Movies

MCU’s Missed Chance: The Hulk Story We’ve Craved for 17 Years!

BBG News

In essence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost delivered the deeply desired Hulk narrative that fans have yearned for since 2008, but fell short once more. For close to two decades now, MCU spectators have longed to see Bruce Banner fully step into the limelight in a grittier, character-focused storyline. Regrettably, despite the MCU timeline coming incredibly close to making this a reality, it still failed to capitalize on the opportunity to give the Hulk saga the depth and exploration it deserves, even when presented with an ideal chance in 2025.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Bruce Banner’s character has followed an unusual path. Initially, Edward Norton portrayed him in a standalone movie, “The Incredible Hulk,” in 2008. However, after that, the Hulk became more integrated into the larger Avengers group. Mark Ruffalo stepped into the role in 2012’s “The Avengers” and since then, the Hulk has been utilized more for humor or as a supporting character rather than a main protagonist. While other heroes have had their individual series, ongoing rights issues with Universal have limited the development of the Hulk’s storyline. Despite finding a way to work around these issues in 2025, the MCU has yet to deliver a compelling Hulk villain arc.

The Concept Of An MCU Hulk Villain Movie Story Has Been Teased For Years Now

The Incredible Hulk Set Up Hulk As A Villain In The Avengers

One fascinating speculation about the early narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the possibility of a villainous storyline for the Hulk character. Director Louis Leterrier of The Incredible Hulk movie has stated that the film’s ending was purposefully left open-ended – Bruce Banner smiles after transformation, suggesting some level of control but also foreshadowing a potentially dangerous future. This ambiguity in the ending was intentionally designed to maintain flexibility in the storytelling, such as setting up Hulk as a potential antagonist.

The movie’s ending scene after the credits supports this notion as Tony Stark, not Bruce Banner, meets General Ross. This implies that Stark wasn’t trying to enlist Hulk, but instead was negotiating with Ross and potentially seeking assistance in controlling or stopping Hulk. From the beginning, the concept of a malevolent or unmanageable Hulk was an integral part of the MCU. However, over time, this idea was subtly replaced by a more lighthearted, less menacing portrayal of the character.

2025 Brought The MCU The Closest Yet To This Hulk Story In Its Movies, But Didn’t Make The Red Hulk A True Villain

Red Hulk Debuted In Captain America: Brave New World

In 2025, the movie “Captain America: Brave New World” came close to delving into a more somber Hulk narrative within the MCU, as it introduced the Red Hulk character. Fans eagerly awaited Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, given his persisting desire to subdue or vanquish the Hulk in both the comics and movies. However, despite the Red Hulk being featured in the film, it opted to avoid turning him into a full-fledged villain.

The story depicts Ross’s change as something he struggles against, compelled by The Leader. Unlike other characters who might choose to wield their power or act independently, Ross is more of a pawn – an unwilling villain rather than a conscious threat. This restricts the story’s potential for excitement and essentially repeats Bruce Banner’s early character development.

In “Brave New World,” the Red Hulk serves more as The Leader’s tool rather than a character with personal ambitions or internal struggles of his own. Although the story includes all the elements that could have made Ross a formidable adversary – his military background, ties to the industrial complex, past conflicts with Banner, and transformation into a super-powered being – it instead presents him as a secondary figure, not the primary antagonist as one might expect.

The MCU’s Red Hulk Story Makes Sense, But Misses A Major Opportunity

Red Hulk Could Have Been A Much Grander Villain

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could have capitalized on a significant storytelling moment by portraying Red Hulk as more than just a tool instead of a villain, particularly in the context of Sam Wilson’s Captain America being central to the narrative. This choice, however, may have overlooked an excellent chance to develop Hulk’s stories from secondary plots to main events. In the comics, Red Hulk is not merely a mindless brute – he’s a cunning and menacing character.

Re-imagining the Red Hulk as the central antagonist in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film (or series) wouldn’t only introduce a new kind of danger, but also would have given a fresh breath to the Hulk’s significance within the franchise, offering an intriguing twist to his character arc.

A narrative could have unfolded where the Red Hulk takes on the role as the adversary, compelling Bruce Banner to step out from hiding and reclaim his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe limelight, potentially fulfilling a long-anticipated arc for fans who’ve waited 17 years. This tale would have delved into not only power, but also legacy, obsession, and transformation – themes deeply rooted in the Hulk’s mythos. Unfortunately, what we received was merely a glimpse of this concept, one that acknowledged Red Hulk’s introduction, yet failed to fully exploit his potential.

Read More

2025-05-25 23:11

Previous post Taylor Sheridan Praises ‘American Primeval’ in Surprising Revelation by Peter Berg
Next post Sydney Sweeney Knows Anyone But You Got Negative Reviews From Critics. But I Appreciate Her Take