There's something almost endearing about Mark Ruffalo's relationship with the Marvel machine. Here's an Oscar nominee—a man who's carried indie darlings and prestige dramas with equal grace—admitting he's basically waiting by the phone like the rest of us. “I don't know. I'm still waiting to hear. I haven't read a script yet,” he told ET when asked about Hulk's rumored involvement in the currently shooting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
It's refreshing, honestly. In an era where every Marvel star seems contractually obligated to speak in carefully crafted non-answers and winking deflections, Ruffalo just… tells the truth. He doesn't know. He's waiting. Like a actor. Imagine that.
But here's where it gets interesting—and where Ruffalo's candor reveals something deeper about Marvel's evolving ecosystem. The Hulk hasn't had a proper big-screen outing since 2008's “The Incredible Hulk” (and let's be honest, that Edward Norton iteration feels like ancient history now). Since then, Banner has been relegated to ensemble pieces and, most recently, the final moments of 2022's “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” where we learned he has a son named Skaar. A son. Just dropped in there like it's no big deal.
The rumors swirling around “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” suggest we might finally see the Savage Hulk transformation—a version triggered by emotional distress rather than anger. It's a fascinating pivot, considering Ruffalo has spent over a decade playing Banner as Marvel's resident intellectual, the guy who's figured out how to manage the beast. What happens when that control gets stripped away? What happens when the smartest guy in the room becomes the most dangerous?
“If it does happen, it would be incredible,” Ruffalo mused, and you can hear the genuine excitement there. “Each time it's this new director, a new world. It's so exciting and there's nothing else like it.” He's not wrong. Destin Daniel Cretton, fresh off “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” brings a different energy entirely from previous Spider-Man directors. Where Jon Watts leaned into high school comedy-adventure, Cretton understands intimate character work within spectacle.
And then there's the Jon Bernthal factor. Ruffalo's enthusiasm about potentially working with The Punisher is infectious—and telling. “I love him and we have a common friend in Lena Dunham, believe it or not,” he shared with THR. The mental image of Lena Dunham connecting the Hulk and The Punisher is almost too perfect. Hollywood's a small town, after all.
But Bernthal's Frank Castle returning to the big screen for the first time since his Netflix series ended is significant beyond the fanservice. The Punisher operates in Marvel's moral gray zones—places where heroes like Spider-Man and Banner typically fear to tread. If the Savage Hulk rumors are true, we're looking at a film that might finally explore the darker corners of these characters. The places where good intentions collide with brutal necessity.
What strikes me most about Ruffalo's comments is his genuine uncertainty coupled with obvious hope. After more than a decade in the MCU, he's still waiting for scripts, still discovering his character's future along with the rest of us. It's either beautifully human or masterfully calculated—probably both.
The film, written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (the duo behind the previous Spider-Man trilogy), is slated for July 31st, 2026. That's still two years away. Two years for Ruffalo to get that script. Two years for us to wonder if the Hulk will finally get his due.
Maybe that's the real story here. Not whether Hulk appears in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” but how Marvel has managed to keep one of its most iconic characters perpetually on the periphery while maintaining an A-list actor's genuine enthusiasm for the role. Ruffalo's uncertainty isn't a bug—it's a feature. It keeps the stakes real, even in a universe where death is temporary and reality is negotiable.
What You Should Know About Hulk's Spider-Man Future
Ruffalo Hasn't Read the Script Yet
Despite persistent rumors about Hulk's involvement in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the actor admits he's still waiting for official confirmation and hasn't seen any script pages.
Savage Hulk Transformation Rumored
Industry whispers suggest Banner might undergo an emotional distress-triggered transformation, marking a significant departure from his anger-based Hulk manifestations.
Punisher Connection Excites Banner Actor
Ruffalo expressed genuine enthusiasm about potentially working with Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, calling him “such a great actor” and noting their mutual connection through Lena Dunham.
Skaar's Introduction Changes Everything
The revelation of Banner's son in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” creates new emotional stakes that could fuel the rumored Savage Hulk storyline.
Destin Daniel Cretton's Vision
The “Shang-Chi” director brings a different sensibility to the Spider-Man universe, one that might finally give Hulk the character-driven story he deserves.
July 2026 Release Confirmed
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is scheduled to hit theaters July 31st, 2026, giving Marvel plenty of time to craft whatever Banner's next chapter might be.
What do you think? Is Marvel finally ready to unleash the Savage Hulk, or are we setting ourselves up for another ensemble appearance? The beauty of Ruffalo's honesty is that even he doesn't know yet. And maybe that's exactly where we want to be.
