There is still time for Louis Leterrier’s dreams for Bruce Banner afterThe Incredible Hulkto come to fruition in theMCU, and this could give the Avengers their most terrifying villain yet. Originally played by Edward Norton, but most prominently portrayed by Mark Ruffalo,Bruce Banner’s Hulk has become one of the most important heroesin the MCU in the years since his debut in 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk. Despite not having any further solo movies, he’s been central to the MCU, butThe Incredible Hulk’sdirector wanted Banner’s story to be very different.
The MCU’s Phase 1 established Bruce Banner’s Hulk as a key superhero in the MCU, as he took down the Abomination in Harlem and then became a founding member of the Avengers to defeat Loki in New York City. Since then,Bruce Banner has been through some major changes, but these alterations have unfortunately weakened the Hulk in recent years. Louis Leterrier’s original plan for Banner would have made these mistakes impossible, as theHulk would have returned to the MCUin his most powerful form, and we think there’s still a chance he can.
Louis Leterrier Wanted The Hulk To Be An Avengers Villain After 2008’s The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk Left Bruce Banner’s Fate Uncertain
French director Louis Leterrier made his Hollywood debut in 2008 withThe Incredible Hulk, which introducedNorton’s version of Bruce Bannerto the MCU at the very beginning of the franchise. WhenThe Incredible Hulkwas released,the titular character was already planned to appear in 2012’sThe Avengers, but the creative team didn’t know in which direction the Hulk would be taken. This fueled Leterrier’s desire to have the Hulk become the Avengers' villain, which he revealed more about toMTV Newsback in June 2008.
I would love to see [the Hulk become the villain that fights the Avengers] because I think the best villains are always the ones whose agenda you understand. They’re not synthetic to us in a way; they’re not these one-dimensional bad guys. That’s why I left the door open for whoever’s going to directThe Avengerswith our last shot. Edward [Norton] and I, we consciously decided to make the last shot of the movie when he opens his eyes and he smirks at the camera. Is he enjoying it? Is he malicious? That’s what’s great about Edward. You don’t know if he’s a good guy or bad guy. He’s always on this edge and we’ve been sort of surfing that edge, that very thin edge during the entire movie. So that last shot of the movie, if you decide that he’s smiling, in control, then he’s a good guy, that’sThe Hulk 2. If [The Incredible]Hulkis a failure, then he looks up and smirks and that’s eventually the Hulk of the Avengers - the uncontrollable beast that they need to team up to stop.
2012’sThe Avengerseventually sawBruce Banner’s Hulk joining the teamas a hero to battle Loki and his Chitauri army, rather than being featured as the main villain of the Phase 1 crossover event. The movie also replaced Edward Norton with Mark Ruffalo, who Marvel Studios perhaps felt didn’t fit the brief of a villainous Hulk as well as his predecessor.Ruffalo had been Leterrier’s first choice for Bruce Banner, so this all worked out, but not all the director’s plans came to fruition, as the Hulk has now yet become a significant Avengers villain in the MCU.
The Hulk Was Teased As The Avengers’ Best Villain 10 Years Ago
Avengers: Age Of Ultron Showed How Great A Villainous Hulk Could Be
2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultronmarked the first full appearance of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch in the MCU, and she made a fantastic first impression by manipulating the minds of each member of the Avengers (except Hawkeye). This had a wild impact on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Bruce Banner in particular, as he transformed into a savage, unbridled version of theHulk and wreaked havoc on the streets of Johannesburg.It’s unclear what the Scarlet Witch made Banner see, but it must have been incredibly distressing, as he turned into a mindless, destructive beast.
This entire sequence, including theHulk’s incredible battle against Tony Stark’s Iron Man, suited up in the Hulkbuster armor, proved just how brilliant it would be to see the Hulk become an official villain to the Avengers team in the MCU.His unmatched strength, speed, durability and anger make him a formidable threat that Stark only defeated by dropping him through every floor of a skyscraper and knocking him out. It’s a shame we haven’t seen this powerful Hulk in a decade, but a rumored upcoming MCU project could bring him back and make Louis Leterrier’s dreams a reality.
I Still Think The Hulk Could Become An Avengers Villain After Doomsday & Secret Wars
Mark Ruffalo Hasn’t Yet Been Confirmed To Be Returning To The MCU
While there has currently been no confirmation of whether Mark Ruffalo will be returning as Bruce Banner, it’s very likely he’ll continue to have a major role in the MCU’s future. This means that,afterAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Warsconclude the Multiverse Saga, a futureAvengersmovie could still feature the Hulk transforming into a powerful villain, and we already know what story would work perfectly. Marvel Studios has seemingly been planting seeds for anMCU adaptation of Marvel Comics’World War Hulkevent, which would be the perfect story for anAvengersmovie.
2007’sWorld War Hulksaw the Hulk return to Earth, following his wife’s death, with a vendetta against the Illuminati members who exiled him off-world. He fought the Avengers, the X-Men, the Inhumans, the Fantastic Four and many other heroes before an epic battle in Central Park led to him being depowered.Marvel Studios has planted manyWorld War Hulkseeds in recent years, with the Illuminati, Sakaar, the Sentry, Skaar and more all appearing in the MCU. This means Louis Leterrier’s dreams afterThe Incredible Hulkcould finally come to fruition, which would be game-changing for the MCU.
