney’s D23 Expo over the summer, Ruffalo went so far as to say that a soloHulkmovie will “never” happen.
“I just want to make one thing perfectly clear today that astandalone Hulk movie will never happen. Because Universal has the rights to the standalone Hulk movie and for some reason they don’t know how to play well with Marvel, and they don’t want to make money.”
Marvel hasn’t announced their plans beyondAvengers 4, save for theSpider-Man: Homecomingsequel andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. There’s certainly room for aHulksolo movie in there somewhere. And if Kevin Feige can make that Spider-Man deal with Sony, anything is possible. As these comments toIndieWireimply, it’s something they’d love to do. It’s just a matter of logistics. If it’s any consolation, Feige and Ruffalo worked together recently to work in athree movie arc for Hulkthat runs fromThor: RagnarokthroughAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers 4. So we’re still getting a lot of the big guy in the next couple of years.
