Captain America: Brave New World finally delivers the arrival of the 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 identity 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.
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The Hulk has changed a lot throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, despite his evolution, he always manages to steal the scene.
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
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.”
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Hulk was one of the MCU’s first heroes, and nearly shaped the franchise far more than expected, with several BTS events changing his trajectory.
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
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.
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The most frustrating thing about Hulk being sidelined in the MCU is how amazing plots were established that were completely abandoned or forgotten.
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.
Captain America: Brave New World
- Release Date
- February 14, 2025
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Director
- Julius Onah
Cast
Sam Wilson / Captain America
Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross / Red Hulk
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Dalan Musson, Malcolm Spellman
- Prequel(s)
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Franchise(s)
- Captain America, Marvel Cinematic Universe
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