Smart Hulk might not keep all his tacos in one basket and share some with Spidey next. With 15 years of smashing spaceships with gamma-fueled fury, one of the OG Avengers, Mark Ruffalo, has been a silent sentinel, paving the path for Tom Holland's Spider-Man, straddling universes of rage and science. Now, as rumors emanate of the Hulk's possible return alongside the web-slinger, Mark Ruffalo has more than a negative response to the theories.

As MCU prepares to celebrate its upcoming blockbuster, the Marvel icon has a cryptic reaction to reprising his role in another storyline. 

Mark Ruffalo, cloaked in suspense, suppressing spoilers as mandated by Marvel, recently spoke about his potential return as Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day in an interview with ET Online. When directly asked if he would share screen with Tom Holland, his reply was tactfully evasive: "I don't know, I'm still waiting to hear. I haven't read a script yet." His carefully strategic answer neither confirmed nor denied the flood of fan theories and reports about his confirmed appearance.

"If it does happen, it would be incredible," added Ruffalo to quell ET Online's query. New theories deem it a wordplay wink commemorating the legacy of the Incredible Hulk. While avoiding spoilers, he praised his Marvel journey, calling it a life-changing experience working with several "new directors" in "new worlds," leaving ample room for cryptic connotations. Aside from Marvel's What if...?, this could potentially be Ruffalo's first appearance since 2022's Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and a Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cameo in 2021. The Hulk could definitely pack in more brawn and brain in Spider-Man's next big adventure.

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But will Spider-Man's genius collide with Bruce Banner's wisdom in Brand New Day? If not, what should the audience brace themselves for?

Once upon a time, Mark Ruffalo used to notably and accidentally spoil major Marvel movie plot details, such as the deaths in Avengers: Infinity War or even the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok, streaming live on Instagram. However, Spider-Man: Brand New Day does not share the same fate, as Ruffalo is now extra cautious and tight-lipped about his potential appearance. Tom Holland is leading the movie, with Jon Bernthal (The Punisher), Sadie Sink, and Michael Mando (Scorpion), which makes expectations for Hulk's return skyrocket as Spiderman might need a hand from a fellow Avenger to take on new enemies. 

Meanwhile, Zendaya also returns as MJ, and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and slated to be released in theaters on July 31, 2026, the secretive plot seems to be very personal for Peter Parker. The world has moved on from him, and he is left with balancing street-level dangers and a broken identity. If Mark Ruffalo's Hulk does make a return, it will be nothing less than phenomenal, particularly because Holland aims to deliver fans' desires with his upcoming Marvel entry. 

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Do you think the Hulk will return with Spider-Man 4? Tell us in the comments below.