Is the Hulk Switching Sides? ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Directors Hint Doctor Doom Wants Bruce Banner for More Than His Brain
Few Marvel mysteries have sparked as much chatter this fall as the question of where the Hulk fits into ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. When the film’s cast was revealed, the Hulk was nowhere to be found, leaving fans to wonder whether the Green Goliath had been benched for the biggest crossover in years.
Then came ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’, the theatrical re-release that tacked brand-new scenes onto the original blockbuster. One of them picks up with Bruce Banner after the events of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, imprisoned in a military complex 2 miles below the Earth’s surface, confidently insisting that the Hulk can’t get out and nobody else can get in.
He turns out to be very wrong. Doctor Doom, heard only off-screen, tells Banner he has come to collect him; green magic fills the room, and Banner transforms into the Hulk, leaving behind nothing but a glowing sigil on the floor.
So what exactly does Doom want with him? New coverage from Empire suggests the villain, who appears to be kidnapping Banner, may be after the Hulk as muscle, reasoning that taking on the Avengers gets a lot easier with a Hulk on your side.
The Russo brothers aren’t exactly shutting that idea down. Speaking to Empire, Joe Russo teased that Doom’s “interest may extend beyond just Banner,” making the bunker visit look less like an isolated incident and more like part of a wider recruitment, or collection, strategy.
The Russo Brothers tease Hulk could be on Doom’s side in #AvengersDoomsday "Doom can be heard but not seen, apparently kidnapping Bruce Banner…’I’m here to collect you,’ he says, could be as muscle. Fighting the Avengers could be easier if he has a Hulk." (@empiremagazine) https://t.co/HWwPcb2qTQ
— Geek Vibes Nation (@GeekVibesNation) October 27, 2026
The interviewer pressed the directors on why Doom would bother with Banner at all, given that the footage keeps returning to the idea of people living stolen lives, and Banner doesn’t seem to fit that description. Joe Russo explained that Banner is in that bunker because he is dealing with the fallout from ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and trying to protect the world from himself.
As for whether Mark Ruffalo actually suits up, the filmmakers are playing it coy. The directors said Banner is definitely tied to the story surrounding Doom, but they refused to either confirm or deny his presence in the movie.
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Anthony Russo added that several characters and cast members who have yet to be announced are part of the film. He also compared their effort to dodge spoilers to saving presents for Christmas morning.
That ambiguity has given the fandom plenty of room to run. Some have suggested Doom could use the Hulk as a battery to power his creation of Battleworld in ‘Doomsday’ and its sequel, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, while others on social media are already predicting Doom wants to turn him into Maestro Hulk.
Not everyone is celebrating just yet, with some fans arguing the Russos still owe the character after how he was handled in ‘Infinity War’. A Banner forced into battle against his old teammates would at least guarantee the big green guy a spotlight moment.
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— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026
If Doom is building an army, he will need one. The film unites the Avengers, the Wakandans, the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four from Earth-828 and the original X-Men, with Robert Downey Jr., whose Iron Man sacrificed himself at the end of ‘Endgame’, now returning as the supervillain himself.
The ensemble also includes Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, among many others. The Russos direct from a screenplay by Stephen McFeely, and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18.
Stand together. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/gA9Cd3iqUk https://t.co/XVQHe7sEoE
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 25, 2026
Until then, the image of the Hulk standing beside Doom instead of against him is one fans won’t be able to shake. Whether Banner becomes a reluctant soldier, a power source, or something far stranger, the Russos clearly want audiences walking in nervous.
What do you think Doctor Doom wants with Bruce Banner and the Hulk in Avengers: Doomsday?
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