In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” you’d expect a parade of Avengers to drop in on the chaotic road trip across different realities that Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) and Logan (Hugh Jackman) are on. However, besides a touching farewell from Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in a future scene (which also leaves us with one of the movie’s biggest mysteries), the Avengers are almost nowhere to be seen. The only other Avenger who makes a brief appearance is the Hulk, but it’s not exactly the Hulk we’re used to seeing.
As Wade hunts through various timelines for the perfect version of Logan, he encounters a Wolverine sporting a classic brown suit, paying homage to John Byrne’s iconic design. This scene also nods to Todd McFarlane’s famous cover for “Incredible Hulk” #340. However, before Wade can make his pitch to this version of Wolverine, the Hulk makes a quick, furious appearance, grabs Wade, and hurls him back through the portal from where he came.
Marvel has shown many versions of the Hulk getting angry over the years, and it’s unclear which version this is. From what we see, it’s likely a variant of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, the one we’ve followed since 2012. The green shade and the Hulk’s build suggest it’s not Ed Norton’s 2008 Hulk or Eric Bana’s from the 2003 film. This Hulk seems to be in a more mindless, rage-fueled state, rather than the intelligent Hulk we know from “Avengers: Endgame.”
For comic fans, seeing Wolverine and the Hulk clash isn’t surprising. They’ve had a long history of battles, starting from Wolverine’s first appearance in “Incredible Hulk” #180. In the comics, Logan and the Hulk have squared off multiple times, so it’s no shock to see them fighting here, even if it’s just a brief encounter.
Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine, is eager to see more of this rivalry. He’s expressed a strong desire to share the screen with the Hulk in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project. Although he’s admitted to being nervous about how that would play out, he’s excited about the potential clash. Back in 2020, Jackman confidently predicted that Wolverine would come out on top in a fight against Hulk. With the Marvel franchise’s wild direction, anything could happen, so fans might want to stay tuned and be ready for more action between these two iconic characters.
