While prospects for a new Hulk movie remain uncertain, longtime star Mark Ruffalo expressed interest in bringing the evil future Hulk of the comics, the Maestro, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
During an interview with Variety, Ruffalo was asked how long he would continue playing Bruce Banner/Hulk, to which he answered that he didn't know, adding that he's "always surprised that [he's] still here." Ruffalo continued, "I mean, me and [previous Bruce Banner actor] Ed Norton joke that the Hulk is like our generation's Hamlet - we're all going to get a shot at it. I keep waiting for the next version of it. I mean, I'll probably do it as long as [Marvel Studios will] have me, if people are interested, and I can bring something that's interesting to me to it, and interesting to the fans. But I have no idea." Yet, with the actor, now 54, having played the MCU role since 2012's The Avengers, the notion of continuing to play the role as he gets older led Ruffalo to consider older versions of Hulk. While he doesn't mention Maestro by name, the concept of the character is clearly on his radar.
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Indeed, Ruffalo stated that if one looks at the comics, there are "old versions" of the Green Goliath. "I'm like, OK, the 67-year-old Hulk, that would be interesting - if all of us are still here making movies and there's a world that allows for us to do that anymore," he explained. "With what we're living in and heading towards, the future feels more precarious than any other time. So I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. But I hope I'm still around to do it."
Debuting in Peter David and the late George Pérez's two-part limited series, The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect, the Maestro is a malicious version of the Jade Giant who took over the world. Future Imperfect saw the past version of the Hulk, at the time in his "Professor Hulk" state, being brought to this possible future to battle his deranged doppelganger. David himself said back in 2019 that he hoped Professor Hulk being introduced in Avengers: Endgame would lead to a Future Imperfect adaptation, noting at the time, "Now, I'm hoping that [Marvel Studios winds up] doing Future Imperfect, which I think would be freaking awesome. I think Future Imperfect would make a fantastic Hulk movie."
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As for future cinematic outings for the Hulk, Ruffalo recently stated that, thanks to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, an adaptation of World War Hulk may also happen. "Five years from now [the opportunity for a Hulk appearance] could totally morph into anything, whatever's pertinent at the time," remarked Ruffalo. "I almost see him going back to 'Berserker Hulk' or 'World War Hulk'. It could go anywhere."
Mark Ruffalo's Hulk can currently be seen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. New episodes premiere Thursdays on Disney+.
Source: Variety