The She-Hulk series concluded in a way that is decidedly more “She-Hulk” than expected, featuring the largest “breaking the fourth wall” moment that Marvel Studios has ever executed. This also serves as a reason why the finale of this series has drawn a lot of mixed reactions, with some praising it and others trolling it without mercy.
However, amid the large-scale events that Marvel has brought to this episode, we can still pinpoint a few serious details that hold significant value for the future of the MCU. Most notably is the appearance of Skaar, the “son who fell from the sky” of Bruce Banner/Hulk. This is one of the biggest surprises that the She-Hulk series has brought. It shows that Marvel Studios is planning specific storylines for their green-skinned cousin, a character that has often been relegated to “supporting roles” in the solo films of other superheroes over the years.
So with Skaar’s appearance, what plans might Marvel have for the future?
Planet Hulk
Planet Hulk is a storyline from the comic series The Incredible Hulk by Greg Pak, published between 2006 and 2007. In this storyline, Hulk is sent away by the Illuminati before being exiled to the distant planet Sakaar. There, he becomes a gladiator, often having to fight through deadly battles in the arena of the tyrant Red King, before eventually leading a rebellion and claiming the throne for himself. While on Sakaar, Hulk also meets and falls in love with Queen Caiera the Oldstrong. Skaar is the product of their union.
The MCU has adapted part of the storyline from Planet Hulk in the blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok. However, Bruce Banner’s journey on Sakaar was not fully explored, and no one really knows what he went through on this planet. It wasn’t until he returned to Earth in Infinity War and Endgame that Bruce and Hulk reconciled and created Smart Hulk—a perfect merger of the best traits of both personalities. This indicates that Marvel Studios has decided to keep the more complex stories of the green giant for future projects.
However, Skaar’s appearance in the She-Hulk finale is opening up possibilities for a movie centered around Bruce’s adventures on Sakaar, set after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and before Thor was brought to this planet. This provides an opportunity to delve deeper into Hulk’s evolution, his struggle against the Red King, and even his romantic relationship with Caiera to explain Skaar’s origins.
World War Hulk(s)
Continuing from the Planet Hulk storyline, after Caiera’s death, Hulk decided to return to Earth to take revenge on the Illuminati for exiling him. With immense power, “World Breaker Hulk” faced off against many different superheroes such as Sentry, Hercules, Namor, and the Fantastic Four—all of whom have already appeared or will soon be integrated into the MCU. We must also mention Tony Stark’s technology to combat Hulk. During this time, he would eventually meet his son Skaar.
However, in the MCU, Hulk has merged with Bruce to create a Smart Hulk who is more balanced, controlling his emotions better. Therefore, if Marvel intends to adapt the World War Hulk storyline, they will have to come up with a more creative twist. There’s also the possibility that Skaar will play the role of a new ally to help unleash the rage within Smart Hulk, leading to a film adaptation of World War Hulk where he begins to destroy Earth. There are many ways Marvel could explore this, and right now, it remains too early to say with certainty what will happen.
Additionally, when adding an “s” to “World War Hulk,” we refer to a completely different storyline. “Hulks”—many Hulks—the title of this storyline refers to the fact that many superheroes have unintentionally transformed into Hulk, including the likes of General Thunderbolt Ross (Red Hulk) and Betty Ross (Red She-Hulk). This could be seen as the most fitting idea for a sequel storyline for Bruce Banner following The Incredible Hulk (2008), with many versions of Hulk battling each other, such as She-Hulk, Skaar, Red Hulk, Red She-Hulk, The Leader, Abomination, and possibly even Doc Samson.
Son of Hulk
In the comics, Skaar’s journey begins after the events of Planet Hulk and World War Hulk. This character has left his homeworld to come to Earth, first transforming into a human, becoming Bruce Banner’s counterpart, and even engaging in combat with Daken, the son of Wolverine. With the “golden age” of comic book adaptations in recent years, Marvel Studios could easily create a dedicated series for this character, depending on how they choose to explore Hulk in the future.
A notable point is that compared to the original, Skaar’s version on screen appears more benign and emotional, unlike the first appearances of this character. Marvel Comics often portrays Skaar as a wild Rambo-like warrior who cannot be restrained, capable of surviving on a completely alien planet. In contrast, Marvel Studios seems to be leaning towards “humanizing” the various versions of Hulk, and Skaar will likely not be an exception.
Young Avengers
As the MCU enters Phase 4, Marvel has not been shy about hinting at the introduction of Young Avengers on screen in the near future. As of now, many core members of this team have already been introduced, including Kate Bishop, America Chavez, Kid Loki, Elijah Bradley, Cassie Lang, Tommy & Billy Maximoff, and soon Riri Williams. Only one name remains missing – Hulkling.
In the original comics, Hulkling is not merely a superhero affected by gamma radiation, but is actually a hybrid between the Skrull and Kree races. However, like the green-skinned Hulk, this superhero can also shapeshift into various forms at will.
However, currently, Marvel Studios has yet to explore or “hint” at the existence of Hulkling in the MCU. It’s possible they are saving this opportunity for the upcoming series Secret Invasion, with the storyline revolving around the Skrull races and their shapeshifting abilities. Alternatively, they might want to transfer the role of Hulkling to Skaar – a character genetically linked to Hulk and could easily become the green giant of the Young Avengers.
Dark Avengers
In the comics, Skaar was once a key member of the Dark Avengers, formed by Norman Osborn after the Secret Invasion event, often looking for ways to harm and tarnish the reputation of the Avengers. However, “wily” Norman could not ignore that Skaar was the second-generation hybrid due to Steve Rogers’ intervention into his ranks.
Currently, Marvel Studios has only planned for one team of anti-heroes – the Thunderbolts. While the Dark Avengers have had some momentum, the details regarding their “origin” remain ambiguous and have not yet been confirmed officially. However, the appearance of Skaar, along with the upcoming events of Secret Invasion on screen, does not rule out the possibility of these two teams crossing paths and connecting with Hulk’s son in the near future.
As mentioned earlier, it remains too early to definitively say what ideas Marvel has in store for Skaar. However, with the ongoing trend of introducing new superhero forms and continuously bringing fresh characters into the MCU, Skaar could very well become a significant character that continues the legacy of Hulk in this cinematic universe.
Source: Marvel, Screen Rant
