RM Marvel Allegedly Cuts Ties With Mark Ruffalo, Ending $500 Million “Avengers: Doomsday” Deal After Political Firestorm

Marvel Studios is facing what insiders describe as its most serious behind-the-scenes upheaval since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began. In the wake of controversial political statements made by Mark Ruffalo at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, the studio has reportedly severed its long-standing, multi-film relationship with the actor—effectively sidelining the Hulk just as Marvel prepares for its next major tentpole, Avengers: Doomsday.

According to sources close to the studio, Ruffalo’s sweeping contract—valued at an estimated $500 million once backend profits, future projects, and executive producer roles were factored in—has been terminated. The agreement was meant to position Ruffalo as a central figure throughout Phase Six of the MCU. That plan now appears to have collapsed, with one insider bluntly summarizing the studio’s stance: “We’re doing reshoots. He can find work somewhere else.”

The controversy traces back to a red carpet interview that quickly spiraled beyond expectations. Ruffalo attended the Golden Globes wearing a “Be Good” pin honoring Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent. When asked about the pin, the actor launched into a sharply worded condemnation of President Donald Trump, calling him “the worst human being in the world” and a “moral void.” Ruffalo warned of an emerging “state of terror” in the U.S. and referenced what he described as an “illegal invasion” of Venezuela.

While Ruffalo has long been known for his activism, studio executives reportedly viewed the remarks—delivered on an international stage—as crossing the line from tolerated advocacy into what they consider a direct threat to the Marvel and Disney brands. Internally, the comments were allegedly labeled a “brand-damaging liability.”

The fallout could not have come at a worse time. Avengers: Doomsday, which marks the return of the Russo Brothers and features Robert Downey Jr. in a new role as Doctor Doom, had already completed much of its principal photography. Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner was reportedly positioned as the film’s intellectual counterweight to Doom, playing a critical narrative role.

Now, Marvel is said to be scrambling for solutions. Several strategies are rumored to be under consideration:

• Major Reshoots: Reworking the film’s final act to significantly reduce or eliminate Banner’s presence, possibly replacing him with a multiverse variant.
• Digital Replacement: Since the Hulk is a CGI character, Marvel may use a motion-capture stand-in and re-record dialogue with a different voice actor.
• Narrative Exit: The most extreme option would remove Bruce Banner entirely, either through an off-screen death or an early-film departure.

Financially, the decision carries enormous consequences. Ruffalo’s so-called “legacy deal” was considered unprecedented in scale and ambition. It was designed to keep him in the MCU through Avengers: Secret Wars and to finally untangle long-standing rights issues with Universal Pictures, paving the way for a solo World War Hulk film.

By ending the partnership, Marvel appears to be making a decisive shift toward what insiders describe as “brand neutrality.” For years, the studio publicly embraced socially engaged stars, but with global markets tightening and political polarization intensifying at home, Disney’s tolerance for outspoken celebrity activism may have reached its limit. The move reportedly echoes a similar decision by Paramount to end its own lucrative agreement with Ruffalo, suggesting a broader industry recalibration.

Ruffalo himself, however, has shown little sign of regret. Speaking after the ceremony, he hinted that his future may lie beyond blockbuster filmmaking. He has openly praised Democratic Socialist figures such as New York politician Zohran Mamdani and suggested that political engagement matters more to him than corporate loyalty.

“Acting is for the people,” Ruffalo told reporters. “If telling the truth about what’s happening in our streets makes me a liability, then I was never meant to stay.”

The situation has deeply divided fans. Social media has erupted with dueling hashtags, including #JusticeForRuffalo and #KeepMarvelApolitical, reflecting a fractured audience unsure of what the MCU should represent going forward.

As Marvel undertakes the costly and complex task of reshaping Avengers: Doomsday, the studio faces more than a technical challenge. Removing an actor is feasible; erasing over a decade of emotional connection is far harder. Still, Marvel’s message appears unmistakable: the era of the activist superstar may be ending, replaced by a new age of carefully managed, politically “safe” superheroes.