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, the film significantly expands on plot threads 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 histories and how Brave New World weaves them into a narrative that feels like a direct 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, whose transformation into The Leader is finally realized in Brave New World. Initially an ally to Bruce Banner, Sterns' overzealous experimentation with Banner's blood leads to his own gamma-powered evolution. This transformation, hinted at in the first film, is now central to the plot. The Leader's whereabouts between films are explained in the MCU-canon comic The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week, detailing his capture by Black Widow and subsequent escape. His involvement in Ross' transformation into Red Hulk, and his potential interest in adamantium, are key elements of the film's storyline.
Liv Tyler's Betty Ross
Liv Tyler's return as Betty Ross marks another significant link to The Incredible Hulk. Their past relationship, Betty's involvement in Project Gamma Pulse, and her complicated relationship with her father are all relevant to Brave New World. Betty's absence from the MCU since The Incredible Hulk (except for a brief mention in Avengers: Infinity War) adds intrigue to her role in this new film. Her expertise in gamma radiation and the possibility of her becoming Red She-Hulk are potential plot points.
Harrison Ford's President Ross/Red Hulk
Harrison Ford's portrayal of President Ross is the most obvious connection to The Incredible Hulk. Ross's history of antagonism towards Bruce Banner, his role in creating the Abomination, and his eventual transformation into Red Hulk are all central to the Brave New World narrative. The film explores Ross's evolution from a hardened military man to a more nuanced political figure, grappling with his past actions and attempting to reconcile with his daughter.
The introduction of adamantium and its geopolitical implications further enrich the storyline, creating a complex web of conflict involving Ross, The Leader, and Captain America. Director Julius Onah highlights Ross's transformation and the introduction of adamantium as key elements shaping the "Brave New World" setting.
The Absence of the Hulk
The only significant difference between Brave New World and a direct Incredible Hulk sequel is the absence of Bruce Banner/Hulk. While Mark Ruffalo's Hulk isn't prominently featured, his absence is explained by his current responsibilities, including his family of Hulks (Jen Walters and Skaar). This absence, however, doesn't diminish the film's strong ties to its predecessor.
The film's central conflict, involving a Hulked-out President Ross, The Leader, and the introduction of adamantium, firmly establishes Captain America: Brave New World as a continuation of the story begun in The Incredible Hulk, albeit without the Hulk himself playing a major role.
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