Red Hulk's Transformation In Captain America: Brave New World Is Disappointing Given This 13-Year Hulk Streak

Captain America: Brave New World finally delivers the arrival of the MCU’s Red Hulk, but the transformation scene perpetuated a disappointing 13-year Hulk trend. Played by Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the transformation into Red Hulk should have been a show-stopping, game-changing moment for the MCU timeline. Instead, it was a missed opportunity, reflecting a frustrating feature that has plagued the MCU since 2012.

Red Hulk, the monstrous alter ego of General Ross in the comics, is a figure of raw power and fury – essentially a darker counterpart to the traditional Hulk. His debut in the comics was dramatic and mysterious, with his true idenтιтy kept secret for months. In Captain America: Brave New World, however, the film finally unveils this version in the MCU, with Harrison Ford taking over the role from the late William Hurt. This could have been a show-stopping sequence, rivaling the great transformations in Hulk history.

Captain America: Brave New World Didn’t Fully Show Red Hulk’s Transformation

Red Hulk Emerged From Behind A Podium

In Brave New World, Ross’ transformation begins during a White House address. Standing on the White House lawn, the terror in Ross’s eyes is palpable as he begins to understand what is happening to him. The scene shows Ross’s hands and feet Hulking-out of his clothes, but then he drops behind his presidential podium. The camera angles hide the key visual beats, and suddenly, Red Hulk is just there, fully transformed.

It’s an odd creative choice. The MCU has never introduced a Hulk variant without fanfare. Brave New World certainly perfected the immediate build-up, with Ford’s compelling performance and ramped-up tension. Yet the final, full transformation was sidestepped, by awkward blocking and editing. Instead of showing audiences what could be one of the most impressive VFX showcases of Phase 5, it undercuts the drama in a moment that should’ve been unforgettable.

There Hasn’t Been A Full Hulk Transformation In An MCU Movie Since 2012

Hulk-Outs Have Happened Off-Screen Since 2012

Bruce Banner looking concerned as he transforms into the hulk in the avengers 2012

It’s hard to believe, but the last full, satisfying Hulk transformation in an MCU theatrical release happened in The Avengers back in 2012. That was over 13 years ago. In that film, Bruce Banner has two iconic transformation scenes, the first on the SHIELD helicarrier, which accentuated the horrifying potential. The second occurred during the famed leviathan scene when Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner utters the now-iconic line, “That’s my secret, Cap… I’m always angry.”

Both were seamless, powerful, and emotionally charged – exactly what audiences expect from a Hulk-out. Since then, there has been very little drama in MCU Hulk-outs. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Hulk is always already transformed. In Thor: Ragnarok, there is a partial transformation played more for comedy than spectacle. Avengers: Infinity War teases a transformation that never comes, and by the time of Avengers: Endgame, Hulk has become “Smart Hulk,” effectively ending traditional transformations altogether.

While there were some fun Hulk-outs in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, these have a distinctly different flavor, as Jen Walters retains her personality upon transforming. Now, Brave New World had the perfect opportunity to break the streak and give audiences a proper, terrifying Hulk transformation with Red Hulk. Instead, it chooses to sidestep the moment, perhaps for pacing or surprise – but at the cost of spectacle and satisfaction.

The MCU’s Hulk Deserves Better

The MCU’s Hulk Has Been Repeatedly Sidelined

Red Hulk Looking At Reflection in Brave New World

At his core, Hulk is a character defined by transformation – not just physically, but emotionally. There’s rage, fear, and tension all boiling over into a monstrous form. That transformation is the payoff. Skipping it robs the audience of that catharsis. Red Hulk should’ve reignited that feeling, offering a new twist on the classic Hulk-out. Instead, it continues a frustrating Marvel habit of undercutting its own big moments.

If the MCU wants to bring the Hulk back into prominence – whether through Bruce Banner, Red Hulk, She-Hulk, or others – it needs to stop shying away from what made the character iconic in the first place. With modern VFX tech and a budget that dwarfs The Avengers, there’s no excuse for hiding the transformation behind a podium in Captain America: Brave New World. The MCU doesn’t need to reinvent the Hulk. It just needs to let him smash again.