Captain America: Brave New World Is Secretly an Incredible Hulk Sequel

Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise, marks Anthony Mackie's debut as the lead, taking over from Chris Evans. Intriguingly, this new film isn't just a continuation of the Captain America saga; it also serves as a long-awaited sequel to one of the MCU's earliest entries: The Incredible Hulk. This connection is evident through the return of key characters from that film, setting the stage for a story deeply intertwined with the Hulk's legacy.

From Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross and Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader to Liv Tyler's Betty Ross, let's delve into the history of these characters and uncover why Brave New World is essentially The Incredible Hulk 2 in disguise.

Captain America: Brave New World Debut Trailer Images

Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader

The Incredible Hulk introduced Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, a character whose storyline finally culminates in Brave New World. Initially an ally to Bruce Banner, assisting in the search for a Hulk cure, Sterns' ambition gets the better of him. His experiments with Banner's blood lead to a transformation, foreshadowing his evolution into the intellectually superior villain, The Leader.

Sterns' whereabouts after The Incredible Hulk are revealed in the MCU-canon comic, The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week, showing his capture by Black Widow. His escape and involvement in a conspiracy alongside Captain America and President Ross are central to Brave New World's plot. His potential connection to Ross's Red Hulk transformation and his possible interest in adamantium, a newly introduced material, add layers of intrigue to his role. As The Leader, his superhuman intelligence makes him a formidable adversary.

Liv Tyler's Betty Ross

Another returning character from The Incredible Hulk is Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. Her relationship with Bruce Banner, her involvement in Project Gamma Pulse, and her strained relationship with her father, General Ross, are all revisited. Her role in Brave New World remains largely a mystery, though her expertise in gamma research and her comic book transformation into Red She-Hulk are potential plot points.

Tyler's reprisal of the role in Brave New World promises to shed light on Betty's journey since her last appearance, potentially exploring her relationship with her father, now the President, and her possible contributions to the story's central conflict.

Harrison Ford's President Ross/Red Hulk

The most significant indicator of Brave New World's connection to The Incredible Hulk is the prominent role of Harrison Ford's Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Taking over from the late William Hurt, Ford portrays Ross's evolution from General to President. His relentless pursuit of the Hulk, his strained relationship with his daughter, and his creation of the Abomination are all key elements of his past.

Ross's journey through the MCU, including his involvement in the Sokovia Accords and his interactions with other heroes, culminates in his presidency and his transformation into the Red Hulk. This transformation, along with his pursuit of adamantium, sets the stage for a major conflict with Captain America. Director Julius Onah highlights Ross's character arc, emphasizing his transition from a fiery military man to a more diplomatic figure seeking reconciliation with his daughter and a new era of cooperation with the Avengers. However, his transformation into Red Hulk suggests a complex and potentially dangerous path ahead.

Where Is The Hulk in Brave New World?

The absence of Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/Hulk is the only significant difference preventing Brave New World from being explicitly titled The Incredible Hulk 2. While a cameo isn't entirely ruled out, Banner's current focus on his family, including his son Skaar, might explain his absence. His expertise and the potential for a confrontation with Red Hulk would certainly enhance the storyline. However, Banner's other commitments and the evolving roles of other Avengers could justify his absence in this particular chapter.