Mark Ruffalo has officially confirmed what fans have suspected since the Phase 6 cast lockdown: his Hulk is NOT in Avengers: Doomsday (December 2026). But there's a major upside — Hulk IS officially joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026) as Peter Parker's new MCU mentor.
Mark Ruffalo confirmed in a Disney+ promotional appearance that the Hulk will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday (December 2026). The confirmation closes weeks of fan speculation following Marvel's Phase 6 cast lockdown announcement. Ruffalo joins Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Chris Evans's Captain America, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow as confirmed Doomsday absences.
The bigger reveal: Ruffalo confirmed in the same appearance that he WILL appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026. His role is reportedly as Peter Parker's MCU mentor — taking up the role that Tony Stark vacated with his death in Avengers: Endgame (2019). The decision was widely cited as Marvel's most-strategic post-Snap character handoff.
Why this matters for Spider-Man's post-Snap arc. Tom Holland's Peter Parker has been operating without a mentor figure since the events of Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021). The Brand New Day reset — with Peter universally forgotten — left the character emotionally isolated. Bruce Banner, having been Tony Stark's close friend, is the franchise's most-natural replacement mentor.
Why this matters for Doomsday's roster. The Russo Brothers have apparently decided that the multiversal-incursion premise of Doomsday doesn't require every legacy Avenger to participate. The film instead emphasizes the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Spider-Man integration. The strategic absence of Hulk, Iron Man, Cap, and Captain Marvel reframes the film as a transition from one Avengers cycle to the next, rather than a true reunion.
Industry context: Ruffalo's appearance in Brand New Day was rumored throughout April-May after his name appeared on internal cast lists obtained by Variety. Marvel had not publicly confirmed until this weekend. The Brand New Day cast now includes Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal (the Punisher), Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk/Banner).
For broader context, see our Brand New Day hub, our earlier Sadie Sink casting coverage, and our Doomsday hub.