Summary
Only days after the premiere ofDeadpool & Wolverine, excitement is already building for the next MCU installment. Amid the frenzy, Anthony Mackie may have inadvertently revealed a significant plot detail, hinting that another Avenger will appear inCaptain America: Brave New World.
The debut trailer forCaptain America: Brave New Worldpremiered a few weeks back, offering a glimpse ofHarrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross, set to become Red Hulkin the movie. Fans quickly wondered how Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, could face off against a Hulk, given his lack of super soldier serum. Well, the solution might be that he doesn’t. In a recent interview, Mackie hinted at the presence of another character who could potentially battle Ross’s Red Hulk inCaptain America 4—corroborating an earlier inadvertent spoiler.
During an interview withEntertainment Weeklyat San Diego Comic-Con, Anthony Mackie, who stars asSam Wilson, the new Captain AmericainBrave New World, hinted that a seasoned Marvel veteran might make an appearance in the film. When discussing the significance ofThe Incredible Hulkfor understanding the upcoming MCU installment, Mackie suggested that Bruce Banner/Hulk could be involved. In response to a question about the relevance of the 2008 film’s storyline toCaptain America: Brave New World, Mackie, in the presence of a puzzled Harrison Ford, mentioned “when he shows up,” seemingly alluding to Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, whom Mackie referred to as “the other Hulk” in contrast to Ford’s Red Hulk. “Not Red Hulk, the other Hulk,” Mackie said. “There are multiple Hulks. So, when he shows up — but there’s only one Red Hulk. There’s only one. That’s it. There will never be another Red Hulk. That’s it. When [Hulk] shows up, his world, his universe, his story is completely separate from the way that we utilize him in our story.”
An earlier interview with MCU’s Hulk, Mark Ruffalo, sparked new speculation about his involvement in upcoming projects. At the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February 2024, Ruffalo was asked ifBrave New Worldwas his next project. He responded affirmatively with a confident “Yeah” and added, “It’s gonna be great.” Although Ruffalo confirmed he would reprise his role as Bruce Banner in the film, he later retracted that statement, saying he had misspoken. The Hulk’s most recent appearance was in the 2022 Disney+ seriesShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where he trained Jennifer Walters, who became the first female Hulk. There has been some confusion, with reports fromVarietysuggesting Hulk wouldn’t feature inBrave New World. However, withseveral characters fromThe Incredible Hulkmaking a return, including Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross, and Harrison Ford as ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (replacing the late William Hurt), it seems plausible that a Hulk appearance could still be in the cards.
Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk making a return inBrave New Worldseems plausible, especially given that Mackie’sSam Wilson, without the Super Soldier Serum, would likely be overpowered if he faced Red Hulk alone. Although some Marvel Comics fans argue thatRed Hulk’s baseline strength surpassesthe regular Hulk’s, Hulk’s unique ability to grow stronger with increasing anger means there’s no ceiling to his power. Once Hulk’s rage intensifies, Red Hulk would probably stand little chance, particularly since Red Hulk’s strength decreases with his own anger. If Hulk is set to battle a formidable opponent like Red Hulk, it might indicate that he’s reverting to his classic, chaotic persona. Fans have criticized Hulk’s diminished killer instinct sinceAvengers: Endgame, where Hulk and Banner merged into a character who can still smash but prefers not to. If a ferocious Hulk reemerges to confront Red Hulk, it could lead to another unforgettable Marvel moment.
It remains to be seen if Ruffalo’s Hulk will appear inCaptain America: Brave New World,which premieres on May 26, 2025.
