‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Could Liv Tyler Return as Betty Ross?

Avengers: Infinity War will be an unprecedented cinematic event, uniting almost all of the shared Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time.

The Avengers threequel continues an arc for Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), a.k.a. the Hulk, that launched with Thor: Ragnarok, where the short-tempered Avenger had been living in space as a celebrated gladiator on the backwater planet of Sakaar.

Hulk’s three-part arc will continue through 2019’s Avengers 4, as part of stories that “track together by design,” according to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.

Bruce’s past lover, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), daughter of military man Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), hasn’t been seen since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk: Bruce and Betty’s relationship had ended by 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, where team mates Bruce and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) struck up a doomed romance.

The Avengers: Infinity War trailer could be hinting at the end of the Bruce and Natasha coupling, which could open the door for an eventual return to the Bruce and Betty pairing.

A January 2017 piece from The Scottish Daily listed Tyler as part of Infinity War‘s expansive cast, but the actress’ involvement has yet to be confirmed.

Disney-owned Marvel Studios has mostly distanced itself from The Incredible Hulk — until Ross returned as Secretary of State to bring the hammer down on the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War — a position necessitated by legal entanglements surrounding rival studio Universal Pictures, who hold the right to distribute any standalone Hulk movies.

Feige doesn’t expect another solo Hulk movie to happen, but Tyler’s Betty Ross could find her way back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a supporting role, same as her father — whether that be in Infinity War or the subsequent Avengers 4.

Avengers: Infinity War opens May 4.