Director Julius Onah drops some key information about President Ross’ MCU story in Captain America: Brave New World. Spread across four movies, Thaddeus Ross’ MCU story has followed his professional career and his personal grudge against superpowered individuals. In Captain America: Brave New World, it’s Ross’ turn to become a superhuman, gaining his Red Hulk transformation apparently against his will. Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk transformation is made even more dramatic by the fact that he has become President of the United States.
Speaking to ScreenRant at the Captain America: Brave New World junket, director Julius Onah addresses Thaddeus Ross’ presidency, which began off-screen prior to the beginning of the movie. Onah explains that Ross’ decision to run for president came from his desire to “rewrite his legacy”, partly inspired by being “estranged from his daughter Betty” in The Incredible Hulk. According to Onah, President Ross now wants to help the world just as much as he wants to reconnect with Betty Ross. Read Julius Onah’s full comments below:
“It’s something that we thought about a great deal, and it was really exciting to think about. I grew up in DC in the DC Virginia area, so it’s something that’s always been in my orbit and something I’ve thought about a lot. And what was great about it too was its character. It’s about the emotional journey. And the Ross that we’ve known in the past was Thaddeus Ross, a general, and then a Secretary of State. He had this temper, he had a real sort of rage to him as well. He hunted Hulks. He became estranged from his daughter Betty. So this story, this president was about bringing people together. He’s trying to rewrite his legacy. He’s an elder statesman, he’s a diplomat. He wants to use Adamantium as a way to better the lives of people all over the world. So that’s what his campaign was about. He ran on this theme of togetherness. And what I loved about it is on a macro level, I want to make the world better, but on a micro level, I want to reconnect to my daughter. And it was about proving to Betty that he turned a new leaf.”
What Julius Onah’s Comments Mean For Thaddeus Ross’ MCU Story
Betty Ross Will Play An Important Role In President Ross’ MCU Story
Betty Ross’ presence in Captain America: Brave New World has been known for a while, but Liv Tyler’s Betty has yet to appear in any trailer, poster, or clip, which suggests that either Betty’s screentime may be short or her appearance could spoil key information about the plot. Either way, director Julius Onah’s comments about Thaddeus Ross’ motivations reveal that Betty Ross is still a relevant character in the MCU seventeen years after her last on-screen appearance, making her the latest in an increasing number of Hulk-related characters to make a return in the last few years.
Our Take On Julius Onah’s Thaddeus Ross Comments
The MCU Not Forgetting About Betty Ross Is A Good Sign For Hulk
Captain America: Brave New World brings back Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns a.k.a. the Leader, Harrison Ford’s President Ross a.k.a. Red Hulk, and Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross, though Hulk himself is unlikely to appear in Captain America: Brave New World. But despite Hulk’s continued lack of solo projects and Bruce Banner’s seemingly definitive Smart Hulk form, Marvel Studios has increased the MCU’s focus on Hulk characters, which could be read as a sign that a Hulk-centric story is coming soon.
With Betty Ross back on the radar, it would be exciting to see Smart Hulk reunite with his ex-girlfriend, especially considering that She-Hulk: Attorney At Law‘s finale introduced Hulk’s son Skaar, conceived back when Hulk worked as a gladiator in Sakaar. President Ross’ transformation into Red Hulk may also set the stage for the creation of a new Gamma monster. If the Leader knows how to replicate Ross’ Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World or afterward, then the Leader could transform Betty Ross into Red She-Hulk or Harpy — her two Gamma idenтιтies from the comics.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
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February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
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May 7, 2027
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