We have a Hulk! Except, unlike She-Hulk, Red Hulk is not a blood-relative of Bruce Banner.
Let’s take a closer look at who Harrison Ford is playing in the upcoming MCU installment, Captain America: Brave New World, which comes out on February 14, 2025.
Where we’ve seen Thunderbolt Ross before
First appearing in the 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross was portrayed by William Hurt until the actor’s passing. After a long absence from the MCU, Hurt’s Ross returned for Captain America: Civil War and also appeared in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Following Hurt’s passing, Ford was cast to play Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, in which he’ll be the first to portray Red Hulk.
This will also be the first time we see Ross’ daughter and Banner’s love interest, Betty, since the 2008 Hulk movie — in which, the returning Liv Tyler starred alongside the then-Hulk Edward Norton.
How did Ross become Red Hulk
In the comics, M.O.D.O.K. and The Leader obtained radiation from Banner. With that in hand, they went to Ross with the intent of working together to give him this power.
While Ross has been a bit of a grey character in the MCU, he was long an adversary of Banner in the comics — despite Banner’s relationship with Betty. Adding the Red Hulk side of this character to the mix could tip his hero/villain standing in the MCU a bit.
Also worth noting: The Leader, a.k.a Samuel Sterns, also appeared in The Incredible Hulk. He was played by Tim Blake Nelson, who will also be reprising his role in Captain America: Brave New World. However, there’s been no indication that M.O.D.O.K. is in the mix.
Captain America: Brave New World cast
On top of Ford, Tyler and Sterns, Captain America: Brave New World will star Anthony Mackie’s Captain America/Sam Wilson. Also returning will be Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley and Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres, who will take on the mantle of Falcon. Both Lumbly and Ramirez made their MCU debuts in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Here are the new additions from Marvel Comics that we know of:
- Sidewinder, played Giancarlo Esposito
- Diamondback, played by Rosa Salazar
- Copperhead, played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
- Sabra, played by Shira Haas
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