You what really grinds my gears? When people tell me they want a new Hulk movie. Like, why? So you can watch Mark Ruffalo squeeze a stress ball for two hours, see The Hulk twice, and then have him fight a villain who is just Hulk, but bad on purpose?
Of all the supporting characters in the MCU, I have enjoyed The Hulk more than any. And that statement might bother you if you put Hulk on the same pedestal as Thor, Cap, or Tony, but the truth is Hulk isn't that big. Metaphorically. He may be in the comics, but in the MCU Hulk is the gray line between A-List hero and supporting character. Don't believe me? How many of you forgot "The Incredible Hulk" was in the MCU? Or that the film even existed? Or the love interest from that movie? You may remember General Ross, but only because he is literally the only character from that film to be in other MCU movies. And that includes Bruce Banner because he was played by Edward Norton in that film. "The Incredible Hulk" is like the black sheep of the MCU and honestly not a bad film, but also not something I wanted to see repeated.
Ever since "Avengers" we have seen the best portrayal of both Bruce and The Hulk on screen. Bruce has some handle on his anger, he's able to socialize and joke and be afraid without being a liability. And Hulk can smile and have fun and have friends and beat up Thor. Every time I see Bruce and Hulk in a film I can't find myself liking one more than the other, there's a great balance to both identities. Between "Age of Ultron", "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Infinity War" we see an arc to this version of The Hulk, an arc you couldn't get in a trilogy, an arc better paced throughout his appearances in other films. Hulk works as a supporting character because it gives him less focus, but more space to develop.
And here's the other thing, The Hulk isn't entirely Marvel Studio's property. Hulk's movie rights have been in the possession of Universal Studios since 2000, so every time Marvel Studios/Disney uses Hulk it cannot be in a solo movie. Otherwise Universal gets some of the profit. So Marvel owns the right to use Hulk in movies that aren't named after him. And since none of these films can be solely about Hulk we don't have much of a reason to use Betty Ross or Abomination or The Leader. And yeah, the whole thing is pretty damn stupid. Disney could buy up the rest of the Hulk rights any day now, but they haven't. And maybe they don't have to because despite this limitation, Hulk has worked out fine in the MCU. Not everyone is asking for a movie with him, most people are too excited for the next Black Panther or an X-Men film to care if Hulk gets a new film. And hey, Hulk has fought The Thing so who says he can't appear in a Fantastic Four film? And Wolverine's first appearance was in a Hulk comic, so who says Wolverine won't have a film where he fights The Hulk? Hulk is such a flexible character he can appear anywhere!
Personally? I don't need a new Hulk film. Maybe twenty years from now when everything is rebooted and different and we can afford to make a Hulk horror movie I'll be down, but right now in the upcoming era of the MCU I don't need The Hulk to get a new movie. That being said, Bruce seems to have trouble bringing The Hulk out after his battle with Thanos. Who says that problem can't last, maybe until he's back to Earth civilization? Where a community of people who fear and hate the Hulk want Bruce put on trial for all the damage he's caused? Led by Samuel Sterns, the victim of Hulk blood touching his brain at the end of "Incredible Hulk", AKA The Leader. And Bruce needs a good lawyer, like his cousin Jennifer Walters. Jen-who is obviously bitter with Bruce for being so distant from her-could get shot by a Hulk-hater, need a blood transfusion from Bruce, and become She-Hulk for a new film trilogy. There's an idea for you Marvel.
Thanks for reading!
I'll be waiting for Taika Waititi to call me.
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