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

Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise and the first starring Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, unexpectedly serves as a quasi-sequel to The Incredible Hulk. This isn't just a continuation of the Captain America storyline; it significantly revisits characters and plot threads from the earlier film.

The film's connection to The Incredible Hulk is evident through the return of several key characters: 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 ties them together.

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, hinting at his future as a formidable villain. Initially an ally to Bruce Banner, Sterns' overzealous experimentation with Banner's gamma-irradiated blood led to his transformation. A crucial scene shows gamma-irradiated blood entering an open wound on Sterns' forehead, causing his head to swell and begin transforming. This sets the stage for his evolution into The Leader, a gamma-powered intellect rivaling the Hulk's strength. Brave New World finally delivers on this long-awaited development.

Sterns' whereabouts between films are explained in the MCU-canon comic The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week, which depicts Black Widow placing him in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. His escape and subsequent involvement in a conspiracy involving Captain America and President Ross are central to Brave New World's plot. His potential connection to Ross's transformation into Red Hulk, and his possible interest in adamantium, add layers of intrigue. As The Leader, his superhuman intelligence poses a significant threat.

Liv Tyler's Betty Ross:

Liv Tyler's return as Betty Ross marks another significant link to The Incredible Hulk. Their relationship, established in the earlier film, involved Betty's research contributions to Project Gamma Pulse and her subsequent involvement in Banner's transformation. Betty's relationship with her father, complicated by his obsessive hatred of Banner, further adds to the narrative's depth.

Betty's role in Brave New World remains largely unknown, though her expertise in gamma research and her father's current presidential status suggest significant involvement. The possibility of her transformation into Red She-Hulk, as seen in the comics, adds another layer of anticipation.

Harrison Ford's President Ross/Red Hulk:

Harrison Ford's portrayal of President Ross is the most overt connection to The Incredible Hulk. Ross's history, from his role in Project Gamma Pulse to his relentless pursuit of the Hulk, is a cornerstone of the narrative. His transformation into Red Hulk, a development hinted at in the comics, is a pivotal plot point.

The film explores Ross's evolution from a thunderous military man to an elder statesman seeking reconciliation with his daughter and cooperation with the Avengers. However, his transformation into Red Hulk suggests a complex internal conflict and a desperate attempt to protect his country, possibly involving a deal with The Leader and the acquisition of adamantium.

Where is the Hulk?

The absence of Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner is the only significant difference preventing Brave New World from being a direct sequel to The Incredible Hulk. While a cameo isn't ruled out, Banner's current involvement with his family of Hulks (including Jen Walters and Skaar) may explain his absence. His potential appearance might be reserved for a post-credits scene or a future film.

The film's title, Brave New World, reflects the introduction of adamantium and its geopolitical implications, adding another layer to the narrative. The film's central conflict revolves around a conspiracy involving a Hulked-out President, The Leader, and the race to control adamantium. Whether Captain America can overcome this threat remains to be seen.