Hulk

A few months ago, we cautiously reported on some new rumors that had the previously discarded Planet Hulk storyline finding its way into Thor: Ragnarok. According to the rumors, the newest film starring everyone’s favorite God of Thunder would include a scene where Thor and the Hulk both find themselves competing in a galactic arena; they then join forces to seek out a weapon Thor needs to defend Asgard. While we had our doubts — the Hollywood rumor game is a fickle beast — this rumor made enough sense that it seemed like a good time to bring it up.

As if that headline didn’t clue you in, there are some big spoilers ahead regarding Marvel’s Civil War II comic book series. The third issue, which hits stands today, features the death — or murder, basically — of one of the company’s oldest, most beloved characters, and the culprit is almost just as surprising. If you prefer to remain unspoiled, turn back now. Otherwise, read on for the details.

Last year, Mark Ruffalo hinted that Thor: Ragnarok might finally let Bruce Banner and the Hulk interact with each other on the big screen. It’s something that’s occasionally happened in the Marvel comics, but we’ve yet to see the MCU take a crack at it — likely because it requires a bit of clever thinking: not only do they need to cook up a cool way to present it to audiences, but it needs to come from an organic place. That place may very well be Ragnarok.

Typically, we approach rumors with a healthy amount of skepticism, as so many of them ultimately turn out to be false. But the latest report on Thor: Ragnarok echoes a very similar rumor from earlier this year, which reveals how Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk is introduced in the sequel and what brings him together with Chris Hemsworth’s mighty thunder god. It also suggests that the previously abandoned Planet Hulk story line may have found its way into Ragnarok — if only just a teensy tiny little bit. Potential spoilers ahead, obviously.

When the massive Captain America: Civil War cast was announced, one character was conspicuously missing: Hulk. Since then we’ve heard from Robert Downey, Jr. that Hulk is in the movie, then that he wasn’t in the movie, then maybe he’s in the movie? Now star Mark Ruffalo is here to clear the air; Hulk is NOT in Captain America: Civil War and he’s going to explain why.

Mark Ruffalo was spotted on the Captain America: Civil War set last year, but it wasn’t long after that Ruffalo and Marvel’s Kevin Feige said that Hulk had been cut from the film, which is already a bit crowded with superheroes as it is — so much so, that fans have taken to calling it Avengers 2.5. But according to one Civil War star, Ruffalo might be making an appearance after all…or not. He may have just been confused.

Earlier this week, Coca-Cola and Marvel teased a team-up during the Super Bowl by sending out mini-cans of Coke branded with different members of the Avengers. Both sides promised not to reveal the contents of the commercial until it aired during the Super Bowl. Now that it’s aired we know that the biggest and littlest Avengers — Hulk and Ant-Man — are doing battle over the last can of Coke.

We’ve heard Hulk grunt and pant and do all the things big guys do when they’re Hulk-smashing their foes, but we’ve yet to hear the giant Avenger speak. That may change in Thor: Ragnarok, as Mark Ruffalo previously hinted that we’ll finally see Bruce Banner and the Hulk interact — something that’s already happened in the comics. Lending credence to that idea is Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, who has a few things to say regarding whether or not Hulk will have a few things to say.

Let’s get this out of the way first: no, a Hulk standalone/spinoff movie is never happening any time in the near future. The rights are all mucked up with Universal and Marvel and creatively it just doesn’t seem like something Marvel is willing to take the risk on right now. But. BUT! Mark Ruffalo has said that you’re about to get the next best thing to a Hulk movie in Hulk’s storyline that plays out over Thor: Ragnarok and the two-part Avengers: Infinity War finale.

We are still about a year and a half away from the release of Thor: Ragnarok, but the rumors just keep pouring in. In addition to last week’s report on Cate Blanchett’s potential villainous role, another report has surfaced, this time suggesting how Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk may enter the picture, and it sounds just crazy enough to be true.