‘Captain America: Civil War’ Cuts Hulk And Saves Him For Future Marvel Films

Captain America: Civil War is cutting a major member of the Avengers. The Hulk was originally set to appear in Captain America, but it seems Marvel is getting him ready for bigger and better things, and he’s not going to appear. ComicBook.com reported the sad news today.

Of course, fans are going to wonder what the result of his budding romance with Black Widow was leading towards. But Captain America is already stocked full of new heroes and villains. The Hulk storyline may not have gotten much focus if he stayed.

But Captain America: Civil War hasn’t announced a cut for the man who would later become Red Hulk. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross will stay, which may mean Red Hulk will take the place of Hulk.

The Hulk solo films have lagged behind other Marvel solo superhero films. It was hard to provide an engaging storyline for the Hulk outside of the Avengers films. Marvel may be attempting a Planet Hulk spinoff, which puts Hulk in outer space and potentially into a much more engaging storyline.

Such a far-flung Hulk adventure might have him cross paths with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is coming in 2017. If Marvel removes Hulk from Captain America or any other Avengers-related films, you can bet they’re bringing in Planet Hulk in some form or another.

Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo almost told Italian website BadTaste.it the reason he’s not appearing in Captain America: Civil War.

“The reason is too great to be revealed in this movie (Civil War). I was in the script but then they removed my character. They don’t want to reveal where is he and why. I don’t even know if Hulk will be back soon.”

In the Planet Hulk storyline from the comics, Hulk is tricked into getting booted out of this solar system after being deemed too dangerous to remain in Earth. On another planet, he’s captured and taken prisoner, only to be used as a gladiator battling monsters from other planets.

Captain America: Civil War is preparing for a May 2016 release. It’s the start of Marvel’s Phase 3 series of films. After Captain America, expect Doctor Strange towards the end of 2016. Captain America will see the long-awaited appearances of Black Panther and a new Spider-Man.

Captain America: Civil War will also see an expansion in the relationships between Cap, Falcon, and Winter Soldier. It will also introduce Captain America nemesis Baron Zemo, and see Brock Rumlow morph into Crossbones. All of this in the midst of Captain America defending liberty from Iron Man’s steps back from superhero freedom.

[Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images for Giffoni Film Festival]