Credit: Marvel StudiosFew Marvel heroes have undergone as many changes on the big screen as the Hulk.
A History of The Hulk on the Big Screen
The character first headlined a modern theatrical release in Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003), with Eric Bana taking on the role of Bruce Banner. Five years later, the Marvel Cinematic Universe rebooted the character with Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk (2008) before Marvel Studios recast the role once again, bringing in Mark Ruffalo for The Avengers (2012).
Since then, Ruffalo has become synonymous with the Hulk, appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).
Now, he’s set to return alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).
The Hulk: Removed and Replaced
Curiously, however, Ruffalo is absent from Avengers: Doomsday (2026), despite Marvel Studios assembling one of the biggest casts in MCU history.
The film reunites Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and many more, with Robert Downey Jr. taking on the role of Doctor Doom instead of Tony Stark.
But while Hulk won’t be smashing his way through Marvel’s second theatrical release of 2026, audiences will soon meet a character who bears more than a passing resemblance.
Street Fighter (2026), the live-action adaptation of Capcom’s legendary fighting game series, hits theaters this October.
The film’s first official trailer from Paramount, released earlier this year, was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, with Blanka, played by Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Supergirl), quickly emerging as one of its biggest talking points. You can watch the trailer below:
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Originally introduced in Capcom’s Street Fighter II (1991), Blanka is a mutated fighter from Brazil whose green skin, orange hair, superhuman strength, and ability to generate electricity have made him one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters.
Like Hulk, Blanka is a towering green powerhouse driven by raw strength rather than sophisticated combat. While the similarities are largely visual, there’s no denying that the electrified fighter evokes memories of Marvel’s jade giant.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
“Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!”
If Street Fighter proves to be a hit, Blanka could become the breakout character of the film. The question is whether audiences will embrace him in the same way generations of moviegoers embraced the Incredible Hulk.
Street Fighter releases in theaters on October 16. It stars Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Orville Peck as Vega, and Andrew Dice Clay as the ring announcer.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases in theaters on July 31, followed by Avengers: Doomsday on December 18.
Which are you more excited about, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Street Fighter, or Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments below!
