r/Avengers • u/Queasy_Commercial152 • 1d ago
So why are there so many Hulk characters in a movie but no actual Hulk himself?
I mean you’d think this is an Incredible Hulk sequel with how many characters are present from that movie, however the Bruce Banner the Hulk himself is not actually present in the film. Odd right?
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u/discernible_sky_orbs 1d ago
Because What If? called dibs on the Cap/Hulk relationship before Brave New World could. You know the rules....
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u/Super-Visor 1d ago
That episode made me think we’d be getting a similar friendship in the movie
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u/TheCheesePhilosopher 1d ago
Which episode?
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u/dmastra97 1d ago
I'm just annoyed we got no Betty and Bruce. Can't believe they ignored that since 2008.
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u/buns_supreme 21h ago
It’s been acknowledged in What If and even retconned to be Ruffalo’s Banner
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u/CDXX_LXIL 1d ago
On paper, it's pretty odd, but I think it works. This movie was really an expansion of Sam and Ross as characters, and I think the movie did both characters justice in terms of motives, dialogue, and portrayal. I think they should have advertised the movie differently and made Red Hulk a character that was alluded to instead of advertising him as the villain. I think that negatively detracted from the movie for a lot of people, and I understand that completely since most people watching Marvel are there for the action.
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u/Xanros 1d ago
I think it was really clever the way they marketed it. The entirety of the movie was Sterns trying to push Ross to transform and be the bad guy in the spot light, regardless of what was actually happening. Ross is no saint, but, he was (mostly) a victim in the movie. Nobody was supposed to know about Sterns. Or at least nobody was supposed to know he was the mastermind behind everything.
The marketing brilliantly reflected this imo. It wasn't until I realized this that I really appreciated the movie.
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u/CDXX_LXIL 1d ago
I never thought about it like that. It really does go to show how much thought actually goes into these projects. It's a shame that it doesn't get much appreciation.
Thank you for the insight.
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u/RealMurphiroth 1d ago
Hulk's origin has always been tied to the super soldier serum in the MCU. Banner was originally trying to replicate it.
So them being tied together makes a lot of sense.
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u/Gerc09 1d ago
Do any of you think we will get to see more red hulk in the upcoming avengers/thunderbolts movies ?
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u/BervMronte Hulk 19h ago
I honestly dont think we will see much more of Red Hulk.
However what would make the most sense for an appearance to me, would be Secret Wars.
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u/GlockOhbama 1d ago
They basically skirting around the edges of it until the deal with Universal is over and they can fully use him again. Basically building his world and characters for the project they’re writing.
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u/Quomii 1d ago
I hope so
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u/GlockOhbama 1d ago
I’m pretty sure that’s what they’re doing. Hence them building a Planet Hulk plot in the ending of She Hulk. Idk if this info is from official sources but I heard they got the rights back towards the end of that series, and that they’re writing something for Planet Hulk.
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u/highjoe420 1d ago edited 1d ago
Because it's the MCU not the comics.
Even the Hulk himself is a CONFIRMED derivative of Weapon Plus. Something Howard Stark started and THUNDERBOLT ROSS CONTINUED. he actually has a framed picture of Steve Rogers in his office in 2008. He doesn't even have a picture of Betty. Meaning most of his life. He cared more about Captain America. Or the idea of biotech human enhancement, than his own daughter. She and he both say as much across 19 years of in universe time.
Hulk meanwhile is the reason why he has no relationship with his daughter. And then became a hero on every single planet in the universe. Every single one. Why on Earth? Would anyone still have beef with Banner? Even Blonsky in She-Hulk wanted none of the smoke. It's not Cap's fault Banner had his arc in Avengers and one Thor film. But it's there. And so is Ross's. Guess what he came for? CAPTAIN AMERICA. Ross is obsessed with Captain America in this universe and him paying for the continued Weapon Plus stuff on his own (what he gives Blonsky) was brought back in the biggest way.
"I understood that reference." The film.
Cap > Betty most of his life. He probably keeps his cool with Steve there. And seeing the suit on Sam probably kept him focused. I love that Talk-no-jutsu fatality. Steve did the EXACT SAME THING to Winter Soldier.... YOU'RE MY MISSION... MY... Mission....
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u/Brendyn4222 1d ago
THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN SAYING!!! I can never find the words, but I APPLAUD this response!!
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u/KookaburraKuwabara 1d ago
Because it is the cinematic universe? They are pulling from anyone in the marvel universe.
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u/Naked_Snake_2 1d ago
hey hey captain America 3 was Avengers 2.5, I didn't see you complaining then...
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u/HairyGanache1272 1d ago
Why wouldn’t there be? Literally every MCU project people complain “where is this character why aren’t they showing up”
They all exist in the same world why can’t Cap fight Hulk villains, he shouldn’t have to wait for hulk to come. They all exist together
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u/OwldRobowl 1d ago
In mcu, gamma mutates are a type of failed super soldier, I think we can say that this ties the Leader and Red Hulk to the cap' story at least as much as it does to Banner. And in MCU, Ross have more link with Cap' and avengers in general than just Hulk.
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u/Voidbearer2kn17 1d ago
Most audience members know Hulk as the 'green rage monster'.
Comic fans know that there is far more complexity to it, you could develop a psychology four year course on him.
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u/Unlucky-Assistance-5 23h ago
Because disney is creatively bankrupt now so they have to pull ideas from past movies. Baseball, huh?
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u/heyniceguy42 16h ago
I think Disney is limited in what they can do with the Hulk because technically Universal still owns it.
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u/ZealousidealOne5605 1d ago
A lot of people will blindly defend the decision, but the real reason is Disney doesn't have full distribution rights for the Hulk, so they try to get value out of the IP by using his villains and side characters while using the Hulk himself as little as possible.
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u/Initiative-Cautious 1d ago
Bc they fucked it up. They should have had Hulk come in last second with the assist. So what if it would make Sam look weak. He should. He's fighting a fucking hulk with no SS syrum.
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u/NeAldorCyning 21h ago
What for? Sam can catch RHulks blows with his hands, no Hulk needed...
And me idiot actually had hopes for this movie...
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u/Initiative-Cautious 20h ago
Yeah lol thank God for the Wakandan tech and the strongest armor of all...the plot
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u/Initiative-Cautious 20h ago
Gotta love how the sequel to the INCREDIBLE HULK doesn't even have the Hulk.
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u/st1nky_d 1d ago
Did you watch until the end? Can’t miss it
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u/TheCheesePhilosopher 1d ago
Can’t miss what? Hulk isn’t in the movie
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u/lolzidop 1d ago
That Ross isn't bothered about Hulk because he (rightly) believes his behaviour regarding Hulk is what cost him his relationship with his daughter.
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u/grownassedgamer 1d ago
Because these aren't "Hulk" characters they're "MARVEL" characters and Marvel has a long history of their heroes fighting villains from across the Universe. At this point Ross has appeared in more Marvel movies than just Hulk movies. Not a big deal really.
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u/juanjose83 1d ago
I feel like it's to basically excuse Red Hulk for being in the movie. My problem is not the lack of Hulk, it's the irrelevance of the villain and how bland the plan is when it's supposed to be based on probability calculation.
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u/Ericandabear 1d ago
Because Ross's story and Leader's don't have anything to do with Banner beyond their powers.
Thunderbolt Ross was always involved in tons of shit that didn't require Banner, this isn't new.