She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Season 2 and the Future of Hulk in the MCU

The Future of Hulk in the MCU

Tatiana Maslany's recent comments on She-Hulk: Attorney At Law season 2 have sparked discussions about the future of Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the potential cancelation of She-Hulk's second season, the MCU's beloved Gamma-powered characters face an uncertain path. The MCU has presented over 33 movies, yet only one of them is solely dedicated to Hulk, leaving fans eager for more.

Thor ragnarok Hulk She Hulk Skaar

The 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk, bypassed Bruce Banner's origin story in the MCU and instead focused on his battle against the Abomination. Subsequently, Bruce Banner and Hulk have appeared as supporting characters, with their storylines woven throughout the Avengers movies, Thor: Ragnarok, and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. Despite being a prominent character, Smart Hulk's future within the MCU remains open.

She-Hulk Fights Red Hulk in Marvel Comics and Jennifer Walters in the MCU

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law marked Hulk's return and unveiled his continued connection with Sakaar, as well as the revelation of his teenage son, Skaar. However, the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of a second season casts a shadow over the continuation of the Gamma-powered characters' stories. In January 2024, She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany expressed skepticism about a second season, citing budgetary concerns. While her comments may have disappointed fans, they also hint at the potential for something grander from Marvel Studios.

The Need for Resolution

Should Marvel decide to forgo She-Hulk: Attorney At Law season 2, the narrative threads introduced in the first season will require closure in a future MCU release. Notably, Hulk's unexpected introduction of Skaar in the Season 1 finale will demand resolution in Hulk's next appearance. As the most natural platform for continuing that storyline, Marvel's apparent reluctance to pursue a second season suggests that plans for Hulk, Skaar, and She-Hulk's narrative are already in motion for another outlet.

The foundation for an MCU Hulk solo movie has already been laid, not only with Skaar's emergence but also with the return of Abomination and The Leader's villainous role in Captain America: Brave New World. The comics offer a roadmap for potential storylines, such as World War Hulk, Skaar: Son of Hulk, and World War Hulks, all of which revolve around Hulk's return to Earth and his conflict with the heroes who exiled him, his son, and fellow Gamma-powered characters. The MCU's next Hulk solo movie could draw inspiration from these comic arcs.

She-Hulk's Potential in a New MCU Hulk Solo Movie

The prospect of She-Hulk's return in an MCU Hulk solo movie presents an opportunity for her larger-than-life abilities and fully-CGI appearance to be realized in a more convincing manner than in her debut series. The delicate balance between a substantial budget and believable VFX, a central concern highlighted by Tatiana Maslany's remarks on the feasibility of a second season, led to She-Hulk: Attorney At Law needing to minimize Jennifer Walters' transformations into She-Hulk.

It is reported that She-Hulk: Attorney At Law incurred a cost of approximately $225 million, equivalent to the budget of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 when adjusted for inflation. Furthermore, a conflict of the scale expected in a Hulk movie would represent a natural evolution for Jennifer Walters. Having established herself as a formidable superhuman lawyer and hero in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, a movie appearance would allow her to fully unleash her strength for the first time and validate her standing as an Avenger-level hero. Whether adapting a World War Hulk storyline or crafting an original narrative, an MCU Hulk-centered movie could seamlessly take the place of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law in the absence of a second season.