Mark Ruffalo is back as Bruce Banner, and the Russo Brothers are not confirming it. The director duo teased the Hulk’s presence in Avengers: Doomsday while refusing to say whether Ruffalo returns as the character.
The film arrives December 18 as part of Phase 6 of the MCU. It follows 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which the Russos also directed. The movie brings together different groups of heroes from different universes, including the Avengers, the Wakandans from Black Panther, the Thunderbolts (known as the New Avengers) from Earth-616, the Fantastic Four from Earth-828, and the original X-Men.
Banner Is “Certainly Involved”
Joe Russo spoke to Empire Online about the Hulk’s place in the story. His answer was carefully calibrated to be both promising and useless.
“I think [what] we could say is, [Banner] is certainly involved in the story that revolves around Doom,” Joe Russo told Empire Online. “We will not confirm nor deny his appearance in Doomsday.”
Anthony Russo followed up with a similar dodge. He pushed the question toward the unannounced.
“The farthest we can go is to say, there are characters and actors who have not been announced, who are a part of Doomsday,” Anthony Russo added.
Whether that means Ruffalo shows up as Banner or not, nobody knows yet.
Ruffalo Just Showed Up in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Before the Doomsday tease, Ruffalo appeared in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Banner. That appearance suggests he remains attached to the Marvel world, even if the Russos are not confirming his role in their own film.
The timing is notable. Brand New Day came out recently, and the Russo Brothers’ comments about Doomsday followed closely behind. Fans who saw the earlier film now have a reason to wonder whether Banner’s return there signals something about the upcoming blockbuster.
The Russos are careful about what they commit to publicly. Their statement that Banner is “certainly involved” in the story around Doom is a hedge. They are saying enough to keep fans interested without giving away anything concrete.
Filming Without a Finished Script
The Russos have a history of working without fully locked-down plans. In a recent interview with AP, Joe Russo explained their approach to directing.
“We’re improvisation-based, rehearsal-based directors,” Joe Russo told AP. “We like to see what the actors bring to the characters, and sometimes you don’t get the actors until a few days or few weeks before you shoot them. And a lot of the time, that’s when the magic happens.”
That method explains why the film went into production before the script was complete.
For a film as ambitious as Doomsday, which brings together multiple teams of superheroes across different realities, the approach makes sense. It allows the directors to respond to what performers bring to their roles, even if the overall structure is still being worked out.
What the Film Brings Together
Doomsday is the Russos’ next major project after Endgame. The film draws on a wide range of properties from the larger Marvel canon, including the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, and the original X-Men.
The Wakandans from Black Panther are also part of the mix. The film’s cast spans multiple timelines and universes, which is why the Russos framed their teaser around unannounced characters and actors.
Here is the breakdown of the teams involved:
- The Avengers
- The Wakandans from Black Panther
- The Thunderbolts (New Avengers) from Earth-616
- The Fantastic Four from Earth-828
- The original X-Men
Each group represents a different corner of the Marvel multiverse. The film’s title, Doomsday, suggests a threat powerful enough to unite these disparate teams.
Release Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day release | Recently |
| Avengers: Doomsday teaser comments | Recent |
| Avengers: Doomsday release | December 18 |
The Pre-Sales Numbers
Ticket pre-sales for Doomsday have crossed $50 million domestically three months out. That figure reflects early interest in the film.
The pre-sale total is a sign of audience appetite, but it does not guarantee a hit. The film still faces competition from other releases and the usual box office fluctuations.
Why the Russos Are Playing It Close
The Russos have built their career on big MCU blockbusters. Their refusal to confirm Banner’s appearance keeps the conversation alive. Fans will continue to speculate about Banner’s role until they see the finished film.
That is a win for the marketing machine.
The approach also protects the film’s surprises. If Banner’s return were announced ahead of time, the shock value would be gone. By keeping it under wraps, the Russos preserve the moment when Banner finally appears on screen.
The Bottom Line
The Russos are not confirming Banner’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, but they are not denying it either. They are saying that Banner is “certainly involved” in the story around Doom, and that is the most they will say.
Fans will have to wait until December 18 to find out what that involvement looks like. The pre-sale numbers suggest audiences are eager to see what the Russos have cooked up.
The film’s scope is massive, with multiple teams of superheroes from different realities coming together. That alone makes it worth watching, regardless of whether Banner shows up or not.
For now, the tease stands. Banner is involved, but the details remain secret. The Russos have delivered exactly the kind of vague, tantalizing response fans have come to expect from MCU interviews.
The question of whether Ruffalo returns as Banner will linger until the film arrives. The Russos have made sure of that.
Source material: “Russo Brothers On The Hulk Appearing On ‘Avengers: Doomsday’: “Certainly Involved In The Story That Revolves Around Doom”,” Deadline.
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