10 Characters Who Can Replace Hulk In The MCU

With the advent of many new characters in the MCU comes the time to sunset the older ones, and despite Hulk being one of the founding members of the franchise, there are now plenty of suitable greenhorns that can replace him. Hulk fulfills a very specific role in the Avengers, from his role as a uniquely dangerous member of the good guys to his capacity to merge unparalleled brains and brawn. Despite these being very specific traits, they are no longer all that unique.

There is still plenty of time for Hulk’s swansong in the form of a second standalone Hulk movie. But with that movie likely to herald the demise or permanent retirement of the Hulk, it will leave some exceptionally large shoes to fill in his absence. Be it through exhibiting similar traits or simply being Hulk 2.0, here are some MCU characters who would make the best Hulk replacements.

10 Moon Knight

The dangerous alter ego theme has found a new lease in the form of Moon Knight, who now boasts three alters instead of Hulk’s two. The similarities don’t end there either, as Moon Knight has also gone toe-to-toe with a deity – though he admittedly won his bout fair and square. It is probably unfair, however, to suggest that Moon Knight is as powerful as Hulk – even if the MCU Hulk’s power has been nerfed – as it is unlikely he could solo a Chitauri Leviathan with a single punch.

9 Abomination

Last seen heading to Kamar-Taj with Wong, Emil Blonsky seems to have turned over a new leaf and accepted inner peace, even managing to match up to Bruce’s Smart Hulk by retaining full control over his mind and body when in his Abomination form. Despite not seeming to pose an immediate threat these days, Abomination is less likely to pick up where Bruce left off simply owing to his age. With that being said, there is probably at least one more fight left in Abomination, and it would be satisfying to see him battle alongside the good guys this time, and maybe even Hulk himself.

8 Red Hulk

With Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross set to play a prominent role in Captain America: Brave New World (as the President of the U.S.A.), it is only a matter of time before Red Hulk finally makes his debut. Red Hulk may even join the Thunderbolts, the antihero team comprising mostly supersoldier antiheroes with exceptional star power. If that is the case, then Red Hulk will have quite literally taken the place of Hulk in the Thunderbolts’ ragtag version of the Avengers. Whether he can show enough of the same heroic tendencies as his big green counterpart to join up with the real deal, however, is a lot less likely.

7 Werewolf By Night

As beautifully conveyed by the 1930s aesthetic of his first solo outing, Werewolf By Night represents the genesis of the concept of a deadly alter ego before Hulk made it cool. Thanks to the huge success of his debut, however, it’s safe to say that Jack Russell is more than welcome back into the MCU fold at the first opportunity. With him will come the threat of a dangerous monster lurking within an affable human, which is familiar ground with regard to the Hulk.

6 Man-Thing

Much like the big green monster that came before him, there is very little hope for any regular person going up against Man-Thing. All this gentle giant needs to do is get his hands on an enemy, and they’re quite literally toast as his sulfuric acid secretion burns them alive. His comic book counterpart is what might be called an extreme empath, operating purely via the emotions of those in his immediate vicinity. However, instead of not liking him when he’s angry, enemies are more likely to not like him when they’re angry. Man-Thing’s gruesome introduction to the MCU would have to be stifled if he is to rub shoulders with the big leagues – but if Deadpool can do it, so can he.

5 Beast

Henry McCoy is likely to arrive in the MCU alongside the X-Men as one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters. When he does, he will quickly take his place as one of the smartest characters in the MCU, giving Smart Hulk a run for his money as he also brings the brawn alongside his substantial brains. An interaction between McCoy and Banner (as Smart Hulk) would be a satisfying watch, as their similarities are stark, save for the disparity in strength and agility. At the very least, McCoy will likely take on the Hulk role as part of the X-Men, even if not as part of the wider MCU.

4 The Thing

The Fantastic Four’s Ben Grimm has many similarities to the Hulk, including superhuman strength and durability, a mean demeanor, and the ability to dominate the battlefield. If the Hulk leaves the MCU in want of a fist-throwing brawler, then Grimm’s long-awaited introduction in The Fantastic Four should help to fill that void. With the Fantastic Four poised to take their place in the MCU at the tail-end of the Multiverse Saga, Ben Grimm would be very likely to take his spot as the “new Hulk” right around the same time original Hulk may take his leave, making for a satisfying passing of the torch moment.

3 Hercules

There are very few, if any, that could stand up to Hulk’s strength, but the literal god of strength is a solid candidate. Hercules has already been introduced to the MCU via the Thor: Love & Thunder mid-credits scene, where he was set up as an upcoming antagonist for Thor. The plan for Hercules in the MCU will more likely see him join up with the good guys, however, as his character becomes an integral part of the Avengers in the comics. If that is the case, then the beefy brawler would certainly rival Hulk’s sheer strength in upcoming appearances should the Jade Giant take his leave of the franchise.

2 She-Hulk

Despite K.E.V.I.N. joking about no big screen appearances for She-Hulk in the future, her intermingling with several main players – particularly Matt Murdock – has all but cemented her place in the MCU. Jen Walters took to hulking out reluctantly but like a duck to water, notably skipping the part where she loses control and instead being able to transform at will to great effect. This makes her the safer candidate to replace her cousin, Bruce Banner, as part of the MCU’s main roster of heroes – provided, of course, she finally decides to embrace the role of superhero.

1 Skaar

Skaar’s presence in the MCU has big implications, not least the notion that he foreshadows an MCU rendition of the World War Hulk storyline from the comics. Other theories suggest that Skaar could merge with the comics’ Hulkling character, with the latter being an integral part of the Young Avengers. Many of the Young Avengers lineup have already appeared in some capacity in the MCU, but the Kree-Skrull hybrid was noticeably absent from Secret Invasion, leaving Hulkling’s introduction to the MCU up in the air. Skaar could embrace the role, which will help the MCU consolidate the need for a new Hulk post-Multiverse saga, lest audiences fall foul of green fatigue.