New Guardians of the Galaxy set photo may tease a Planet Hulk connection

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

With all of the talk this week about where Mark Ruffalo‘s solo adventure as The Hulk may take him, a film version of Planet Hulk didn’t seem likely. Well, at least as a direct adaptation of the 2006 storyline. But, there may be some validity to an adventure showcasing Hulk crossing paths with the aliens from that story, the Sakaaran.

The Sakaaran are an alien race from the planet Sakaar which is the setting for the Planet Hulk story arc. And guess which alien race’s vessel was recently showcased in an Instagram photo from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY director James Gunn?

Yep, that Necrocraft is a Sakaaran ship which means the red-skinned aliens may be making an appearance in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. While this does not mean that there will be a direct lead in to a Planet Hulk movie, it certainly appears that Marvel is at least planting the seeds for that to be possible in the future. It also begins to draw connections between THE AVENGERS films and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Could we be seeing a crossover within Phase Three?

The amount of effort to craft a physical set like in the photo above tells me that this is not going to be a passing reference to the Sakaarans but rather include them in a fairly substantial moment of the film. Here’s hoping this isn’t us blowing this reference out of proportion.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY hits theaters on August 1st.