Everything We Know About Hulk's Role In Avengers: Endgame

What role will the Hulk play in Avengers: Infinity War and will come to a conclusion in this year's Avengers: Endgame.

Bruce Banner's role in Avengers: Infinity War took fans by surprise. The Hulk took on Thanos himself at the beginning of the film, but was beaten to within an inch of his life by the Mad Titan. That was the last the Jade Giant was really seen at all in Infinity War, refusing to the fight against the Black Order in New York or participate in the Battle of Wakanda. Many viewers assumed the Hulk was frightened or embarrassed after his defeat by Thanos, but the Russo brothers have insisted that isn't the case. As Joe Russo explained, the two personas in Bruce's body - the Banner identity and the Hulk - are in conflict. It wasn't that the Hulk was afraid of Thanos; it was that he was tired of being seen as Bruce Banner's weapon, let out whenever Bruce wanted to wreak havoc, and otherwise repressed.

So where is this all going in Avengers: Endgame? It's clear this will be an important story for the Hulk, resolving that three-film-long story arc and seeing Bruce Banner and the Hulk find a measure of peace at last. How will it work out? And will it mean the Hulk has a rematch with Thanos?

This Page: The Professor Hulk Story
Next Page: Will Hulk Get A Rematch With Thanos?

Hulk Properly Comes Out In Avengers: Endgame

Let's start with the most obvious point; the Hulk will indeed come out to play in Avengers: Endgame. It's pretty clear that the Hulk's ongoing story revolves around the conflict between the Bruce Banner and the Hulk identities, and that the two will have to find a way to work together if they're going to play their part in averting or undoing the snap. Quantum Realm environmental suits; if that's the case, it suggests the Hulk will enter the Quantum Realm, and possibly be one of the time travelers.

The Hulk in the Avengers: Endgame artwork appears very different to the traditional Jade Giant. This is a slimmer Hulk, with a face that appears a little more Banner-like, and one who's comfortable wearing clothes. It looks as though the Bruce Banner and Hulk identities will be forced to merge - an idea lifted straight from the Peter David run in the comics, where they became the so-called "Professor Hulk." This version of the Hulk possessed the razor-sharp mind of Bruce Banner, and the prodigious, impossible strength of the Hulk; he was one of the more dangerous heroes around, as capable of outwitting an opponent as he was of outfighting them.

In truth, this has been pretty effectively signposted through Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War. "Hulk speaking [in Thor: Ragnarok] is the start to separating of these two individuals," Ruffalo explained, "these identities in this split-identity person, and where that's going to end up going." Avengers: Infinity War built on that concept, drawing heavily upon the Peter David run; in fact, some scenes were lifted straight from The Incredible Hulk #376, where the Hulk and Banner personalities waged war with one another. The issue featured staggering scenes in which Bruce reeled, his body rebelling against the change, his hands enlarging and turning green and gray. It also featured extensive dialogue where the personas spoke to one another through Banner's mouth. Both those concepts were faithfully reproduced in Avengers: Infinity War - and in the comics they set the scene for the Hulk and Banner identities to be forced to merge into Professor Hulk in the next issue. There's no reason to believe the same won't be true on the big screen as well.

Page 2 of 2: Will Hulk Get A Rematch With Thanos?

Thanos and Bruce Banner in Avengers Infinity War

Will Hulk Get A Rematch With Thanos In Avengers: Endgame?

The Hulk has always seen himself as the strongest one there is, successfully taking down even powerhouses like the Abomination. But he more than met his match in Thanos, and would have been killed by the Mad Titan if not for Heimdall's intervention. It was clear that the Hulk was simply outclassed by Thanos, who swiftly proved himself to be even stronger than the Hulk, even managing to break his grip. Thanos' tactical skill allowed him to take the Hulk down with shocking ease, with the Jade Giant unable to defend himself against a flurry of thrusts and jabs.

But will there be a rematch? It's important to that the madder the Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. Thanos beat the Hulk with speed, neutralizing him before his rage could build; there's no reason he should be so fortunate again. Meanwhile, if Thanos should encounter Professor Hulk, he'll face a very different challenge. It's one thing to beat a brawny brute who's used to his enemies reeling from his blows; it's another to deal with a scientific genius who has tactical skills and combat training, but also has the full might of the Incredible Hulk at his disposal. In fact, it's not inconceivable that Thanos could miscalculate, expecting a furious animalistic force of nature when in reality he's dealing with one of Earth's greatest intellects. Should the Hulk and Thanos cross paths again, it could turn out very differently.

Hulk's Post-Avengers 4 Role Is Unclear

Avengers: Endgame is essentially a Last Hurrah for the OG Avengers, with several key actors - including Robert Downey, Jr., and Chris Evans - coming to the end of their contracts. Like Evans, Mark Ruffalo is believed to have signed up for six films; unlike Evans, though, he's yet to fulfill that contract. Not counting his cameo in Iron Man 3, Ruffalo has only filmed for five Marvel movies; Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. That means it's entirely possible the Hulk will make it out of Avengers: Endgame, and turn up in a future Marvel movie.

If the Hulk does survive, it has to be noted that he still won't get a solo film anytime soon. "I just want to make one thing perfectly clear today that a standalone Hulk movie will never happen," distribution rights for a Hulk movie sit with Universal, as a result of a deal Marvel struck decades before they became part of Disney and gained the ability to distribute films themselves. So if Ruffalo does appear as Bruce Banner again, it will either be in an ensemble Avengers-esque project or as a major cameo, akin to his role in Thor: Ragnarok.

But, while the odds look good for the Hulk's survival into the MCU's Phase 4, that can't be guaranteed. Precious little is known about Phase 4 to date, but it seems as though Marvel intend to jump around the timeline; there are reports that Black Widow is rumored to be a prequel revealing how the titular hero became a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in the first place. Given that's the case, it is possible the Hulk could die in Avengers: Endgame, with Ruffalo reprising the role in a film set earlier on in the timeline. Where Avengers: Endgame is concerned, nobody is really safe.