Marvel has released two films and two TV shows this year, with one more of each on the horizon. They also dropped a series of Groot animated shorts, and there are still two Disney+ specials on the way. That’s a slow year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point; there are four films and six shows on the schedule for 2023. But one of the franchise’s stars, Mark Ruffalo, isn’t concerned with Marvel over-saturation — because at least it’s not Star Wars.
Speaking with UK’s Metro about his return to playing Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Ruffalo said too much Marvel content is “not something I worry about.” He noted that big franchises like this always “run their course” and get replaced by something new, but praised Marvel for its variety. “The thing Marvel has done well is that, inside the MCU, just as they do with comic books, they let a director or an actor sort of recreate each piece to their own style, their likeness. Marvel generally lets them bring that to the material.”
That’s generally not true for the same-same-ness of a galaxy far, far away, the actor continued: “If you watch a Star Wars, you’re pretty much going to get the same version of Star Wars each time. It might have a little bit of humor. It might have a little bit of different animation. But you’re always, really, in that same kind of world. But with Marvel you can have a whole different feeling even within the Marvel Universe.”
Ruffalo’s shade isn’t exactly the shadiest; think of how many Star Wars shows and movies have spent time on Tatooine. Ruffalo’s point is that in the MCU you can get Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Moon Knight, and Guardians of the Galaxy all within the same franchise.
Still, someone might want to remind him that the same Mouse is in charge of both Star Wars and Marvel.
Ruffalo will next appear as the Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law when it debuts on Disney+ on August 18th. Phase 4 of the MCU will conclude with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on November 11th, with a yet-untitled Halloween special and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special set to hit Disney+ in October and December, respectively.