Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise, stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, succeeding Chris Evans' Steve Rogers. While focusing on Captain America's continued MCU journey, this film significantly ties up loose ends from the very first MCU movie, effectively serving as The Incredible Hulk 2.
This connection stems from the return of key characters from The Incredible Hulk: Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross, Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader, and Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. Let's examine their history and how Brave New World functions as a long-awaited sequel.
Captain America: Brave New World Debut Trailer Images
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Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader
The Incredible Hulk introduced Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, a pivotal figure finally coming to fruition in Brave New World. Initially an ally to Bruce Banner, assisting in finding a cure, Sterns' ambition surpasses Banner's ethical boundaries. Their encounter reveals Sterns' overzealous experimentation with Banner's blood, foreshadowing his transformation. Following Blonsky's transformation, Banner's blood contaminates Sterns, initiating his change into The Leader, a gamma-powered mastermind.
Brave New World finally addresses this plot point. The canon MCU comic, The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week, reveals S.H.I.E.L.D.'s capture of Sterns. His escape and involvement in a conspiracy involving Captain America and President Ross remain largely mysterious, though his potential role in Ross' Red Hulk transformation and his interest in adamantium are speculated. As The Leader, his enhanced intellect makes him a formidable adversary.
Liv Tyler's Betty Ross
Liv Tyler's return as Betty Ross marks another significant Incredible Hulk reunion. Their college romance and Betty's involvement in Project Gamma Pulse, where she aided Banner's survival, are revisited. Her father's hatred of Banner and their strained relationship are central. Betty's support for Banner in The Incredible Hulk contrasted with her father's antagonism. After Banner's disappearance, Betty's story continues with her temporary erasure during Avengers: Infinity War.
Brave New World brings Betty back, though her specific role remains undisclosed. Her relationship with her now-President father and potential contributions with her gamma research expertise are open questions. The possibility of her becoming Red She-Hulk, as in the comics, adds intrigue.
Harrison Ford's President Ross/Red Hulk
Harrison Ford's portrayal of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is the most evident link to The Incredible Hulk. Taking over from William Hurt, Ford's Ross, initially an antagonist in The Incredible Hulk, oversaw Project Gamma Pulse and sought to control the Hulk. His creation of the Abomination and his subsequent attempts to recruit the Hulk into the Avengers Initiative are key to his character arc.
His appearances in Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow, Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame show his evolution as Secretary of Defense and his involvement in the Sokovia Accords. Now President, Ross's election reflects public anxieties following Secret Invasion.
Director Julius Onah describes Ross's transformation from a "thunderous" figure to an "elder statesman" seeking reconciliation with his daughter and cooperation with the Avengers. However, a conspiracy involving an assassination attempt leads to his transformation into the Red Hulk. His pursuit of adamantium, a newly discovered super-metal, adds another layer to the plot.
Hulk's Absence
The absence of Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner is the only element preventing Brave New World from being explicitly titled The Incredible Hulk 2. While a cameo isn't ruled out, Banner's current involvement with his expanding Hulk family (including Jen Walters and Skaar) could explain his absence. His focus on other matters leaves the confrontation with Red Hulk and The Leader to Captain America.
The film's plot, focusing on a conspiracy involving Red Hulk, The Leader, and the newly introduced adamantium, positions Brave New World as a direct continuation of The Incredible Hulk's narrative, setting the stage for a future Avengers reunion in Avengers: Doomsday.
