Directors Joe and Anthony Russo have offered cryptic remarks regarding Mark Ruffalo's Hulk in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Avengers: Doomsday. Their comments follow a scene added to the recent re-release of Avengers: Endgame that appears to bridge the gap between the films and heavily implies the Hulk's presence in Doomsday.
The Endgame Encore scene depicts Dr. Banner in self-imposed confinement, only to be forcibly extracted by an off-screen voice, leaving behind green runes. This mysterious figure is later revealed to be Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. The circumstances strongly suggest that Banner will play a part in Doomsday.
When questioned directly by Empire Online, Anthony Russo stated, "There's really no way to step around that. You know us. We're just fighting ourselves to save the presents for Christmas morning." Joe Russo added that while he would not confirm or deny Hulk's appearance, "[Banner] is certainly involved in the story that revolves around Doom."
Anthony Russo also pointed out that many actors and characters slated for Doomsday have yet to be officially announced, a statement that serves as a near-confirmation. However, there remains a possibility that Ruffalo's appearance in the Endgame Encore scene is intended to set up his role in the 2028 film Secret Wars, rather than Doomsday.
The scene raises questions about Doom's motivations for retrieving Banner. The directors offered only that "his interest may extend beyond just Banner." This could indicate Doom's interest in Banner's work on Gamma suppression, a field Peter Parker has also explored with his mutation inhibitor device. Acquiring technology capable of negating numerous heroes' powers would be a significant asset for Doom's planned confrontation with the Avengers.
Alternatively, Doom's pursuit of Banner might carry thematic weight. Doomsday appears poised to emphasize Downey Jr.'s transition from Tony Stark to Doctor Doom, drawing parallels between the characters in the Endgame Encore footage. Given Stark and Banner's established close relationship as fellow genius scientists, forcing Banner to assist Doom could explore a twisted echo of their camaraderie, presenting a potent narrative arc.