Mark Ruffalo is returning to reprise the role of Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, in the feature, which comes 14 years after the actor joined the MCU in The Avengers. The move had been rumored for a while but only firmed up as the script came together and as production gears up for beginning this month in England.

Ruffalo is circling an appearance in the upcoming fourth “Spider-Man” film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, but it’s unclear if a deal has closed for him to reprise his role as Bruce Banner a.k.a. the Incredible Hulk.

Destin Daniel Cretton ( Shang-Chi) is directing the film, which just started filming this week and is aimed at a July 31, 2026, release date. That’s a tight turnaround for a movie of this size, but it’s similar to what Marvel Studios did with Fantastic Four last year.