For years, a solo Hulk movie has been one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s longest-running “what ifs”. Despite appearing in nearly every major Avengers era, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner has remained the only original Avenger without a standalone film during his time in the MCU.
That conversation gained new momentum after Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton revealed that the actor has shared several ideas for a Hulk movie, teasing that the actor’s pitches are “pretty good” and hinting that there may still be unexplored paths for the Green Goliath.
Could Marvel Studios Finally Make a Hulk Standalone Film?
A new standalone Hulk movie is more possible than it has been in years, but Marvel Studios has not officially announced one. Recent comments from Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton have reignited speculation after he revealed that Mark Ruffalo has pitched several Hulk story ideas, describing them as “pretty good”.
Those remarks suggest that conversations about Bruce Banner’s future have taken place creatively, even if no project has received the green light yet. Cretton’s comments are especially noteworthy because Ruffalo returns as Bruce Banner in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, giving the character his biggest MCU role since She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
According to early reactions, Banner plays a meaningful part in Peter Parker’s journey rather than appearing as a brief cameo, further fueling speculation that Marvel could be positioning Hulk for a larger role in the franchise’s next phase.
Ruffalo has long expressed interest in exploring Bruce Banner beyond ensemble films. As far back as 2014, he revealed that Marvel had at least begun entertaining the idea of another solo Hulk movie, though nothing concrete materialized.
Kevin Feige has also stated over the years that Hulk is capable of carrying his own film, but Marvel instead chose to develop Banner’s story across crossover projects like Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and She-Hulk.
Why Has Mark Ruffalo Never Had a Solo Hulk Movie in the MCU?
Mark Ruffalo has never starred in a solo Hulk movie because of Universal Pictures’ long-standing distribution rights to standalone Hulk films, which have complicated Marvel Studios’ ability to produce and release one independently. Unlike Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor, Bruce Banner’s film history has been shaped as much by business agreements as by creative decisions.
The situation dates back to the years before the MCU existed. Universal distributed both Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003) and Marvel Studios’ The Incredible Hulk (2008), starring Edward Norton.
Although Marvel regained full creative control of the Hulk character, Universal retained the right of first refusal to distribute future standalone Hulk movies, making any new solo film significantly more complicated than other Marvel productions.
Rather than leaving Bruce Banner on the sidelines, Marvel adapted by making him one of the franchise’s most important supporting characters. Ruffalo debuted in The Avengers (2012) and has since appeared in seven MCU projects, with each appearance advancing his story.
His transformation into Smart Hulk happened between Infinity War and Endgame, while later projects introduced his cousin Jennifer Walters and even his son, Skaar, all without requiring a dedicated Hulk movie.
Kevin Feige has previously explained that Marvel intentionally chose to develop Hulk through crossover stories, believing the character could have a meaningful arc without headlining his own franchise.
Ruffalo has echoed that sentiment, repeatedly saying he would gladly make a solo film if the business circumstances allowed it, but acknowledging that the decision ultimately extends beyond the actors or filmmakers.