Red Hulk’s MCU introduction is a big part of Captain America: Brave New World‘s plot, but it almost took place nine years before, in Captain America: Civil War. Steve Rogers fought increasingly stronger enemies during his Captain America career, from Red Skull and the Winter Soldier to Iron Man and Thanos. After receiving the Captain America mantle from Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson fights an MCU villain just as strong or even stronger than any of Rogers’ enemies, Red Hulk, whose immense strength and heat powers pose a huge threat to Captain America and anybody in the monster’s path.

Hulk has only starred in one MCU movie so far, Phase 1’s The Incredible Hulk, and appeared in supporting roles throughout the Infinity Saga’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Hulk hasn’t had any major roles in the Multiverse Saga besides his brief appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. On the other hand, the Multiverse Saga has introduced and brought back several other Gamma mutates, including She-Hulk, Skaar, Abomination, the short-lived HulkKing, the Leader, and Red Hulk. Red Hulk in particular gets a key role in Captain America: Brave New World.

Thaddeus Ross Almost Transformed Into Red Hulk In Civil War

The Russo Bros Considered Introducing Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk Transformation In Phase 3

In September 2017, MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo revealed to ComicBook.com that they initially considered adding a Red Hulk subplot to Captain America: Civil War. However, the Russo bros. scrapped their Red Hulk idea in order to focus on Captain America: Civil War‘s main conflict and on the rest of the characters’ stories. According to the Russo bros’, they “consider everything” during the development process of their MCU movies. Besides Red Hulk, the Russos also considered giving Tom Holland’s Spider-Man the Iron Spider suit in his first appearance, but this idea was also scrapped. The Russo bros said:

“We had so many characters in that movie as it was… We consider everything, obviously, but with so many characters in that movie as it was to try and entertain adding another character and to get to the Red Hulk, you have to add a back story. You have to substantiate the narrative to get to that. [Thaddeus Ross], on our list of priorities, he was there sort of as the government’s agenda and not to add another complicated super powered character to the mix…”

As Secretary of State and prime proponent of the Sokovia Accords, Thaddeus Ross’ main goal in Captain America: Civil War was to enforce control over all superpowered individuals and vigilantes, hopefully convincing the Avengers to agree to sign the accords, or otherwise capturing those who refused. Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk transformation would have required several elements in order to suit Captain America: Civil War‘s plot, including the creation of a new Super Soldier serum exclusive to Ross and an action sequence centered on Red Hulk. Captain America: Civil War didn’t have enough room for Red Hulk, so the decision to postpone his introduction was certainly appropriate.

MCU Concept Art Suggests Thaddeus Ross Could Have Been Recast In Civil War

Marvel Apparently Toyed With The Idea Of Recasting Thaddeus Ross With Bryan Cranston If William Hurt Didn’t Return

In 2016, Marvel released official concept art in the book Captain America: Civil War: The Art of the Movie, which unveiled lots of alternative costume designs, scenes, and other used and unused ideas. Curiously, one piece of Captain America: Civil War concept art apparently depicts Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston as Thaddeus Ross in the scene where Ross shows the Avengers footage of their disastrous battles. Details about this concept artwork are unknown, but the fact that Cranston seems to replace William Hurt in this scene suggests that Marvel Studios was considered Cranston for the role in case William Hurt chose not to reprise his The Incredible Hulk role.

Ultimately, Marvel recast Thaddeus Ross with Harrison Ford following William Hurt’s pᴀssing and gave the character a bigger role in Captain America: Brave New World, where Ross finally transforms into Red Hulk. In a 2015 interview with The Wall Street Journal, William Hurt addressed the possibility of playing Red Hulk in the MCU, saying, “I don’t know, I wouldn’t mind feeling like I had that much power…but I created Thaddeus originally as an ego the same size as the monsters. With the same degree of messed up-ness. Yeah, I’d love to have a sH๏τ at it.” At the time, however, Marvel probably didn’t have any solid plans for Red Hulk’s MCU debut yet.

Why Captain America 4 Is A Better Choice For Red Hulk’s Introduction Than Civil War

Red Hulk Gets More Prominence In Phase 5 Than He Would Have Gotten In The Middle Of The Avengers’ Battle

Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk transformation would have made Captain America: Civil War‘s conflict more chaotic, which could have made the Phase 3 movie more exciting, but could also have been distracting. Captain America: Civil War received criticism due to its limited character roster in comparison to the comics, where dozens of heroes, anti-heroes, and villains had multiple battles before the тιтular conflict ended. However, this limited cast was precisely what made the MCU’s movie adaptation a more cohesive story than its source material. Each character got their time to shine.

Nine years later, Captain America: Brave New World features multiple villains and several plot points that may affect other upcoming MCU projects. Red Hulk isn’t even Captain America: Brave New World‘s main villain, and his Gamma transformation wasn’t directly set up by any recent MCU movie or show. Nevertheless, there’s way more room for Red Hulk’s introduction in Captain America: Brave New World than there was in Captain America: Civil War. In fact, Red Hulk’s battle with Captain America has been the focal point of Captain America: Brave New World‘s marketing.

Marvel’s Original Plans For Red Hulk Confirm A Major MCU Character Problem

Marvel Hasn’t Considered Red Hulk A Hulk Villain So Far

The Russo bros.’ contemplated the idea of adding Red Hulk to Captain America: Civil War, probably as an enemy to all the Avengers. Nine years later, Red Hulk finally makes his MCU debut as a Captain America villain in Captain America: Brave New World. Neither of these movies feature Bruce Banner or the Hulk, who’s supposed to be Red Hulk’s archnemesis. Unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t seem to consider Red Hulk a Hulk enemy in the MCU, which suggests that a battle between the two Gamma monsters isn’t a priority for the studio.

Given that Bruce Banner is satisfied with his Smart Hulk form and considering Harrison Ford hasn’t talked with Mark Ruffalo yet, Hulk is unlikely to appear in Captain America: Brave New World, and a battle between Bruce Banner’s original Hulk and Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk might only happen once the Multiverse Saga is over. Despite hunting down the original Hulk at the beginning of Phase 1, Ross appears to have left his hatred for Bruce Banner behind. On the bright side, the Leader’s main villain role in Captain America: Brave New World may lay the foundations for an eventual Hulk showdown in the future.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  Powered by

  
  

  
  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse