With roughly 36 characters already confirmed or revealed for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel has practically packed three universes into one superhero traffic jam. The lineup brings together core MCU Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and classic Fox X-Men figures, yet Hulk was conspicuously absent from the initial promotional trailers. Now, reports have come up claiming that Mark Ruffalo has officially joined the colossal crossover.

There is never a dull moment with the awkward yet brilliant Bruce Banner, but the converging reports certainly ask us to take a closer look.

Mark Ruffalo is not officially returning as Hulk in Avengers: Doomsday, despite a claim from The Hollywood Handle on X suggesting otherwise. In fact, Ruffalo has said the exact opposite, confirming that he will not appear as Bruce Banner or Hulk in the fifth Avengers film. So, the green giant is staying off this particular superhero guest list.

Speaking alongside Chris Hemsworth while promoting Crime 101, Mark Ruffalo clarified that Avengers: Doomsday is not on his Marvel calendar. However, the actor is hardly closing the door on his gamma-powered alter ego forever. Ruffalo said he would happily return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, provided the studio keeps finding cool things for Hulk to do.

The Hollywood Handle on X may have declared a Hulk return, but the Hulk actor has delivered considerably less smashing news. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ruffalo joked that Marvel had finally decided his spoiler habit was more dangerous than Hulk himself. The studio, apparently, chose self-preservation over another accidental Marvel revelation and somehow this even started rumors that Disney fired Ruffalo.

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While Mark Ruffalo himself has denied the return and is nowhere on the call sheet, fans still believe there is a sized chance he could appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

Hulk may be absent from the Avengers: Doomsday publicity parade, but rumors have found him a rather intriguing back door. Reports surrounding Avengers: Endgame: Encore claim a new post-credit scene could feature Doctor Doom confronting Hulk and attempting to recruit him, while industry scooper Alex Perez has previously claimed Mark Ruffalo is planned for Doomsday and Secret Wars. None of this is officially confirmed, but it certainly gives fans something to chew on.

Then there is Mark Ruffalo’s infamous spoiler history, which has fans wondering whether his denial could be part of Marvel Studios’ elaborate game of hide-and-seek. Rumors also connect Bruce Banner’s post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day predicament to a possible encounter with Doctor Doom, potentially giving the villain a reason to find him. For now, Mark Ruffalo’s denial remains official, but the Hulk-sized theories are refusing to smash themselves away.

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Do you think there is a possibility that Mark Ruffalo will return as Hulk in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!