I'm Still Convinced Hulk Could Have Improved Captain America: Brave New World

Despite Captain America: Brave New World‘s little room for more supporting characters, Hulk could have been an appropriate addition to Sam Wilson’s conflict with the Leader and Red Hulk. Captain America: Brave New World marked the second chapter in Sam Wilson’s journey as Captain America, as well as the MCU’s long-awaited spiritual sequel to The Incredible Hulk. With two Hulk villains, a global conspiracy, and the introduction of Adamantium, Sam Wilson’s first movie as Captain America was nothing short of ambitious.

However, Captain America: Brave New World didn’t hit the mark with critics and audiences, as it received a 48% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and landed at the fourth spot in the MCU’s list of lowest-grossing movies. While Captain America: Brave New World didn’t receive reviews as divisive as other movies like Eternals, The Marvels, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it simply didn’t capture viewers at a time when the MCU’s infallible status is faltering.

Hulk’s Absence Is Felt All Throughout Captain America: Brave New World

Hulk Could Have Made Captain America’s Enemies More Interesting

Red Hulk With Ameican Flag in Brave New World

Had Sam Wilson called in Bruce Banner for help, Hulk probably would have stolen the spotlight, and Captain America: Brave New World would have basically become The Incredible Hulk 2 with Captain America as a supporting character. In-universe, Captain America’s final battle with Red Hulk was also too brief to involve any other hero. Nevertheless, the fact that Sam Wilson didn’t even consider consulting with Banner after the Leader resurfaced is strange. Smart Hulk is the person who knows the most about Samuel Sterns in the MCU, and he’s fully available to help during the events of Captain America: Brave New World.

Even if Bruce Banner didn’t use his Smart Hulk strength to fight the Leader and Red Hulk, his knowledge of Sterns and Ross’ history and Gamma radiation could have come in handy

Captain America’s omission of Hulk is more baffling considering that President Ross advises Sam Wilson to reᴀssemble the Avengers early on in the movie. Even if Bruce Banner didn’t use his Smart Hulk strength to fight the Leader and Red Hulk, his knowledge of Sterns and Ross’ history and Gamma radiation could have come in handy. Captain America: Brave New World takes place after She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, meaning She-Hulk was likely available as well.

Thor: Ragnarok And Thunderbolts* Prove Hulk Could Have Had A Role In Brave New World

Hulk And Other Major MCU Heroes Have Already Been Secondary Characters

Hulk could have driven attention away from Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World, but that wasn’t the only possible scenario. Thor: Ragnarok feaured Hulk in a major role, serving as a sort of Planet Hulk adaptation simultaneously to Thor’s third solo installment. Hulk also took part in Thor: Ragnarok‘s final battle, where he defeated Fenrir and took on Surtur all by himself. Captain America: Brave New World could have included Smart Hulk in a similar capacity, with Bruce Banner helping Sam Wilson thwart the Leader’s plans or transforming into Smart Hulk to help Cap fight Red Hulk.

Other MCU movies have featured major Marvel heroes in similar roles without them stealing the spotlight from the main characters. Thunderbolts* put special focus on Bob Reynolds and his Void alter ego, which enhanced the тιтular heroes’ personal arcs instead of overshadowing them. Doctor Strange served as Spider-Man’s mentor in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Jane Foster completed her full character arc in Thor: Love and Thunder. Captain America: Civil War balanced over a dozen heroes in Steve Rogers’ third installment, where Steve shared the screen equally with Iron Man.

Hulk Will Still Be A Supporting Character In Future MCU Movies Anyway

Hulk’s Brave New World Supporting Role Will Likely Happen In All His Future MCU Appearances

MCU's Hulk with the MCU's Avengers behind him.

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has been a supporting hero since The Avengers, and he’ll likely continue to be a secondary character in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, and other projects. By this point, Marvel Studios has mastered the art of using Hulk as a team player instead of a protagonist, all due to Universal’s shared ownership of Hulk’s movie rights. If movies like Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Secret Wars can find a way to include Hulk properly, there must have been a way for Captain America: Brave New World to do the same.