While many are still pining for a standalone Hulk movie, MCU boss Kevin Feige has vowed to deliver the next best thing: a three-film arc for Bruce Banner, beginning with the release of Thor: Ragnarok.
To Feige’s credit, the Jade Giant enjoyed a huge (and hilarious!) role in Ragnarok, and we now have more details on how Joe and Anthony Russo plan to thread Bruce Banner’s story through Avengers: Infinity War and its so-far untitled sequel.
Much to the surprise of no one, it can all be traced back to Ragnarok‘s post-credits scenes, with one, in particular, teasing the inevitable arrival of Thanos and his Sanctuary II warship. His first point of contact? Thor and Hulk, who will try to stop the Mad Titan before he reaches Earth. While admirable, their efforts are ultimately in vain, leaving the God of Thunder in the company of the Guardians.
And Hulk? He’s sent plummeting back to Earth, as Mark Ruffalo explains to Cinema Blend:
Once again I think [Hulk is] trying to find his place in the line-up. He’s having some difficulties integrating with the rest of the group, but he’s also privy to some information that is essential for their survival. … Banner knows probably more about Thanos than probably anybody, and he’s really trying to impress on everybody how dangerous he is. It’s a little bit of a Chicken Little [scenario].
Ruffalo continued:
He comes in screaming bloody murder…He’s seen what damage [Thanos] can cause, and how powerful he is, and the entire group is in disarray, so he’s also getting caught up on what’s happened here and is trying to get them to transcend their differences and impress upon them how much danger they’re actually facing.
So, there you have it; Bruce Banner is the Chicken Little-type messenger who warns his fellow Avengers about the impending alien invasion – thus explaining why Mark Ruffalo’s hero was left in the company of Doctor Strange, Wong and Iron Man during Infinity War‘s inaugural teaser.
The second, and presumably final, trailer ought to be with us soon, as Avengers: Infinity War is now slated for release on April 27th. Stay tuned for more.