Hulk in Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day
Filming begins in July
Good news for all Marvel fans: as Nexus Point News exclusively reports, Mark Ruffalo will make an appearance as the Hulk in "Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day"!
Ruffalo's role in the film will go far beyond a simple cameo appearance. In fact, he will play a central role. Whether it involves the "Professor Hulk" from "Avengers: Endgame" or even the wilder, more original variant of the character has not yet been confirmed.
One plausible scenario would be Banner acting as Peter Parker's scientific mentor – similar to Tony Stark in the earlier MCU films. This role would fit in with Banner's development in recent Marvel projects, especially after his appearance in the series "She-Hulk". There we saw him in his hybrid Professor Hulk form, combining both intellect and strength.
Bruce Banner and his alter ego Hulk are among the oldest and best-known characters in the Marvel universe. Created in 1962 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the green giant made his debut in "The Incredible Hulk #1". Since then, he has not only become a founding member of the "Avengers", but has also regularly appeared in crossover events and teams such as the "Defenders". Ruffalo has been in the MCU since "The Avengers" (2012). "Brand New Day" will be his tenth main appearance.
Alongside Ruffalo, Tom Holland is also returning as Peter Parker, Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. The film will be directed by "Shang-Chi" director Destin Daniel Cretton, with Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers writing the screenplay as usual. There are also indications that Michael Mando will return as Mac Gargan, who was briefly seen in "Spider-Man: Homecoming". "Stranger Things" star Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas have been cast in hitherto unknown roles.
"Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day" is currently scheduled for release before "Avengers: Doomsday" on July 31, 2026 and represents a central building block of Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Filming will kick off in London in July 2025 and is expected to wrap in the fall.
The Hulk in cinemas: all real-life film appearances of the green giant
The Hulk is one of the best-known characters in the Marvel universe. Since his comic book debut in 1962, the green hulk has been adapted for the movies several times. From solo adventures to team-based blockbusters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): here are all of the Hulk's real-life appearances on the big screen.
Hulk (2003): The first movie
The first major movie about the Hulk was released in 2003 under the direction of Ang Lee. Eric Bana played Dr. Bruce Banner, whose experiments with gamma radiation transform him into a giant green monster. The film attempted to focus on Banner's psychological conflict and combined comic elements in a visually innovative way with a rather serious tone. Although "Hulk" offered interesting approaches, it divided critics and audiences. The portrayal of the Hulk as a completely CGI-generated character was ambitious at the time, but was often perceived as too artificial. A sequel never materialized – instead, Marvel opted for a fresh start.
The Incredible Hulk (2008): The soft reboot in the MCU
With "The Incredible Hulk", Marvel launched a new attempt in 2008 – this time as part of the up-and-coming Marvel Cinematic Universe. Edward Norton took on the role of Bruce Banner. In this version, Banner is on the run from the military, who want to turn him into a weapon. The movie focused more on action and less on introspective depth. The antagonist was Emil Blonsky aka Abomination (played by Tim Roth), a super soldier who transforms into an even more dangerous monster. The movie ends with Banner's retreat, greater control over his transformations – and a teaser appearance from Tony Stark, officially tying up the MCU.
The Avengers (2012): Mark Ruffalo's debut
As Edward Norton and Marvel went their separate ways after the 2008 film, the role of Bruce Banner was recast for "The Avengers" with Mark Ruffalo. In Joss Whedon's ensemble film, Nick Fury brings the heroes together to defend the Earth against Loki and an alien invasion. Ruffalo's Hulk has been made more lifelike using modern motion capture technology – with Ruffalo's face as the basis. The scene in which Banner declares that he is "always angry" is considered one of the strongest in the movie. His outburst against Loki quickly became a cult scene.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
In the sequel "Age of Ultron", the character continues to develop. Banner is part of the research team that creates Ultron from Loki's sceptre – a project that soon spirals out of control. At the same time, a romance begins to develop between Banner and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow). After a destructive battle with Iron Man in the Hulkbuster suit, Hulk realizes his threat to humanity and disappears in a quinjet. This retreat marks the transition to his next appearance.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
After an absence of two years, Hulk returns in "Ragnarok" – this time in a very different tone. Director Taika Waititi staged the film as a colorful, humorous adventure. Hulk has lived on the planet Sakaar as a celebrated gladiator since disappearing at the end of "Age of Ultron". Here, Hulk speaks in full sentences for the first time and displays a childlike, naive personality. Banner, on the other hand, struggles to regain control. This humorous portrayal of the Hulk was celebrated by many fans and established him as a multi-dimensional character.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
In "Infinity War", a new conflict is revealed: after Hulk is severely beaten by Thanos, he refuses to return as the movie progresses. Banner has to join the fight in a Hulkbuster suit. This dynamic showed that the relationship between Banner and Hulk is becoming more complex and not just based on transformation buttons.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
"Endgame" presents the next evolutionary stage: "Professor Hulk". Bruce Banner has found a way to combine his intelligence with the strength of the Hulk. The result is a calm, reflective, but still physically superior superhero. In the time travel mission, Hulk is a key element, especially when using the Infinity Gauntlet. But humorous scenes – such as the embarrassing attempt to act like his wilder self – also show his more human side.
Conclusion: A character in constant transformation
The Hulk has undergone many transformations in cinema – from wordless rage to intellectual giant. Each new iteration has revealed a new facet of his personality. Whether as a lone warrior, team member or mentor, Hulk remains one of the most fascinating and multi-layered characters in the Marvel universe. And his story on the big screen is far from over.