Marvel’s Grey Hulk Set for MCU Debut Before Phase 6, Outshining Other Hulk Variants

Marvel Studios is reportedly preparing to introduce the Grey Hulk, one of Bruce Banner’s most complex alter egos, into the MCU before Phase 6 ends, with speculation centring on his appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This move will mark the first appearance of a truly separate Hulk persona beyond Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk and is expected to give the franchise’s portrayal of Hulk unprecedented depth.

Marvel has officially leaned on Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of Bruce Banner’s Smart Hulk in the MCU since Avengers: Endgame, with only minor supporting appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Despite these limited roles, recent reports indicate that Ruffalo’s Hulk will feature in a dynamic, high-stakes action sequence in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, paving the way for a new Hulk persona to join the cinematic universe.

Grey Hulk’s Introduction Will Transform the MCU’s Gamma Legacy

Comic fans know Bruce Banner’s Hulk is more than a single entity. In the source material, Banner’s psyche fractures into multiple discrete personas, each physically manifesting with distinct personalities and powers. As the source states, “So far in the MCU, only one of these separate Hulks has been introduced, in the form of Bruce Banner’s transformation, ‘Smart Hulk.’” The article notes, “another Gamma monster may be on the way,” directly indicating the arrival of a new Hulk form.

ScreenRant details that “Spider-Man: Brand New Day gives the original Hulk an opportunity to unleash his rage and ruin Banner’s Smart Hulk experiment,” suggesting the structured, intellect-driven Smart Hulk will lose control, opening the door for the Grey Hulk to emerge. The article explains, “The MCU could introduce Grey Hulk as a combination between Smart Hulk’s intellect and the original Hulk’s rage and strength.”

• Grey Hulk (alias Joe Fixit): A cunning, morally flexible anti-hero characterised by street-smart intelligence and tempered aggression.
• Professor Hulk: A merged version combining Banner’s intelligence with Hulk’s power, known as “Merged Hulk” in the comics.
• Current Status: Only Smart Hulk has appeared on-screen as a consolidated persona; neither Grey Hulk nor Savage Hulk has been realised in the MCU.

According to the source, Grey Hulk’s introduction could set up future story arcs involving “multiple separate alter egos” or a full return of the Savage Hulk. ScreenRant speculates, “In Avengers: Secret Wars, either Grey Hulk or the original Hulk could inject more strength into the battle, something he failed to do in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.”

Grey Hulk Needs to Stand as a Unique Character in the MCU

One of the article’s most citeable points is the need for the MCU to avoid simply blending Hulk’s personas, as it did with Smart Hulk: “With so much Hulk lore left out of the MCU, overlooking the concept of Bruce Banner’s many Hulks would be a mistake.” The comics saw Professor Hulk quickly develop as a separate character, but the MCU has yet to properly explore this territory.

The source is clear: “If the MCU introduces him, Grey Hulk needs to add some variety as a separate individual.”

• Character Arcs: Grey Hulk could act as an anti-hero, antagonist, or underworld figure (Joe Fixit), presenting Banner with challenges that advance his character without undermining existing arcs.
• Potential Appearances: Likely debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with future possibilities in Avengers: Secret Wars.
• Fan Impact: This variant has rarely been seen on screen, offering fresh narratives and a new source of conflict for Banner and the Avengers.

ScreenRant’s superhero coverage underscores that Grey Hulk provides an “unprecedented opportunity to expand Hulk’s MCU story forward without walking back on his character arc.”

• Hulk Created By: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
• First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk (1962)
• Alliance History: Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers

While Marvel Studios has not confirmed all casting or story details, industry sources and reporting from ScreenRant are consistent that an “action-heavy scene” for Banner will introduce a Hulk variant who is “a combination between Smart Hulk’s intellect and the original Hulk’s rage and strength.” If this plays out, the MCU will address criticism of sidelining Banner’s complex internal battles while unlocking multi-variant Hulk storytelling seen in decades of Marvel Comics.