One of the more shocking developments in the Marvel universe this year was their plans to bring the Hulk to Thor: Ragnarok. Not only is the Green Goliath making an appearance, he is actually costarring in the movie, in what has been described as an intergalactic roadtrip. 

While the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron saw a disillusioned Hulk aboard a ship floating off into the unknown. The Hulk reportedly will not show up in next summer’s Captain America: Civil War and in a recent conversation with Aint It Cool News, actor Mark Ruffalo brings fans up speed on Banner and the Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok.

He’s on the run. I think that we carry that through. It’s not just a matter of taking himself to some remote place and hiding. Now he’s removing himself from humanity altogether. I’m not sure where we’re going to head with that, but I’m sure that’s probably still very much alive within him. It’s very subtle, but the Banner/Hulk consciousness is beginning to meld a little bit. Who decided to leave? Was it Banner or Hulk? It’s not really in the (cinematic) mythology of Hulk up until that moment to be that conscious and pro-active. It’s interesting, right?

It sounds like he will be experiencing many of the same pressures that members of the Avengers will be in Civil War. However, his track record, particularly the rampage in South Africa in Age of Ultron, will certainly put him in a category all of his own. Ruffalo seems to be indicating that Banner/Hulk will make a conscious decision to leave behind humanity, which could mean Earth altogether. What is equally as interesting is the notion that the two separate consciousnesses are finding a way to coexist and come together. Essentially, what that could mean is that we might be seeing more of the Hulk and less of Banner. Will Thor: Ragnarok be the introduction of the smart Hulk?

One of the historical challenges of bringing the character to the big screen in solo films has been finding new ways to tell his story. Traditionally, whether it was the 1970’s TV show or The Incredible Hulk movie, the conflict at the core has always been a battle between Banner and the Hulk, for control over their physical body. Ruffalo went on to expand on the notion and shared his enthusiasm for the new take.

I think it’s really exciting where we could go with it. Now I feel like we’re kind of in No Man’s Land. I mean, the comic books have kind of broached the subject, but we’re moving away from the traditional Hulk/Banner relationship. We’re starting to mess with it a little bit.

While this is far from a confirmation, it seems that there will be some radical changes to Banner and the Hulk dynamic. The Hulk has been a fan favorite in the Marvel cinematic universe since his appearance in The Avengers. However, there have been questions about how the Hulk can be a sufficient sidekick or costar to Thor, since he can barely form a full sentence. It would seem that by melding the minds of Banner and Hulk, they will be sidestepping many of the challenges that the character has encountered before. The only question left is if the world will accept a coherent, level-headed Hulk. We just might find out in 2017.

Thor: Ragnarok opens on November 3rd, 2017.

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Source: AICN