Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.A huge piece of Thaddeus Ross’ character in the MCU was changed for Captain America: Brave New World, but I really wish Harrison Ford had kept it. Following William Hurt’s tragic pᴀssing in 2022, Marvel Studios elected to recast the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross ahead of Captain America: Brave New World’s release. Hollywood legend Harrison Ford ᴀssumed the role, allowing Ross to have a prominent role in Brave New World as the new President of the United States and, eventually, the Red Hulk, but Ford’s iteration changed one character element I wish had been retained.

In the opening moments of Captain America: Brave New World, we see Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross take over the presidency from Secret Invasion’s Ritson. One of many revelations in Brave New World include the fact that Samuel Sterns’ Leader had been providing Ross with information that eventually allowed him to become United States President, but Sterns had also been altering Ross’ genes, which transformed the new President Ross into the Red Hulk. This wasn’t the only change that Marvel Studios made to Thaddeus Ross in Brave New World, however.

I Loved Seeing Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross With His Mustache In Captain America 4

Harrison Ford Sported Thaddeus Ross’ Mustache In Video Footage

I really enjoyed Captain America: Brave New World, but one change stuck out as being weird and unnecessary to me. I was disappointed to see that Harrison Ford would not have a mustache in the movie, despite the mustache being the signature style of Thaddeus Ross in all his previous MCU appearances. One of my favorite moments in Brave New World, then, was seeing video footage of Harrison Ford portraying a younger Ross throwing a tantrum in the aftermath of the Battle of Harlem from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, in which he had Ross’ iconic mustache.

The late William Hurt previously made five appearances in the MCU as Thaddeus Ross, and he sported his mustache in each one. It was only when recasting the role for Harrison Ford that the mustache was removed. However, this one scene of video footage showing Ford’s Thaddeus Ross with his mustache makes me think that the facial hair could have been kept for the entire movie. Marvel did provide some reasoning in Captain America: Brave New World for the mustache’s removal, but there’s a clearer real-world reason why the tache had to go.

Why Did Marvel Remove Thaddeus Ross’ Mustache?

Thaddeus Ross’ Mustache Unfortunately Had To Go

When Sam Wilson, Joaquín Torres and Isaiah Bradley arrive at the White House in Captain America: Brave New World, Wilson is immediately taken to meet the President. When Wilson notes he’s “still getting used to the new look,” referring to the removal of Ross’ facial hair, Ross reveals that “they said lose the mustache or lose the election.” This means that Samuel Sterns may have told Ross he’d have a higher probability of winning the election sans mustache, though the details surrounding Ross getting rid of his signature look haven’t been revealed.

While the mustache’s absence is shrouded in mystery in the world of the MCU, there’s an easy reason in the real world for its removal. Captain America: Brave New World saw Thaddeus Ross finally become the Red Hulk, following in his Marvel Comics counterpart’s footsteps from 2008’s Hulk (Vol. 2) #1. Marvel Studios’ VFX artists may have struggled to properly animate the Red Hulk with Ross’ mustache, or this could have simply looked too silly to bring into live-action, so getting rid of it meant that the Red Hulk’s emergence wasn’t a comedic affair.

I Wish Thaddeus Ross Had Kept His Mustache In Captain America 4

Thaddeus Ross Could Have Easily Kept His Mustache In Brave New World

Even though it might have looked silly on the Red Hulk in live-action, I really wish the mustache had been kept in Captain America: Brave New World. The facial hair is such a recognizable element of Thaddeus Ross’ character throughout the history of the MCU, so retaining it in Brave New World would have made the transition from William Hurt to Thaddeus Ross more seamless and less jarring. This would also have been a great way to pay homage to Hurt’s incredible career in the MCU, keeping a piece of his Ross intact being recast.

Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross has had a mustache for his entire Marvel Comics history, though his Red Hulk form has more often been depicted without it. Marvel Studios could have made this creative decision – having the mustache while in human form and not having it while in Red Hulk form – but this might have caused a stir of unnecessary questions and controversies. While I understand why Marvel removed Thaddeus Ross’ mustache in Captain America: Brave New World, I really would have loved to see it be retained, but hopefully possible future appearances can bring it back.

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