With the Marvel Cinematic Universe being one big connected entity, you never know where characters could appear next. Luke Cage will go from appearing in ‘Jessica Jones’ to starring in his own Netflix show. Black Widow jumped from Iron Man’s franchise to Captain America’s after the events of ‘The Avengers’. Director Phil Coulson went from being the connective tissue between Marvel’s Phase One films to starring in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’. And then last year, Agent Peggy Carter popped up in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and ‘Ant-Man’ on top of her hit ABC mini-series. However, no one really expected the incredible Hulk to show up in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ alongside the Asgardian Avenger. So how exactly will that happen? A new report has surfaced that may have the answer for us. 

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD

For years now, various figures involved with Marvel Studios have denied rumors that they were working on an adaptation of ‘Planet Hulk’. Joss Whedon and Mark Ruffalo were among those to debunked the rumors in the beginning, but by the sounds of things now, it seems like the House of Ideas really isn’t turning the landmark comic storyline into a movie. They might be using it as part of a movie. 

According to Geek.com, after Loki and Hela (who is supposedly played by award-winning actress Cate Blanchett) destroy Mjolnir (which was previously rumored), the Thunderer embarks on a journey to find something that will aid him in his mission to defeat the villains. This quest leads him to planet inhabited by a culture that forces slaves to fight in a colosseum. Wanna guess who he finds there?

“Thor knows that he has to get to some MacGuffin weapon object to defeat Hela and Loki (could this be the Infinity Gauntlet that Thanos is in possession of, or maybe an assemblage of Infinity Stones?) and he has to get off the planet. Thor runs through all of his alien opponents in gladiatorial combat, even without his trademark hammer. Finally, Thor has to face the current champion of the arena, and wouldn’t you know who that ends up being? The Hulk.”

Naturally, you may have some questions. First, this is definitely an interesting way to work around the film rights issues surrounding the Hulk. Second, no one was lying when they said that a ‘Planet Hulk’ or a ‘World War Hulk’ movie was on the way. But then how does the Green Goliath make it all the way to the planet that sounds a whole lot like Sakaar? And what shape do we find him in after the journey there? The site has an answer to that as well:

“When we reconnect with Hulk in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, he’s managed to avoid reverting back to the Banner state since we last saw him in the Quinjet in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Hulk in Hulk form is pretty much unkillable, so he survived the trip to Sakaar (however he got there). His ‘Banner’ is starting to seep through into the Hulk persona, and because of the Hulk-Banner melding, Hulk actually remembers Thor and his relationship to him. That’s what starts the two on a ‘Midnight Run’ to the MacGuffin that Thor desperately needs.”

Of course, as with most reports coming out about Taika Waititi’s Phase Three film up to this point, this information should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. Nothing here is official yet, no matter how good it all sounds. But if it is true, what do you think about this information? Do you hope that elements of ‘Planet Hulk’ are incorporated into ‘Thor: Ragnarok’? And how do you feel about Banner and Hulk melding into each other? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below. 

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ starring Chris Hemsworth, Jamie Alexander, Tom Hiddleston, and Mark Ruffalo strikes theaters on November 3, 2017.