Even though the Hulk has been in the MCU since 2008, Marvel still has five storylines and teases in need of proper resolutions in the MCU.
Even though the Green Goliath has been in the MCU since 2008, Marvel still has six Hulk stories in need of a proper conclusion. Naturally, many of them relate to The Incredible Hulk, which never spawned a sequel. Due to rights issues with Universal, Marvel Studios hasn’t been able to make a true Hulk movie, thus forcing the studio to use the character in crossovers and other heroes’ movies.
An unavoidable consequence of Marvel not making The Incredible Hulk 2 is that much of its setup for the future has been largely overlooked. Fortunately, the increase in MCU content over the years has availed Marvel with more opportunities to continue certain elements of his story. By bringing back characters like Abomination in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Marvel has had chances to revisit the Hulk’s past, while also creating new teases for the MCU to explore in the movies and shows ahead. Combining its new additions to Hulk’s story with what was already there, Marvel has a handful of loose ends it needs to tie up at some point in the Hulk’s MCU future.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAYClose5What Happened To Betty Ross?
In spite of having strong ties to not one, but two key MCU characters, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross never made a second live-action appearance. What she’s been up to since The Incredible Hulk is unknown to this day. From the looks of things, she’s no longer a part of Bruce Banner’s life in any way, but with her being the character’s main comic love interest, it would make sense for their paths to cross again eventually. Their relationship was depicted as a forbidden romance that was always doomed to fail in The Incredible Hulk, but given how much has transpired since then, it’s worth wondering where they stand now.
Betty’s status is relevant to the MCU even where Banner isn’t concerned. After all, she’s the daughter of a major recurring character in General Thunderbolt Ross, who’s appeared in multiple movies since The Incredible Hulk. With Ross, now played by Harrison Ford, returning in Captain America: New World Order, Marvel may finally get around to catching up with Tyler’s character. An appearance from her would be warranted, especially if there’s any truth to the rumors of her father’s Red Hulk transformation. Betty would most assuredly have an interesting reaction to seeing a second important person in her life become a Hulk.
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4Samuel Sterns’ Transformation Into The Leader
It’s taking more than a decade, but one dropped Hulk storyline is finally getting its due in Captain America: New World Order. Sam Wilson’s first big-screen adventure as the next Sentinel of Liberty will see him go against Samuel Sterns. Years after playing the character in The Incredible Hulk, Tim Blake Nelson will reprise the role in Captain America 4, this time playing a proper version of the Leader, Hulk’s archenemy and a villain with a genius-level intellect.
The scene of Sterns’ brain bulging after getting dosed with gamma radiation set the stage for Sterns to become the MCU’s Leader and fight the Hulk, but this tease was never followed up on in any of the Hulk’s subsequent appearances. Captain America 4 is poised to rectify the Leader’s absence, thus allowing Marvel to show off a side of the character that’s never been seen in the MCU before. Whether or not that will call for a confrontation with Banner or Hulk, though, is unclear for the time being, but a certainly an encounter worth exploring in the future.
3Doc Samson Never Became An MCU Superhero
Similar to the situation with Samuel Sterns, Leonard Samson was introduced in The Incredible Hulk and not seen again. But unlike Sterns, Leonard still doesn’t have a confirmed future in the MCU. Given that Doc Samson has a reputation as a superhero in Marvel Comics, his introduction created the impression Marvel had places to take his character after The Incredible Hulk. As someone powerful enough to physically challenge the Hulk in the comic books, his inclusion was a massive addition to the film, but his debut has yet to be paid off. Marvel didn’t let him become anything more than Betty Ross’ psychologist boyfriend. Had Marvel been in a position to make The Incredible Hulk 2, Leonard could have returned to follow in the footsteps of his comic counterpart.
2Skaar’s Surprise Visit To Earth
She-Hulk created its own Hulk mystery by bringing his son, Skaar, to Earth. Obviously, the character was conceived off-world between the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Thor: Ragnarok. But exactly why he was there, and what else Hulk was doing offscreen are questions Marvel deliberately avoided answering in She-Hulk. But from the looks of things, this is one Hulk story Marvel seems intent on continuing, though when Marvel plans on offering another development remains to be seen. This twist came across as setup for a Planet Hulk or a World War Hulk adaptation, but it’s hard to say if that’s where Marvel is headed with the story, as there’s no obvious place for either in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga slate.
1The Original Hulk’s Return
Avengers: Endgame treated the Smart Hulk twist as an amicable solution to the Hulk-Banner dilemma, but in reality, it could only be seen as a satisfying answer to one of these characters. Essentially, Banner repressed the Hulk’s personality and took permanent ownership of their shared body. By taking this course, Banner inadvertently created a massive problem just waiting to be unleashed on the MCU. As long as Mark Ruffalo is in the MCU, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the original Hulk gets an opportunity to emerge once more. Marvel never explained what the Hulk thinks about their situation, but it wouldn’t make sense for him to agree to let Banner remain in the driver’s seat for years on end.
With that in mind, the original Hulk’s return should be an explosive affair for the MCU, whenever it may happen. It could even be the basis of the MCU’s long-rumored World War Hulk project, which would most likely draw from the story that pitted a vengeful Hulk against several of his former allies in the Marvel Universe. Depending on how it’s handled, it could also be used to simultaneously address some of its other unresolved Hulk storylines, possibly by bringing Betty Ross or Leonard Samson back into the picture.
