Spider-Man 4 Star Roasts the MCU’s Worst-Kept Secret

Mark Ruffalo cracked a joke and the internet did what it does: sprinted straight past the punchline. Let me back up.

The setup: two movies, one very cheeky Hulk

During a recent promo chat, Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth ran through Tom Holland's summer slate. That means Spider-Man 4 — yes, the one also going by Spider-Man: Brand New Day — and The Odyssey, which Christopher Nolan is directing. The dates are tight: The Odyssey lands July 17, 2026, and Spider-Man 4 swings in two weeks later on July 31.

In the middle of all that back-and-forth, Ruffalo tossed off a couple of lines that launched a thousand comment threads. He said:

'I hope I can go to both premieres.'

And then, to Hemsworth:

'Why weren't we cast in either of them?'

He is very clearly joking the entire time. It's Ruffalo. The man knows where the banana peel is and he steps on it for sport.

No, he didn't just spoil-or-unspoil Spider-Man 4

Some folks decided those quips meant he was denying any role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That reading ignores the obvious: the bit is sarcasm from start to finish. Also, Bruce Banner/Hulk showing up in Spider-Man 4 has been widely reported by the trades, and set photos of Ruffalo on Brand New Day circulated last year. This is one of the MCU's least secret secrets.

As for whether he pops up alongside Hemsworth in Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday — where Hemsworth is back as Thor — that's still under wraps. What is confirmed: Ruffalo and Hemsworth share the screen imminently in the thriller Crime 101, which hits theaters next week.

Where this all lands

• Spider-Man 4 (aka Spider-Man: Brand New Day) is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
• The supporting cast includes Zendaya as Michelle 'MJ' Jones-Watson, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, Michael Mando as Scorpion, and Marvin Jones III as Tombstone.
• Release dates: The Odyssey opens July 17, 2026; Spider-Man 4 arrives July 31, 2026.

Bottom line: Ruffalo is having fun needling a reveal that fans already clocked months ago. See you at the premieres — probably him too.