Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, has become a central part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his first appearance in 2012’s The Avengers. Although Ruffalo was not the original actor to play Hulk in the MCU, he quickly cemented his place, becoming the first actor to reprise the character in multiple live-action movies within a single year, beginning with a brief appearance in Iron Man 3’s post-credit scene. Over the years, Ruffalo’s Hulk has been featured in several major MCU films, including three Avengers sequels, Thor: Ragnarok, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is also slated to return in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, continuing his significant presence within the franchise.
Unexpected Lack of Interaction with Key Hulk Characters in the MCU
Despite the numerous MCU films featuring Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, it is striking that he has never shared scenes or directly interacted with two important figures from the Hulk’s lore who have appeared in recent MCU projects. These characters—members of the Ross family—are integral to the Hulk’s story, yet have remained disconnected from Ruffalo’s version of the character on-screen.
Unexplained Distance Between Hulk and the Ross Family
The original connection between Bruce Banner and the Ross family was established in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, where Edward Norton played Banner and the story explored his romance with Betty Ross, portrayed by Liv Tyler. Betty’s father, General Thunderbolt Ross, played by William Hurt, was a central figure pursuing Banner as a fugitive. When Ruffalo took over as Banner, the MCU films primarily referenced this backstory in passing, such as when Banner remarked,
Last time I was in New York, I kind of…broke Harlem,
—Mark Ruffalo, Actor.
William Hurt’s General Ross reappeared in Captain America: Civil War and several other films, and after Hurt’s death, Harrison Ford took on the role in Captain America: Brave New World. This latest film reintroduced Betty Ross to the MCU for the first time in 17 years. However, despite these developments, Ruffalo’s Hulk has yet to share any face-to-face moments with Betty Ross or General Ross in any MCU production.
The Hulk narrowly missed interacting with a hologram of Ross in Avengers: Infinity War, and both characters appeared at Tony Stark’s funeral in Avengers: Endgame, but these are the extent of their on-screen intersections. Considering the rich comic history and their past connections, the lack of direct engagement between Hulk and the Ross family stands out as a notable inconsistency. With MCU creators now revisiting complex elements like Samuel Sterns’ return as the Leader in Brave New World, it is clear they are aware of the importance of these relationships, yet Ruffalo’s Hulk remains apart from them.
Possible Reasons Behind Hulk’s Separation from Ross and Betty
This separation might partly be explained by narrative choices in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which introduced Black Widow as Hulk’s new romantic interest, a focus that carried through Phase Three of the MCU and influenced Banner’s emotional arc following her death in Avengers: Endgame. In the comics, Betty Ross occupies a similar romantic role to iconic characters such as Mary Jane Watson or Jane Foster, but the MCU’s shift toward Black Widow may have left less room for exploring Banner’s relationship with Betty. Consequently, MCU directors may have opted to keep Ruffalo’s Hulk distanced from his traditional love interest and family adversaries to accommodate this storyline divergence.
Phase-Dependent Divides and Limited Screen Time for Hulk’s Backstory
General Ross’ appearances have generally been confined to more grounded Phase Three and Four films, like Civil War and Black Widow, whereas Ruffalo’s Hulk participated in more cosmic and large-scale stories such as Thor: Ragnarok. This division in the types of movies limited opportunities for their paths to cross and rekindle the rivalry and drama originating from the Hulk’s backstory. Additionally, since Ruffalo’s Hulk has not headlined any standalone theatrical films but mostly appears in ensemble casts or as a support character, there is limited narrative space to develop his interactions with a wider supporting cast, including the Ross family.
While practical reasons exist for these omissions, the disjointed usage remains odd, especially as Captain America: Brave New World emphasized Ross family drama while sidelining Banner’s role in their shared history. The character of General Ross turning into the Red Hulk and Betty’s reappearance stand out more for their independent significance than for their combined interactions with Hulk, which were minimized by Ruffalo’s absence.
Challenges of Maintaining Cohesive Continuity in a Vast MCU
The sprawling narratives of Phases Four and Five have struggled with managing callbacks and fan service consistently. Captain America: Brave New World‘s focus on Ross and Betty, involving Sam Wilson in key scenes, overlooks Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, even though Banner’s complex history is tightly linked to these characters. Using important Hulk-related characters without including Hulk himself highlights a disconnect that confuses fans familiar with the comics and earlier MCU continuity. Instead of staging emotionally powerful reunions or confrontations, these characters are sometimes inserted into unrelated storylines, diluting the dramatic potential their relationships hold.
As MCU storytelling grows increasingly complex, the absence of meaningful interaction between Hulk and the Ross family underscores the difficulty of balancing character arcs and fan expectations. The nuances and emotional depth tied to the Hulk’s relationships in the comics have yet to be fully realized on-screen within the MCU framework.
Streaming Availability and Reflections on Missed Opportunities
Both Captain America: Brave New World and The Incredible Hulk are currently streaming on Disney+, providing audiences a chance to revisit the original Hulk story and the newer developments in the Ross family characters’ roles. The prolonged gap in engagement between Ruffalo’s Hulk and these key figures invites discussion among fans and critics alike on the MCU’s handling of interconnected character relationships.
17 Years Later the MCU Still Hasn’t Made Good on This Big Stumble
With the MCU continuously expanding, future projects might provide opportunities to finally bring these pivotal characters together in a way that honors their shared history. Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk remains a vital and iconic figure, and integrating his story more deeply with the Ross family could enrich the franchise’s storytelling and character dynamics.
