Tim Roth Reveals Why He Played Abomination In THE INCREDIBLE HULK, And Why He's Open To More MCU

Tim Roth Reveals Why He Played Abomination In THE INCREDIBLE HULK, And Why He's Open To More MCU

Tim Roth has revealed what drew him to the role of Abomination in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, and confirms that he'd be down to reprise the role in the upcoming Avengers movies.

By JoshWilding - Mar 15, 2026 09:03 AM EST
Filed Under: She-Hulk
Source: GamesRadar+

Tim Roth is a frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino's and has worked with filmmakers like David Lynch, Mike Leigh, and Alan Clarke. That made his decision to star in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake and Marvel Studios' The Incredible Hulk pretty surprising to some.

It's not that Roth was too good for blockbuster roles (even if the movies weren't the best), and both Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination and General Thade gave the actor plenty to sink his teeth into.

Talking to GamesRadar+ about his role in Netflix's Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the British actor revealed the real reason he joined 2008's The Incredible Hulk. "That I did originally to make my kids embarrassed at school," he shared. 

"I did a couple of movies like that," Roth continued. "I did Planet of the Apes for that [reason] as well, just to literally to embarrass him at school."

Nearly a decade and a half after first playing Abomination, the actor happily agreed to make his MCU return for 2022's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Disney+. His kids were too old to be embarrassed by that point, so why make a comeback? 

"They just called me up and said: 'How'd you fancy...?' And I was like, 'What?!' And it was just so daft. But I liked Tatiana [Maslany]. She was fascinating to watch on set," he noted. "She had so much on her plate, and she was so in control of it. But she's also incredibly funny."

"She's married to a guy [Brendan Hines] who was in a series that I did called Lie to Me years ago, so we had like a reunion when we were up there making it. And Mark Ruffalo is hilarious!"

The series ended with Wong breaking Abomination out of the Department of Damage Control's Supermax prison, taking him to Kamar Taj to continue his rehabilitation. He hasn't closed the door on returning, but would he show up in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars if asked? "Yeah, just go. Be fun," he replied with a smile.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has 80% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but received largely negative verdicts from fans (it sits at 32% on the Popcornmeter). How much of that was a result of review-bombing—similar to what happened to Captain Marvel—is still hotly debated.

There's been no mention of a second season, and given the high VFX costs, there isn't likely to be one. There are still conflicting rumours about Maslany's own Avengers status, though she is expected to reprise the role as part of Sam Wilson's team. 

About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
Comic Book Reader. Film Lover. WWE and F1 Fan. Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and ComicBookMovie.com's #1 contributor.
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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 3/15/2026, 9:19 AM
because money
epc1122
epc1122 - 3/15/2026, 9:54 AM
@harryba11zack - just about every actor gets paid but he’s at a point in his career where he can pick and choose which parts to take.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 3/15/2026, 9:57 AM
@epc1122 - sooo...... because money?
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epc1122
epc1122 - 3/15/2026, 11:25 AM
@harryba11zack - it’s a job so of course he’s getting paid but the point is, he didn’t have to take the part soly for the money. He can pick and choose which parts. Someone who’s just for the money would take any job.
ElJefe
ElJefe - 3/15/2026, 9:44 AM
Tim Roth was such an odd choice for the badass military warrior role. He looked out of place throughout the entire thing until he was replaced with CGI.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/15/2026, 11:35 AM
@ElJefe - agree but in the context of him being a warrior past his prime that is longing for that back , it made sense imo…

He also did well in the role.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/15/2026, 10:03 AM
I really think Marvel Studios dropped the ball with Abomination in She Hulk. Could’ve been a great moment to get him back as a villain but they squandered it for jokes.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 3/15/2026, 10:06 AM
@slickrickdesigns - The balls weren't dropped, they were cut off.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/15/2026, 10:06 AM
@HashTagSwagg - the correct term is “neutered”
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 3/15/2026, 10:46 AM
@slickrickdesigns - Well, since SHE-HULK was essentially a situation comedy, it only made sense to make Emil Blonsky the equivalent of upstairs neighbor Larry from THREE'S COMPANY. 🫤
bobevanz
bobevanz - 3/15/2026, 10:26 AM
The Incredible Hulk is waaaay better than what people think. It's better than 95% of phase 4 and 5, but since it came after Iron Man I guess people wanted more Iron Man? Dumbasses
Lem1
Lem1 - 3/15/2026, 10:37 AM
@bobevanz - Louis Leterrier as director? Clash of The Titans guy? Naw, Incredible Hulk was okay, but nothing epic. Dumbed down the Hulk's powers just ta be different than Ang Lee's film. Itlf it ain't broke, don't try and fix it, I say. -Whivh is why Marvel restored Hulk's powers.
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 3/15/2026, 10:43 AM
"Yeah, just go. Be fun," he replied with a smile. -Tim Roth

No thank you. Please stay away. Don't need a once intense, dark and threatening character now played for laughs as evidenced by his appearance in SHE-HULK. 🤨
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/15/2026, 11:56 AM
I love how casual about it he is haha…

I think it’s funny how we argue about actors being wasted & such in a role when sometimes those same ones have the most fun as their characters and have just signed to enjoy themselves or are doing it for their kids as Roth has.

Anyway , I enjoyed him as Blonsky in TIH and She Hulk were I felt his turn into a self help coach essentially after realizing the error of his ways after being in prison for so long was funny & worked for me so I hope we do see him sooner then later in another project…

Given he’s at Kamar Taj with Wong , perhaps Strange Academy?.

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bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/15/2026, 11:56 AM
Gotta appreciate the pettiness there.

Anyway, wouldn't mind him showing up as part of the Dark Avengers with Hercules, Zemo, Hammer, Yon-Rogg and Norman Osborn fighting against Thor, Captain Marvel, Hulk and New Asgard.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/15/2026, 11:58 AM
@bkmeijer1 - true he could always go back to being a villain for whatever reason…

It’s happened to many characters in the comics such as Wonder Man etc.
YonnyLayna
YonnyLayna - 3/15/2026, 1:53 PM
Not having him on Thunderbolts as Hulk dark counterpart was dumb, not even Red Hulk was needed at this point.

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