The character of Hulk was well-loved by Marvel fans. The complexity and similarity to Dr. Jekyll and Hyde of Hulk’s character when he changes from the brilliant Dr. Bruce Banner to a raging green monster, uncontrollable is much appreciated. While Hulk was introduced onscreen way before with the 2003 Hulk starring Eric Bana, it was Mark Ruffalo who brought the green monster to life as an Avenger.
However, in Avengers: Endgame, Hulk’s character was nerfed down from a monster to a brilliant scientist with green skin and sturdy muscles. In a conversation with Joe Rogan, Robert Downey Jr. justifies the reason for the change as the former finds the change in Hulk upsetting.
Joe Rogan unhappy with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk in Endgame
In a conversation with Robert Downey Jr. on his YouTube channel Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan expresses his dissent with the change in Hulk’s character in Avengers: Endgame.
While Bruce Banner could not turn into the big green monster and had to rely on Iron Man’s Hulkbuster to battle the minions attacking Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War, the genius scientist somehow makes peace with his persona merging both to create a more sophisticated Hulk in Avengers: Endgame.
Like many who did not like Hulk’s character in Avengers: Endgame, Joe Rogan shared the opinion that he expressed to Robert Downey Jr.
“I didn’t get the whole Smart Hulk thing,” Rogan says. “I didn’t get how he figured that out. Wasn’t really… like… Hulk is supposed to be Hulk. He’s supposed to be the alter… It’s like one you can control, one is the genius scientist…”
“Exactly,” agrees Robert Downey Jr.
“One is the beast,” says Rogan.
Watch the interview:
Following the nerfing of Hulk’s character, many are now preferring Edward Norton’s version of the brilliant scientist turned monster, saying, Kevin Fiege turned Hulk into a joke.
Robert Downey Jr. in defense of Smart Hulk
Following Joe Rogan’s comments about the upsetting sophisticated Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. defended the decision as to why Hulk’s character was nerfed despite all the love it received.
“But after so many times, and again, this is the genius of the people who break and shape stories over there, Feige and his team, they go, ‘He’s Hulk. And then He’s not Hulk. He’s Hulk. It’s a big battle. Oh, he’s so conflicted. What if he could meet himself in the middle? And then what corner have we painted ourselves in by having him meet himself in the middle because if that doesn’t work you can’t go back to the way it was, you’ve done it?’”
The Sherlock Holmes actor talked about how it was decided to make Bruce Banner meet in the middle with his other persona which could be a beacon for disaster.
Continuing, he says,
“Or you can go back to the way it was… So I just think that the real genius of the Marvel creative team and the Russo brothers who did the last few, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, is they go, ‘We love writing ourselves into a corner. We love it.’ Because then, it activates all of those ‘how do we get out of Purgatory juices’ and then you get the next bright idea.”
Also talking about his return as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. mentioned how he received closure on completing his role, which could be an indication that the actor may not make a return to the MCU.
Mark Ruffalo reprised his role as Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: YouTube
