Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Bruce Banner is a fictional character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise originally portrayed by Edward Norton and subsequently by Mark Ruffalo—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name—known commonly by his alter ego, the Hulk. Banner is depicted as a genius physicist who after a failed experiment to replicate a super soldier program using gamma radiation, transforms into a large, muscular creature with green skin whenever his heart rate goes above 200 beats per minute or when facing mortal danger. As the Hulk, he possesses superhuman abilities, including increased strength and durability.
"Hulk (Marvel Cinematic Universe)" redirects here. For the 2008 film, see The Incredible Hulk (film).Bruce Banner
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Edward Norton (2008)
- Mark Ruffalo (2012–present)
Mark Ruffalo (What If...?)
- Hulk
- Mr. Green
- Smart Hulk
- Smug Hulk
Champion of Sakaar
- Avenger
- Gladiator
- Biochemist
- Nuclear physicist
- Professor
- Consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Avengers
- Culver University
- Revengers
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Jennifer Walters (cousin)
- Elaine Walters (aunt)
- Morris Walters (uncle)
- Betty Ross[a]
- Natasha Romanoff[b]
- Unnamed woman (mother of Skaar)[c]
American
Over time, Banner demonstrates an increasing ability to control the transformation, and he becomes a founding member of the Avengers. Following the conflict with Ultron, Banner is unintentionally transported to Sakaar, where he remains the Hulk for a number of years until eventually returning to earth during the conflict against Thanos. In the years following the Blip, Banner learns to retain the Hulk form with his mind still intact, and he is instrumental in the Avengers' mission using time travel to obtain the Infinity Stones from the past to undo Thanos' actions. Banner himself restores trillions of lives across the universe, using the Stones in a specially made gauntlet. Banner then participates in the final and victorious battle against Thanos. After his cousin Jennifer Walters is accidentally imbued with his blood, Banner trains her to handle her newfound "She-Hulk" transformation, before departing again to Sakaar. He returns months later with his son, Skaar.
Banner is a central MCU character, having appeared in nine MCU films as of 2023, as well as the Disney+ streaming series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The character was introduced in the titular film The Incredible Hulk (2008), portrayed in that film by Edward Norton before being recast to Mark Ruffalo. The character has been generally well-received by critics and audiences alike, but his inconsistent characterization has received some criticism. Additionally, Ruffalo voices several alternate versions of Banner in the animated series What If...?.
Fictional character biography[edit]
Origin[edit]
Bruce Banner is a renowned scientist, physicist, and medical doctor with seven Ph.D.s. While working at Culver University, Virginia, Banner meets with General Thaddeus Ross, the father of his colleague and girlfriend Betty, regarding an experiment that Ross claims is meant to make humans immune to gamma radiation, a field in which Banner is an expert. The experiment — part of the World War II-era supersoldier program that Ross hopes to recreate — fails, and the exposure to the gamma radiation causes Banner to transform into the Hulk for the first time. The Hulk goes on a rampage, destroying the lab, killing three people and injuring several others. Banner subsequently becomes a fugitive from the U.S. military and Ross in particular, who wants to weaponize the Hulk process.
Appearances[edit]
Film[edit]
Edward Norton portrays Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk (2008),[44] with Lou Ferrigno providing the voice of the Hulk.[45] Mark Ruffalo took on the role of Banner in The Avengers (2012),[46][47] where the voice of the Hulk was a mix of Ruffalo, Ferrigno and few others,[48] though the Hulk's single line of dialogue, "Puny god", was provided solely by Ruffalo.[49] Mike Seymour of FX Guide called Ruffalo's Hulk "the most successful Hulk" in comparison to "the less than fully successful earlier attempts at digital Hulks." Seymour explained, "Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk and Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk both failed in producing a Hulk that could walk the digital tightrope of impressive near undefeatable strength, huge body mass, fast agile movement, raw anger and likable performance." He stated that on contrary Ruffalo's Hulk had "both dynamic action sequences and crowd pleasing moments of humor and dialogue". In order to achieve this, Industrial Light & Magic created a new motion capture and facial animation system. Hulk's face was generated from a life cast / scan of Ruffalo's face, which was then manipulated in the program ZBrush to become the Hulk, while making sure to retain Ruffalo's essence.[50] Ruffalo reprised the role in Iron Man 3 (2013),[51] Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015),[52] Thor: Ragnarok (2017),[53] Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019),[54] Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021).[55]
A sequel to The Incredible Hulk has been discussed, with Marvel Studios having suggested a possible release after Avengers: Age of Ultron due to the positive audience reception towards Ruffalo's portrayal of Banner in The Avengers.[56] Ruffalo is set to reprise his role in any future adaptation of the character.[47] In June 2014, Ruffalo said he believed the studio might be considering doing a new standalone Hulk film, saying, "I think they are, for the first time, entertaining the idea of it. When we did The Avengers it was basically 'No!', and now there is some consideration for it. But there's still nothing definitive, not even a skeletal version of what it would be."[57] In December 2014, Joss Whedon said despite the positive reception to Ruffalo, a new solo Hulk film had not been announced because Marvel wished to have a character that only appears in Avengers films.[58] In April 2015, Ruffalo told Collider that Universal holding the distribution rights to Hulk films may be an obstacle to releasing a future Hulk standalone film.[34] Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures regained the film distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk and future solo Hulk films in June 2023, coinciding with the film's release on Disney+.[59]
Television[edit]
Archival footage of the character appears in "Glorious Purpose", the first episode of the Disney+ television series Loki (2021). Ruffalo voices alternate versions of Banner in the Disney+ animated series What If...? (2021–2023).[60] Ruffalo reprised his role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).[61]