As recent rumors suggest that Thor: Ragnarok will be partially based on the Planet Hulk/ World War Hulk storyline(s) from the comics, Mark Ruffalo has continued to tease his return as the Jade Giant not just in 2017 Marvel threequel, but also in the highly-anticipated two-part Avengers: Infinity War event. When Yahoo caught up with the three-time Academy Award-nominated actor at the Sundance Film Festival, the site had first asked about another solo Incredible Hulk movie which Ruffalo reassures isn’t happening.
“I’d love to do a Hulk movie, but that’s beyond my control,” Ruffalo explained. “It’s controlled by Universal [Pictures]. Marvel doesn’t even hold the rights to it. So, it’s not on the horizon. And I don’t know if it will be. But we have worked a really interesting arc into Thor 3, Avengers 3 and 4 for Banner that I think will – when it’s all added up – will feel like a Hulk movie, a standalone movie.” From this, it’s safer to say that the Incredible Hulk will appear in both Avengers: Infinity War movies, and that the studio already knows what is in store for Bruce Banner and his alter-ego. And with this character arc spanning three films, that sounds about right for a Planet Hulk/ World War Hulk adaptation.
When asked about his preparation for Thor: Ragnarok, which starts shooting in Australia this summer, Ruffalo said he’s not trying to get as fit as leading man Chris Hemsworth, but he is very enthusiastic about working with the director. “Taika Waititi’s coming in and I love him,” Mark fessed. “That’s a surprise and it fits part of this Marvel doing the unexpected, casting the unexpected, and now bringing in the unexpected for writer and director. I’m really interested in where that’s going. They’re writing the script now. I am thinking about it, I’m doing script meetings and stuff so we’re starting to prep it.”
During this very interview, Mark Ruffalo had also reflected on Avengers: Age of Ultron and how it was probably the last time that he’d be working with writer/director Joss Whedon on a Marvel movie. “Yeah, he basically told me it was [his last one] and I was like ‘goddamn it, you dragged me in to this world and now you’re abandoning me here!’” said Ruffalo of Whedon. “But they’re doing fine. Joss’ll do fine. I just miss him, and I will miss him. He cracked this character, he obviously cracked the Avengers which was nearly impossible. It was a miracle and he did it so beautifully.” However, the actor is still very much looking forward to playing the Hulk under someone else’s direction. And after Taika Waitit, it’ll be with Joe and Anthony Russo, who are helming Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. “I think the Russo brothers are great and I think they’re well positioned to take it on, and I’m happy to be doing it with them, but I’m friends with Joss,” he reassured. “He had a hard time making the first one and he had a hard time making this one. I think it’s partially the nature of that beast.” What do you think?
Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled to open in theaters on November 3, 2017, while Avengers: Infinity War – Part I is set to open May 4, 2018, and Part II on May 3, 2019.
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.