Fact Check: Did Disney fire Mark Ruffalo, ending his MCU run as Hulk?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ahead of the release of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that Disney has fired Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo and is searching for a new Hulk.
The claim has sparked outrage and speculation among fans, who are calling for a fact-check of the viral rumor.
Claim: Disney fires Mark Ruffalo as Hulk
According to the viral claim shared in a post on X, Ruffalo, who portrays the iconic Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been fired by Disney, one of the co-producers of Marvel films, and the studio is now searching for a new actor to take over the role.
The post also claims that ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ will be his last movie as the iconic green giant and that he will not appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ or ‘Avengers: Secret Wars.’
The post, which has garnered more than two million views as of this writing, sparked outrage and criticism from fans and other online users. Meanwhile, others appeared to support the alleged move and slammed Ruffalo for his pro-Palestine and anti-Trump stance.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a satire account
The claim, however, is false, as there is no credible evidence suggesting that Disney has fired Ruffalo or ended his run as Hulk in the MCU.
There have been no official announcements, statements, interviews, or social media posts from Disney or Marvel Studios confirming the claim.
A Google search for the claim also yielded no credible reports from major news or entertainment outlets, which would almost certainly have covered such a development if it were true.
Moreover, the X account that shared the post is a parody account that has previously published similar posts for engagement.
Mark Ruffalo's political views and controversies
Similar claims about the actor have surfaced before, targeting him over his outspoken political views, including his pro-Palestine stance, criticism of President Donald Trump, remarks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and more.
During his appearance at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards earlier this year, Ruffalo slammed Trump, describing him as “He's the worst human being."
The 58-year-old actor also called for higher taxes on the ultra-rich in an Instagram video, stating, "In New York, rent is crushing people. Childcare now costs over $20,000 a year on average. Working families shouldn't foot the bill for billionaire tax breaks."
