So much for counting Hulk out before the big green fellow even gets a seat at the table! The Avengers: Endgame Encore post-credits scene has given fans a fresh reason to reconsider Bruce Banner’s absence from Avengers: Doomsday. In the scene, Doctor Doom tracks Banner to an underground bunker and collects the Hulk, turning a supposed nonappearance into a rather alarming recruitment, or kidnapping, problem. The Russos have now weighed in, suggesting Doom taking Banner has nothing to do with the timeline interference. 

Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have offered a tantalizing clue, leaving fans to wonder whether Banner’s time-bending history has finally caught up with him, and whether Doom has plans for Hulk.

Hulk might have been missing from the Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, but Doctor Doom seems to have found a way to put Bruce Banner back in the picture. In their conversation with Empire Magazine, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo addressed the Avengers: Endgame Encore post-credits scene, in which Doom tracks Banner to an underground bunker and announces that he has come to collect him. Suddenly, the Green Goliath’s absence looks a lot less certain.

“Gosh, you’re really making us sweat here,” he said.

Anthony Russo delivered this response when Empire Magazine pressed the directors on why Doctor Doom would want Banner, particularly given the film’s recurring references to people “living stolen lives.” Banner does not appear to fit that description, making Doom’s interest in the scientist all the more intriguing. Naturally, the directors were not about to hand over the answers before the movie arrives.

Joe Russo offered a tantalizing clue to Empire Magazine, suggesting that Doctor Doom’s interest might extend beyond Banner himself. The directors also refused to confirm or deny Mark Ruffalo’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, with Joe Russo reminding fans that some surprises deserve to survive until opening day. Till then, fans will be left wondering whether Banner’s past what specifically about him made Doom want him.

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While the new look could be hinting at a different surprise, some fans suspect Doom is assembling his own dream team, with Hulk potentially joining a roster already rumored to feature some heavy hitters.

Doctor Doom may not be planning to save the multiverse so much as staff it with the most terrifying people he can find. Rumors surrounding Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars suggest that Victor von Doom could command a formidable mix of dark variants, magical allies, and powerful figures pulled from across realities. The rumored lineup includes King Thanos, Captain Hydra, the Maker, and a potentially corrupted Hulk.

Magic could also be central to Doom’s growing power, with rumored Latverian witches, Doctor Strange variants, Clea, Sylvie, and even Wanda Maximoff potentially connected to his plans. These reports remain unconfirmed, but they paint a picture of a villain collecting far more than ordinary muscle. Joe Russo has hinted to Empire Magazine that Doom’s interest may extend beyond Bruce Banner himself, making the Hulk’s mysterious encounter look less like an isolated incident and more like a possible recruitment, or collection, strategy.

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Why do you think Dr. Doom "kidnapped" Hulk? Let us know in the comments!