Rumors that Mark Ruffalo was fired from Hulk have been spreading across social media, leaving fans confused about the actor’s future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The claims picked up steam after Ruffalo made pointed political remarks at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2026, and they have continued to circulate even though no official source has confirmed anything of the sort. Here is a clear, fact-checked breakdown of where the “Mark Ruffalo fired from Hulk” story actually came from, what Ruffalo himself has said, and what his real status with Marvel Studios looks like heading into the next round of Avengers films.
How the Rumor Started
The latest wave of the rumor traces back to the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, where Ruffalo wore a “Be Good” pin honoring Renee Nicole Good, a woman who was killed by an ICE agent in Minnesota on January 7, 2026. When asked about the pin on the red carpet, Ruffalo did not hold back. He criticized President Donald Trump directly, calling him “a convicted felon, a convicted rapist” and “the worst human being,” and he described ICE agents as “literal stormtroopers.”
The comments went viral almost immediately, and within days social media posts began claiming that Disney and Marvel Studios had fired Ruffalo from his role as Bruce Banner in response. Some posts even circulated fake termination notices and claimed the studio planned to recast the Hulk and reshoot his scenes with another actor.
Where the “Fired” Story Actually Comes From
Fact-checkers who dug into the claim found that the “fired” narrative did not start in 2026 at all. It actually dates back to 2018, during promotion for Avengers: Endgame, when Ruffalo accidentally live-streamed footage and appeared to spoil the movie’s title on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo jokingly posted “Mark, you’re fired” on social media at the time, a comedy bit that fans understood in context.
Screenshots of that old joke resurfaced without context over the years, and the “fired” claim would reappear every time Ruffalo made headlines. When his Golden Globes comments went viral in January 2026, the old joke and the new controversy merged into a fresh round of viral misinformation, this time framed as a serious punishment for his political statements.
Mark Ruffalo Directly Addresses the Rumors
Ruffalo addressed the speculation head-on while promoting his new film Crime 101 alongside co-star Chris Hemsworth. In an interview with The News Movement, he was asked point-blank whether he had been fired. His response was blunt: “Not that I know of. People keep going like, ‘Did you get fired?’ Not that I know of!”
He went on to suggest that his relationship with the studio remains intact, adding, “I’ll be there as long as they’ll have me, but I have a good relationship with them. Who knows, there might be things I’m already doing that… I’m around, let me just say that.” Hemsworth also weighed in during the same round of interviews, dismissing the firing rumors as “nonsense.”
Why the Rumors Kept Growing
Part of the reason the story gained so much traction is that Ruffalo was noticeably absent from Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal video, which listed dozens of returning MCU stars. Fans quickly noticed the Hulk was not among them, and that absence, combined with the political backlash following the Golden Globes, made the firing rumors feel more plausible to casual observers.
Ruffalo has since clarified in interviews with Empire Magazine that Bruce Banner will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, though he stopped short of explaining the creative reasoning. When Jimmy Fallon asked him directly why he was left out of the cast announcement, Ruffalo joked, “They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie,” a nod to his long history of accidentally spoiling MCU plot details in interviews.
What Comes Next for Ruffalo’s Hulk
Despite missing Avengers: Doomsday, Ruffalo is confirmed to reprise the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, releasing in the summer of 2026 alongside Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal. Industry observers widely expect him to return as Bruce Banner in Avengers: Secret Wars, which the Russo Brothers are expected to begin filming later in 2026 for a December 2027 release.
No official statement from Disney or Marvel Studios has ever confirmed any change to Ruffalo’s contract or casting status. No industry trade publication has reported discussions about removing him from the franchise. Every version of the “fired” claim currently traces back to unverified social media posts rather than any confirmed studio decision.
The Bottom Line
As of now, Mark Ruffalo has not been fired from playing the Hulk. The rumor appears to be a mix of an old 2018 joke resurfacing out of context and reaction to his politically charged comments at the 2026 Golden Globes. Ruffalo himself has denied the claims directly, Marvel has issued no statement supporting them, and he remains attached to at least one confirmed upcoming MCU project in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Fans hoping to see him return as Bruce Banner in future Avengers films should treat the firing rumors as unconfirmed speculation rather than fact.
Have thoughts on the Mark Ruffalo firing rumors? Drop a comment below and stay tuned for more updates as Marvel’s 2026 casting news continues to unfold.