Mark Ruffalo’s Solo Hulk Movie Might Finally Be Taking Shape
Bruce Banner has spent well over a decade lurking in the background of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, popping up as backup muscle in ensemble films while a standalone story for his green alter ego stayed stuck in limbo. Mark Ruffalo has played the character since 2012, appearing across the ‘Avengers’ saga and even helming his own arc on Disney Plus with ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ yet a true Hulk-centered feature has never materialized. Rights complications with Universal Pictures, which has held onto certain live-action Hulk privileges since the character’s earlier film outings, have long been cited as the reason why.
That history is exactly what makes the actor’s latest MCU appearance feel significant. Ruffalo is set to return as Hulk in ‘Spider-Man Brand New Day,’ the fourth installment in Tom Holland’s web slinging saga, marking a notable step back into the spotlight for the character regardless of what comes next.
Now director Destin Daniel Cretton is adding fuel to the fire. Speaking with Variety, Cretton revealed that Ruffalo has been quietly developing his own vision for a solo Hulk project. “Mark has a few pitches. They are pretty good,” Cretton said, a comment that immediately sent fans of the character into speculation mode.
It is not the first time the idea has come up in Ruffalo’s own words. The actor has previously admitted in past interviews that he would love to finally get a Hulk focused film, while also acknowledging the tangled ownership situation between Marvel and Universal that has repeatedly stalled progress. He has softened his tone over the years, moving from outright dismissing the possibility to expressing genuine interest in exploring Bruce Banner’s untold history on screen.
Cretton’s willingness to even discuss those pitches publicly suggests the door has not been fully closed internally, even if nothing concrete has been greenlit. The director has also spoken about how electric the chemistry felt while filming scenes between Ruffalo and Holland for ‘Brand New Day,’ calling the pairing something that produced surprisingly intimate and explosive results on screen. That dynamic is expected to feed directly into one of the new film’s most anticipated moments, a live action clash between Spider-Man and Hulk.
For now, audiences will have to settle for seeing Ruffalo’s Hulk back in ensemble action when ‘Spider-Man Brand New Day’ swings into theaters on July 31. Whether that appearance builds enough momentum to finally push a solo project across the finish line remains an open question, especially with Universal’s rights situation still hanging over any potential greenlight.
Still, the fact that Ruffalo has pitches ready and his own director is publicly vouching for them feels like the closest this idea has come to reality in years. Do you think Marvel and Universal can finally sort out the rights mess and give Mark Ruffalo the solo Hulk movie he has been chasing for over a decade?
