Why is Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok?

Fans are buzzing about The Incredible Hulk’s appearance in Thor: Ragnarok, and we’ve got the juicy details about his on-screen gladiatorial debut.

In April 2006, the first issue of Planet Hulk was unleashed on comic book fans via lead writer Greg Pak. Thor: Ragnarok is drawing right out of the Planet Hulk cookie jar for its beastly gladiator iteration.

According to Pak, the inspiration for the storyline of the Hulk going away to an alien planet where he’d compete as a gladiator came by way of Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. Pak loved the concept the moment he heard it, and so Planet Hulk was born with the narrative concluding in June 2007.

Why it’s happening in Thor: Ragnarok

According to a July 2017 Variety interview with Bruce Banner actor Mark Ruffalo, “A standalone ‘Hulk’ movie will never happen.”

Ruffalo plainly stated, “Because Universal has the rights, and for some reason, they don’t know how to play well with Marvel … And they don’t want to make money.” Meaning, the crossover is being used in place of a standalone film starring Ruffalo.

Ruffalo and actor Don Cheadle seemed to allude to Universal waiting it out until he got too old to play the part. Ruffalo half-seriously stated, “I think I’ve got about 2-3 years left before I’m too old to play the part”. Though kind of joking, something about it felt genuine. An inside look into behind-the-scenes discussion, perhaps?

Planet Hulk – Cliff Notes:

– A gamma bomb causes The Incredible Hulk to lose any semblance of control and attack Las Vegas. It’s then decided by the Illuminati — a secret group of super smart superheroes including Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Professor X and others — that he’s too dangerous to remain on Earth.

– He’s tricked into entering the orbit under the guise of smashing a rogue satellite but then a shuttle [set up by the Illuminati] pulls him away from the solar system.

– The intention is for the Hulk to land on a peaceful planet to live out his days, but the shuttle enters a wormhole and crashes on the planet Sakaar.

– In Sakaar, he is fitted with an obedience disk while in a weakened state and taken into gladiatorial slavery. The planet’s emperor, The Red King, forces him to compete in the arena for his own delightful amusement.

– In a twist of fate, he turns out to be the strongest gladiator on the planet, and the Red King soon finds himself facing a rebellion.

– Eventually, the Red King is defeated and the Hulk takes the Red King’s wife Caiera as his own. She then becomes pregnant with his child.

– The original shuttle he arrived in is gradually turned into a monument, but its warp core engine causes a massive explosion. Caiera doesn’t make it and neither does the city.

– Enraged, the Hulk leaves Sakaar and heads for Earth to start World War Hulk!

Three-movie arc starts with Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok is intended to be the first of a three-movie arc for the Hulk, according to Mark Ruffalo. The regular “rules” are getting thrown out the window. No longer will the legendary character be confined to a moment of Banner’s anger.