Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.
Phase 5’sCaptain America: Brave New Worldhad the best opportunity to set up aWorld War Hulkadaptation for theMCU, but Marvel Studios wasted this perfect chance. In recent years, there has been speculation that Marvel Studios has been setting up alive-action version of 2007’sWorld War Hulkevent, which explored the Hulk’s vendetta against Earth’s heroes in Marvel Comics. Bruce Banner has been central to the MCU since his debut in 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk, and his impact has most recently been felt, despite his absence, inCaptain America: Brave New World.
Captain America: Brave New Worldtook it upon itself to resolve many loose ends fromThe Incredible Hulk, even though the Phase 4 movie didn’t feature an appearance byMark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Thaddeus Ross, his estranged daughter Betty, and Samuel Sterns all returned inBrave New World, and the movie even marked the debut of a brand-new Hulk in the MCU. This meansBrave New Worldwas perfectly primed to set up a variation of theWorld War Hulkstoryline, but Marvel’s plans for this highly-anticipated live-action adaptation haven’t yet become clear.
It’s Hard To Imagine Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner In The World War Hulk Storyline
Bruce Banner’s Hulk Has Been In The MCU Since The Start
Marvel Comics’World War Hulkkicked off after theevents of thePlanet Hulkstoryline, which saw the Illuminati declare the Hulk too dangerous to remain on Earth, and therefore exile him into outer space. He crashes on Sakaar, allies with the Warbound and marries the alien Caiera, who is killed when the Illuminati ship explodes.Banner blames the Illuminati for his wife’s demise, and so leads the Warbound back to Earth to wreak vengeance on them, battling many different groups in one of Marvel’s most violent and popular storylines.
The MCU Can Still Do World War Hulk Even Without A Solo Hulk Movie
Mark Ruffalo has noted that he may never get a solo MCU film as Bruce Banner’s Hulk, but that doesn’t mean his most iconic story will be forgotten.
While many would love to seeWorld War Hulkbrought into live-action, it’s hard to imagine Mark Ruffalo’s mild-mannered and well-tempered Bruce Banner embarking on this destructive storyline.Bruce Banner has been through some huge changes since Edward Norton debuted as the MCU hero inThe Incredible Hulk, culminating in him becomingSmart Hulk, a combination of the human and Hulkpersonas. This version is unlikely to turn savage again, meaning Marvel Studios might be pushed to find an alternative for theWorld War Hulkstory.
Captain America: Brave New World’s Red Hulk Would Have Been The Perfect World War Hulk Villain
Red Hulk Could Have Replaced Bruce Banner In A World War Hulk Storyline
While it’s difficult to picture Bruce Banner involved in aWorld War Hulkadaptation in the MCU,Captain America: Brave New Worldintroduced another Hulk to the MCU who would be perfect as the focus of this narrative.Harrison Ford assumed the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Rossfrom the late William Hurt inBrave New World, andthe Phase 5 movie saw him transform into the Red Hulk, following in the footsteps of his Marvel Comics counterpart. Unlike Smart Hulk, Thaddeus Ross' Red Hulk is angry, very angry, so he could easily be central toWorld War Hulk.
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TheRed Hulk’s emergence inCaptain America: Brave New Worldwas a huge shock to the world, particularly since Ross had been elected as the President of the United States. TheRed Hulk caused a huge amount of damage inBrave New World, including destroying the White House and Haynes Point Park, so it would make sense for a team such as the Illuminati to choose to exile him. This would have perfectly set upWorld War Hulkin the MCU, while avoiding rights issues by focusing on Bruce Banner’s Hulk, but this opportunity was missed.
Marvel Failed To Set Up World War Hulk In Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World Missed Its Best Shot At Setting Up World War Hulk
There has recently been speculation that a version of the Illuminati team was set to be directly mentioned or teased inCaptain America: Brave New World’spost-credits scene. This means the ambiguous post-credits scene could have originally seen the Illuminati discuss exiling Thaddeus Ross off-world, which would have been easy considering his incarceration in the Raft.Due to his sheer rage, tactical mind and destructive personality, the Red Hulk would have been the perfect subject of aWorld War Hulk adaptation, but this didn’t come to fruition.
Instead of releasing an even more dangerous Hulk on the MCU,Captain America: Brave New Worldends with Thaddeus Ross being imprisonedand voluntarily relinquishing the presidency. It was quite surprising to have the villainous Red Hulk redeemed only moments after his debut in the MCU, as he could have gone on to become a formidable threat to many heroes, or eveneveryhero in aWorld War Hulkadaptation. Marvel really missed a trick here, as theRed Hulk is Bruce Banner’s best replacement, andBrave New Worldcould have made the MCU’sWorld War Hulk plans much clearer.
Marvel’s World War Hulk Plans Still Haven’t Become Clear
World War Hulk Has Been Teased But Not Officially Announced By Marvel Studios
Several aspects of theWorld War Hulkstoryline have already been teasedin the MCU, which has spurred theories and speculation about the event being brought into live-action.We saw a glimpse of the destructive potential of Bruce Banner’s Hulk a decade ago, as he embarked on an unhinged rampage through the streets of Johannesburgunder the influence of the Scarlet Witch. It was 2017’sThor: Ragnarokthat introduced Sakaar and saw the Hulk in self-exile, and, since then, Marvel has teasedWorld War Hulkmany more times, but hasn’t officially announced the story’s adaptation.
World War Hulk Is Better If It Comes After Secret Wars
World War Hulk may finally be coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this storyline works much better outside of the Multiverse Saga.
2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessintroduced a version of the Illuminati, albeit from another universe, and may have set up the team’s formation in the MCU’s main continuity.She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawthen made the Hulk’s time on Sakaar more important by debutingSkaar, the Hulk’s son, possibly with Caiera as his mother.Captain America: Brave New Worldhad the perfect opportunity to pay off these teases and finally lay strong foundations forWorld War Hulk, butthere has been no word from Marvel Studios on whether bringing this story to the MCU is actually the plan.
