Before Marvel content became part of the Disney+ streaming service, continuity between the Marvel Cinematic Universe's television and movie arms was difficult, to say the least. By bridging the gap between movies and series with Disney+ content, the MCU is doing more than tightening up continuity issues. It's also allowing fans to see characters in their more fully fleshed-out forms. Characters like Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision are getting some much-needed backstory while Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes will get more development in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier.
The Marvel series on Disney+ aren't just paying service to characters in the movies though. They are also used to bring new characters into the MCU like Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk. With the chance to introduce new characters and flesh out existing ones, She-Hulk could take another leap in bringing one of Marvel's Netflix heroes back to the screen.
What We Know About She-Hulk So Far
Marvel likes to keep a lot of information about their developing projects under wraps. While She-Hulk will film this year, it likely won't release until sometime in late 2022. It might be quite a while before fans know more than just the casting.
What we do know is that Tatiana Maslany will make her MCU debut in the title role. Jennifer Walters is the cousin of Bruce Banner and a lawyer. In the comics, she acts most often as a defense attorney for other powered people.
The series will also, unlike The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, be a comedy. Currently slated for ten 30 minute episodes, it will likely fit in the realm of a courtroom sitcom. In those ten episodes, a couple of familiar faces from the larger MCU are scheduled to appear. So far, Disney+ shows have had success incorporating characters from the movies in supporting roles in the existing television shows. WandaVision features Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo. The Falcon And The Winter Soldier features James Rhodes and Sharon Carter. Who will She-Hulk feature?
The Characters She-Hulk Has On The Way
There are two characters the audience already knows will make an appearance in She-Hulk. Just how many appearances is still, of course, under wraps. Both Tim Roth and Mark Ruffalo will reprise their existing roles in the MCU.
Ruffalo makes sense considering he took over the role of Bruce Banner starting with The Avengers. As Jennifer's cousin, he's sure to play a role in her actually becoming She-Hulk. In the comics, Bruce's blood causes Jennifer's transformation following a blood transfusion. Just how close the show will follow the comics isn't entirely clear yet. Also unclear is when the show falls in the MCU's timeline. The series may occur before Banner found a way to maintain his personality in his Hulk form - or after.
Tim Roth reprising his role is a bit more surprising. Roth starred in The Incredible Hulk opposite Edward Norton before Ruffalo took over the role. His Abomination hasn't been seen since, though he did receive a surprising name check in the first season of Agents Of SHIELD. Despite SHIELD falling to Hydra, the Abomination has supposedly been locked in a containment facility ever since.
The Netflix Character She-Hulk Should Feature
Both Hulk and Abomination appearing in the series indicates a focus on She-Hulk's green state, but not necessarily her career. The series will feature her time as a lawyer though. As Kevin Feige pointed out at Disney's investor presentation in 2020, "Since Jennifer Walters is a lawyer who specializes in superhero-oriented legal cases, you never know what Marvel characters are going to pop up from episode to episode." If the series is set in New York as the majority of her solo comic book stories are, there are plenty of excellent candidates, especially from Marvel's Netflix realm.
Jennifer, after all, is good friends with Patsy Walker, Colleen Wing, Misty Knight, and Jessica Jones in the comics. Any of those ladies would be welcome additions. One Netflix character, however, would be a great addition in the courtroom: Matt Murdock.
Rumors already swirled that Charlie Cox will return to the MCU in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home, though the actor denied them. Whether Cox was able to remain in the role or not, Matt would be a great foil for Jennifer in the courtroom. He doesn't even have to return to the MCU as Daredevil in costume just yet.
The Comic Book Precedent
There is plenty of precedent for Jennifer and Matt to face off in the courtroom. One of the most fascinating storylines featuring the two occurred in She-Hulk's 2014 series written by Charles Soule. The series sees Jennifer have to defend Steve Rogers - yes, Captain America - in court for a wrongful death suit.
In this particular storyline, Steve is already an old man. The suit is filed for the death of a man in 1940 by one of his relatives. Jennifer has to face off against Matt in the courtroom who ends up prosecuting the case. Both lawyers investigate the case thoroughly, and as it turns out, Steve Rogers hand-picked them to face off against one another.
He chose Matt Murdock because he wanted to make sure he had a fair trial. Steve says that he chose Jennifer Walters to represent him because he also wanted to win. It's unlikely that Steve Rogers would end up being one of Jennifer's clients, despite the MCU at large waiting for Chris Evans to make a cameo in a future project. That style of comic book story, however, would be a perfect way to bring Matt Murdock into the new world of the MCU.