WandaVision is rumored to introduce fan-favorite Hulkling into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Young Avenger might be making his live-action debut in the highly-anticipated Disney+ series.
Premiering sometime this year, the upcoming show is planned to follow heroes Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch) and Vision. While details about the show are scarce, it has been revealed that Wandavision will take place in the 1950s and will likely explore the complicated romantic relationship between Wanda and Vision. The show will be directly connected to the films in the MCU, specifically Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Fans are excited to see if the show will explore the Scarlet Witch’s powers, as they haven’t been clearly defined in the films. Scarlet Witch is often referred to as the most powerful hero in the MCU, and having an entire show dedicated to showcasing her abilities should be interesting.
It has now been rumored Teddy Altman (aka Hulkling) might be making his MCU debut in WandaVision. Introduced in 2005 in the Young Avengers comics, Hulkling is a Skrull, an alien with the ability to shapeshift. The inclusion of Hulkling would provide a set up for the introduction of S.W.O.R.D., an intelligence agency which acts as a counterpart to S.H.I.E.L.D. and deals with extra-terrestrial threats. According to Illuminerdi, Marvel Studios is looking for a man between the ages of 16-23 to play Hulkling, and the character needs help from S.W.O.R.D. to remain safe on Earth.
Hulking’s possible introduction in WandaVision follows reports that Wanda’s son Billy Kaplan (aka Wiccan) would also be joining the MCU. As Wiccan is Hulkling’s love interest in the comics, it would make sense for the Skrull to also appear on the show. Hulkling and Wiccan’s relationship actually caused quite a stir in the comic book world. While some appreciated the LGBT+ representation, other readers were not pleased, showing particular displeasure when the characters got engaged and subsequently shared their first on-panel kiss.
WandaVision is one of many new Marvel television shows to premiere on Disney+. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will also be reprising their MCU roles in their own series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, also set to premiere this year. Loki is also getting his own television show, rumored to revolve around where he went after disappearing with the tesseract in Avengers: Endgame. It was announced at D23 last year that there will be a number of shows premiering on Disney+ that would revolve around introducing new characters into the MCU, including Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Moon Knight. With the inclusion of these new series, Phase 4 will be the first phase in the MCU’s history where the shows could arguably be just as important and impactful as the films.
