Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.

Julius Onah’s explanation for the Hulk’s absence from Captain America: Brave New World has me even more disappointed that Bruce Banner didn’t appear, especially since the MCU sequel suffered because of his omission. While the Phase 5 movie wasn’t without its problems, I thought that Brave New World was a strong next step for Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson on his journey as the MCU’s new Captain America. As well as exploring Sam Wilson’s personal transition into Captain America, Brave New World also fit into the wider MCU continuity perfectly, but I wanted even more.

Captain America: Brave New World pitted Sam Wilson and Danny Ramirez’s Joaquín Torres not only against the Serpent Society and the Leader, but also the Red Hulk, with Harrison Ford ᴀssuming the role for Thaddeus Ross’ transformation into the villain. The inclusion of so many Hulk-related characters made me sure Mark Ruffalo would make an appearance in Brave New World as Bruce Banner, the MCU’s original Hulk. I’m surprised this didn’t happen, and the movie’s director’s comments don’t make the Hulk’s absence from Captain America: Brave New World any better.

Julius Onah Has Explained The Hulk’s Absence In Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World Needed To Be Sam Wilson’s Story

Mark Ruffalo was heavily speculated to be reprising his role of Bruce Banner in Captain America: Brave New World given the sequel’s narrative, so his absence caused a stir among MCU audiences. In response, Brave New World director Julius Onah, during an interview with The Playlist, revealed why the Hulk doesn’t make an appearance in the movie. Noting that including Banner would have meant “the focus shifts away from Sam,” Onah stresses the desire for Brave New World to truly be a Captain America movie, but I don’t think I agree with his comments.

Well, I think at the end of the day, and I’m happy it landed where it did—this is Sam’s story. This is Sam’s first cinematic adventure as Captain America. And you want it to be about Sam leaning into his superpower to overcome the odds. So, you pull in Banner—as great as Mark Ruffalo is and as exciting as it would be to have him—and suddenly, the focus shifts away from Sam. The conversation obviously came up, but ultimately, it felt like this wanted to be Sam’s film.

Bruce Banner hasn’t starred in a solo MCU movie since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, thanks to the distribution rights to the Hulk still residing with Universal Pictures. This means that Mark Ruffalo has only ever been able to appear as the Hulk in crossover movies and other heroes’ projects, including the Avengers movies, Iron Man 3, Thor: Ragnarok, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and more. Captain America: Brave New World fit this brief, so it was a great opportunity to bring Bruce Banner back to the MCU, and I’m disappointed it didn’t.

Captain America: Brave New World Including The Hulk’s Supporting Characters Makes Bruce Banner’s Absence More Awkward

Sam Wilson Took On Hulk Villains In Captain America: Brave New World

I might be able to better understand Julius Onah’s comments if Captain America: Brave New World hadn’t pitted Sam Wilson against a number of Hulk villains and repeatedly referenced the events of The Incredible Hulk. Sam Wilson went up against Thaddeus Ross and Samuel Sterns in Brave New World, both of whom first appeared opposite the Hulk back in 2008, and have been intricately connected to his mythology since then. Brave New World even featured a cameo appearance by Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross, Bruce Banner’s former romantic interest, so I just can’t figure out Onah’s explanation.

Captain America: Brave New World was Sam Wilson’s own personal story even though the movie included several Hulk-related characters, and even marked the emergence of a new Hulk in the form of Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk. The fact that so many Hulk-related characters appeared in the movie means that Bruce Banner’s absence makes less sense than if he had appeared. Banner must be aware of the return of the Leader and the emergence of the Red Hulk, which means Brave New World omitting him is very awkward as he prides himself on being an active superhero.

The Hulk Didn’t Make Thor: Ragnarok Any Less Of A Thor Movie

2017’s Ragnarok Was Still Very Much Thor’s Movie

As well as finding it weirder that Bruce Banner didn’t appear alongside some of his most iconic supporting characters, I also think that his inclusion in Captain America: Brave New World would not have distracted from Sam Wilson’s story at all, as Onah suggests. The perfect example of why is 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. Taika Waiтιтi’s directorial MCU debut reinvigorated the Thor franchise with a then-welcome dose of comedy, and partnered Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, both of whom had been absent during 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.

The Hulk’s inclusion in Thor: Ragnarok did not make the Phase 3 movie any less Thor’s story, and arguably actually enhanced Thor’s narrative, as well as helping to explain some huge questions that many had since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Hemsworth and Ruffalo bounced off each other brilliantly, and I would have loved to seen this dynamic translated for Ruffalo and Mackie, especially after What If…? season 3 teased a friendship between the pair. Thor: Ragnarok was made better and more connected to the MCU by Bruce Banner’s involvement, and I wanted the same for Brave New World.

I Think Bruce Banner’s Appearance Would Have Made Captain America: Brave New World Better

Captain America: Brave New World & The Hulk Could Have Both Benefited

Julius Onah might think that Bruce Banner’s inclusion in Captain America: Brave New World would have detracted from Sam Wilson’s story, but I actually think that the Hulk would have made the movie better. This would have established a clearer connection to the heroes of the wider MCU, rather than just focusing on Captain America and the new Falcon, and could have advanced the plot thread of Sam rebuilding the Avengers. I’m not even saying this needed to be a big role along the lines of Thor: Ragnarok, but a cameo appearance definitely would have sufficed.

Captain America: Brave New World itself revealed that this would have been the case, as the cameo appearance of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes went down a treat. It was great to see the friendship between Wilson and Barnes develop, and I would have loved this for Wilson and Banner after Avengers: Endgame and What If…? season 3. I consider it a huge shame that Bruce Banner was not included in Captain America: Brave New World, especially since it’s unclear when he’ll return to the MCU.

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