MCU Star Says Marvel Got “Rid” of Him Ahead of Epic ‘Avengers’ Movie

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading toward one of its most ambitious milestones yet with Avengers: Doomsday (2026). But as production charges forward, longtime fans have noticed a surprising omission: Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. The tenured Marvel star recently broke his silence about his exclusion from the cast reveal.

Directed by Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Doomsday has already undergone a dramatic creative shift. What began as a Kang-focused story has evolved into a saga centered around Doctor Doom—portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in his highly anticipated MCU comeback.

An All-Star Lineup with a Multiverse Twist

In May 2025, the “chair reveal” livestream sent the internet into a frenzy. The footage showcased an enormous cast roster blending MCU icons and X-Men legends. Confirmed to return are Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and Chris Hemsworth (Thor). They’re joined by Kelsey Grammer reprising Beast and James Marsden back as Cyclops.

Even more shocking was the confirmation that Marvel’s Fox-era heroes will share the screen. Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) will officially cross into the MCU fold.

Speculation hasn’t slowed down since. Rumored participants include Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Karen Gillan’s Nebula, Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock, Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart, and Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez. None of these names has been confirmed, but the scale of the project already ranks Avengers: Doomsday among Marvel’s most expansive crossovers.

Behind the Scenes: Early Wraps and Departures

Production updates in September 2025 revealed that Pedro Pascal—fresh off his MCU debut as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps—had wrapped his Doomsday scenes early. While it doesn’t necessarily indicate a smaller role, it suggests his screen time might be limited compared to the rest of the ensemble. Around the same time, Alan Cumming confirmed he had finished his work as Nightcrawler, adding that his “stunt work, training, and scenes were officially complete.”

These early completions highlight the constantly moving pieces of a massive production still fine-tuning its puzzle.

Mark Ruffalo Speaks Out

Ruffalo’s absence from the cast list didn’t go unnoticed. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the actor was asked about his missing name and gave a cheeky response: “They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie.”

As Comic Book Movie noted, the quip fits perfectly with Ruffalo’s long-standing reputation as Marvel’s most notorious spoiler culprit. From accidentally hinting at the ending of Infinity War to live-streaming part of 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, the actor has made a habit of testing Marvel’s security measures.

While his absence from Doomsday may be temporary, Ruffalo isn’t finished with the MCU. He’s confirmed to appear in Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), and leaked concept art has depicted both Hulk and She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) alongside the Doomsday ensemble. It’s unclear, however, whether that artwork connects to this film or to Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

A New Era for Marvel

Marvel’s Phase Six is in flux. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) launched the phase to strong numbers but saw a steep drop in its second weekend, reflecting the studio’s ongoing challenge of keeping audiences fully engaged.

Still, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and the Russo brothers remain confident. Both have described Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as a “reset point” for the MCU, a moment to bring in the X-Men and reshape the universe’s future trajectory.

The Road Ahead

With Doctor Doom stepping up as Marvel’s next major villain, Avengers: Doomsday looks set to unite decades of cinematic Marvel history. As production continues and actors like Pascal and Cumming finish their runs, fans are left wondering if Ruffalo’s Hulk might still smash his way into the lineup.

The MCU’s next decade promises transformation, one built on risk, reinvention, and nostalgia.

How do you feel about Mark Ruffalo being absent from the Avengers: Doomsday lineup? Let us know in the comments down below!