Captain America’s fourth foray into the MCU hasn’t been immune to Marvel’s recent bad luck. The film has been delayed by the dual strikes and reshoots, resulting in McDonald’s toys for the series releasing a year before the movie itself. But finally, three years and one title change later, Captain America: Brave New World is making its way to audiences.
The first teaser trailer for the film confirms a lot of what we already know. Harrison Ford’s MCU debut as a recast President (formerly General) Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross replacing the late William Hurt, Shira Haas as Sabra, and Giancarlo Esposito as a recently added mystery character. But the biggest reveal of all, literally and figuratively, is our first look at Red Hulk, the evil alter ego of Thaddeus Ross that will finally bring a feral Hulk back to screens after months of She-Hulk and “Professor Hulk” managing to keep their humanity. Check out the full trailer below:
In the comics, much like in the MCU, General Ross started out as a human foil to Bruce Banner and his struggles with his big green alter ego. He was the father of Bruce’s love interest, Betty Ross, and a high-ranking military leader. There were personal as well as professional conflicts between the two.
But in 2008, more than 40 years after Thaddeus made his comic debut, Red Hulk, the uncontrollable evil version of the Hulk was introduced. At first, his non-Hulk identity was kept a secret, but eventually, it was revealed to be Thaddeus. Judging by how the Red Hulk shown in this trailer has the exact same haircut as Harrison Ford, there won’t be much of a mystery in the MCU.
Much like in the comics, this reveal is a huge deal for the MCU because Thaddeus Ross isn’t a new enemy — he’s a gamma-fied evolution of an existing one. Ross is one of the longest-running characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so making him so powerful both in and out of his Hulk form doesn’t feel like a shock.
This is the fourth Captain America movie — and a tentpole MCU project — so it’s safe to say Red Hulk won’t be the only foe he faces. We also see an attack from Isaiah Bradley, Esposito’s mysterious new villain, and what appears to be a battle at Tiamut Island. However, it’s starting to look like Thunderbolt Ross will be the real highlight of Captain America: Brave New World, and you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.
