Marvel fans will undoubtedly remember how the Hulk was largely absent from last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. While he did make a brief appearance at the beginning of the film – where he went toe-to-toe with Thanos before being transported down to Earth by Heimdall – Bruce Banner’s alter ego didn’t return for the rest of the movie. The good doctor tried to transform after Thanos’ henchman beamed down to Earth, but the green giant refused to come out and play, and later on, he opted to use the Hulkbuster 2.0 during the epic Battle of Wakanda.
As it turns out though, the film’s screenwriters had a good reason for keeping the Hulk at bay.
Per a recent report from ComicBook.com, Avengers: Infinity War screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely revealed that they had planned to introduce audiences to “Smart Hulk” towards the end of Infinity War. Unfortunately, however, the reveal didn’t fit in the film’s third act, and the team decided to delay his debut until Endgame. Interestingly, this change came last minute, and as a result, a few toys and other merchandise – which reflected the character’s transformation – made it onto store shelves.
In an interview with The New York Times, the writing duo hinted at Smart Hulk’s appearance in Infinity War, saying the following:
“There was a time when Banner became Smart Hulk in the first movie. It was a lot of fun, but it came at the wrong moment. It was an up, right when everyone else was down,” Markus explained. “We were like, but he’s Smart Hulk in the next movie. So that diner scene [in Endgame], was like, O.K., how do we smash right into that without scenes of him in a lab, gene-splicing?”
That certainly makes sense, but tell us, what are your thoughts on this? Did you like Hulk’s storyline in Avengers: Endgame, or do you think he should have made his debut during Avengers: Infinity War? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.
