Back in 2003, Marvel’s so-called cinematic universe consisted only of Tobey Maguire’sSpider-Man(2002), a pair ofX-Menmovies, Ben Affleck’sDaredevilandEric Bana’smuch-malignedHulk.Today, if one believes the rumors, the word is that Bana is going to reprise the role, but the actor expressly denies claims that his version of Dr. Bruce Banner is going to appear in this summer’sDeadpool & Wolverine.While appearing onThe Jess Cagle Show,the host told Bana that he “ran across a couple of things” inferring that Bana would appear in Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s highly anticipated team-up in the MCU. But Bana claims “it’s the first I’ve heard of it.” Bana said (perSiriusXM):
It’s the first I’ve heard of it [laughs]. I can’t see that happening. I’m sorry, Jess. Hugh [Jackman] is a very close friend of mine. Still can’t see that happening.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Bana has gone on record many times insisting that he has no interest in reprising the role of Banner and his immensely powerful alter ego, which he played only one time in director Ang Lee’sHulk(2003). Back in January, while appearing on theFifi, Fev & Nick For Breakfastpodcast, Bana was asked if he’d consider starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo’s iterations of the character. Bana said:
I can’t see it. I can’t see it […] Nah, I can’t see it happening.
‘It Was Always Going to Be a Frustrating Character to Play’
Eric Bana’s Hulk being inDeadpool & Wolverineis clearly just a drop in the bucket when it comes to all the speculation swirling around the Merc with a Mouth’s first appearance in the MCU this summer. Josh Brolin wants to be in the film as Cable, but claims he isn’t. And then there arethe Michael B. Jordan/Fantastic FourrumorsHowever, when it comes to Bana, he never expected to play the role of Bruce Banner/Hulk more than one time. And the actor admits Hulk “was always going to be a frustrating character to play.” Bana said in 2021 withVulture:
“It was always going to be a frustrating character to play.The challenge is to convey all that pent-up, repressed energy, emotion.It’s one reason why I was excited to do it,but it’s not the most expressive character to portray because that job is for the alter ego; you’re meant to feel euphoric when he finally turns into the Hulk.I convinced myself that I was just part of a family drama and that the green guy was the star,so I tried not to let the pressure get to me.But I was aware that it was going to challenge people.”
Deadpool & Wolverine Star Says There’s a Lot of ‘Kevin Feige Jokes’ in the MCU Sequel
Karan Soni reveals the President of Marvel Studios has a good sense of humor, thankfully, because plenty of jokes are made at his expense.
Hulk still ranks amongthe best Eric Bana films,but the actor never had any desire to become a part of the then Marvel Universe, which predated the MCU by a full five years. In fact, the thespian doesn’t seem all that well suited to play a character who is required to appear in a number of spin-offs and sequels, as happens in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — Bana refers to himself as a “commitment-phobe” in the same sit-down:
“I’m a commitment-phobe— that’s the reason why, up until now, I haven’t done series in television, because work security doesn’t speak to me.I like workinsecurity.So, it’s never been a huge carrot for me for someone to say,‘If you do this, there’s a good chance that there’ll be this and this.'”
Unless Bana is pulling an Andrew Garfield,don’t expect to see his Hulk inDeadpool & Wolverine,which opens in theaters on July 26.
