Is Multiverse Of Madness Setting Up Planet Hulk?

By introducing the Illuminati within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whether it be a multiversal panel to continue overseeing the world of the MCU, or simply a one-time event just for this movie, it begs a major question of whether or not we will finally get to see a Planet Hulk movie.

Mark Ruffalo has played Bruce Banner/Hulk for several films including the Smart Hulk and the traditional Green Hulk, but for the most part, we haven’t got to see a lot more options for this character throughout the MCU due to rights owned by Universal Pictures.

So first and foremost, before we dive into whether or not we can even see a Planet Hulk movie, we have to understand can we actually see a standalone Hulk movie per the rights and agreements owned by Disney and Marvel at this time.

Can Marvel/Disney make a stand alone Hulk movie?

In 2003 Universal Pictures owned the rights when they made the Ang Lee film starring Eric Bana. However, they failed to make a sequel prior to 2006, when the rights would revert to Marvel. It was at this time that Marvel decided to agree to work with Universal Pictures, with the idea that they could fold the Hulk character into other films in their planned multi-hero world. This is what led to the Edward Norton film of 2008. Still a year prior to Disney’s purchase of Marvel.

Part of this deal though allowed Marvel to film the movies while paying Universal Pictures to distribute the film. As part of the agreement though, Universal Pictures reserved the right of first refusal for all solo Hulk projects. So it is possible to make another solo Hulk film, but a lot of hands would likely be involved in the process, and Marvel/Disney isn’t a fan of that.

Considering the fact that Marvel could make a Planet Hulk movie, the question is would they?

I’m sure Mark Ruffalo doesn’t want to play the Hulk forever, while there’s been almost no talk whatsoever about Mark Ruffalo leaving the MCU, there has to be an end date for him to be able to play this character. Outside of voicing the character while keeping the Hulk/Banner only completely CGI, age will always be a factor for the representation of the figure. Disney however has done a great job setting up additional heroes in the vein of passing the torch. The MCU has even allowed major characters like Captain America and Iron Man to step down.

Even The Hulk characters are setting up a potential passing of the torch through the focus on the coming to Disney+ limited series “She-Hulk.”

While Mark Ruffalo we’ll star, at least in some way, in the series, it isn’t specifically viewed the exact same way that the Hawkeye series has with Hailee Steinfeld. It still is possible that Ruffalo might pass the torch and allow Mark his retirement from the MCU.

So, what better way of a send-off for a Marvel character within the MCU than to give them their own standalone movie, looking at you Black Widow, but also to give them a movie that people have been wanting and crying for, for quite some time.

For a little backstory, Planet Hulk is a Marvel comic book discussing the story that the world has viewed that the Hulk has become more of a problem than a solution on the whole. So to save the Earth, the Illuminati chose to send him on a spaceship far far away. Unbeknown to Banner, the Illuminati had planted a bomb inside the ship to kill the Hulk once and for all and prevent his return to Earth.

When the explosion didn’t activate though, the ship crashed upon a planet. It was on this planet that the Hulk fell in love and started a family. However, when the ship’s bomb activates after some time, the device murders not only the Hulk’s wife but also his child. This forms the catalyst of the Hulk, an unstoppable beast, to set his sights on revenge, revenge on Earth.

While the original story has been treated more like a What If/Elseworld tale within the Marvel comic books, this could provide an amazing way to perform a swansong on the Hulk within the MCU with a little tweaking.

Why Marvel/Disney might never create a Planet Hulk movie.

There are two specific setbacks as to why Planet Hulk will probably never happen within the MCU. The first is the fact that Taika Waititi’s Thor Ragnarok told a lot of Hulk’s Planet Hulk story. This is specifically because prior to the third Thor film, Kevin Feige pulled Ruffalo aside and asked him what he’d want to see with the Hulk’s character, and they were integrated into not only Ragnorak, but also Infinity War and Endgame.

The second issue with the adaptation of the Planet Hulk story is that the comic is incredibly dark, turning a hero into almost a partly villain in the story. Additionally, the end of the story only ends with a sad ending for Ruffalo’s much-beloved character.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Marvel and Disney tell a sad story with a harsh ending. Infinity War was a rough film, but amazing, within the MCU. The best way to end it is that while the Hulk is taken out, he disbands the Illuminati, or his actions uncover an evil member of the group who planted the bomb. So he achieves his goal but doesn’t survive himself.

A total Rogue One story…

At the end of the day, I don’t think we’ll see a Planet Hulk film, but it’s completely within the possibility if Disney is willing to walk hand in hand with Universal Pictures into the project.

So… not going to happen.

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