Summary
- Fans have seen the Hulk gradually go from savage to peaceful, but the new monster, Red Hulk, could see him return to his powerful, terrifying self.
- Captain America: Brave New World may introduce Red Hulk to satisfy audiences’ nostalgia for the fierce, angry Hulk from earlier MCU movies.
- While Smart Hulk fans are divided over this, the potential introduction of Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World offers a promising and satisfying resolution.
The Hulk’s clumsy development in the Marvel Universe can be seen in 2025 Captain America: Brave New World. Audiences have watched the Hulk transform from “menacing green machine” to “suave strong man,” and the rampaging wrecking ball of the early MCU films has been replaced by the bespectacled, kindhearted Bruce Banner, who retains his immense strength and near-indestructibility but loses the rage that made the character so ferocious and compelling. Captain America: Brave New World With the possible introduction of Red Hulk, it’s ready to go.
In recent MCU entries, Banner is a gentle soul who can still throw a tank if need be. This is in keeping with the more civilized, intelligent Hulk depicted in the comics, but it also deprives some audiences of the “big, scary monster” aspect and the cathartic scene of watching the character “turn into the Hulk” before destroying everything in his way. However, if handled correctly, the narrative and use of the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World could resolve all issues in a way that satisfies everyone.
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Related: Captain America 4 Updates Mean the MCU Could Relive the Glory of Phase 1-2
Little is known about the storyline for the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, but the latest update hints at a return to the early days of the Marvel Universe.
The development of the intelligent Hulk in the Marvel Universe sparks controversy
While some interesting things were done with the character, the changes to him were almost too great
Due to copyright issues, Disney was unable to release a standalone Hulk movie, so Banner’s character development instead appeared in several other projects – most notably the Avengers films, Thor: Ragnarokand She-Hulk: LawyerGiven that, it makes sense that the details of Banner’s journey haven’t been brought to life on screen in the same way as other notable MCU heroes. However, Smart Hulk’s transformation still feels strange.
Learning how to coexist with his inner Hulk is the point of Banner’s MCU character journey, so having his final moment of integration into a stable hybrid of Hulk and Banner happen between movies feels like an anticlimactic choice that deprives the character of some kind of closure. Additionally, this abrupt shift makes the Hulk’s final appearance a disappointment – after being awkwardly beaten by Thanos in early hand-to-hand combat. Avengers: Infinity WarWhile it might be difficult to undo that choice now, the new character could fill the void left by the original Hulk’s absence.
Captain America: Brave New World May Introduce a New Giant-Sized Hulk
Red Hulk might satisfy people’s desire for an angrier, scarier beast with evil origins
In the comics, Red Hulk doesn’t usually go completely haywire, but he doesn’t have the tragic origins that Banner does. Thunderbolt Ross wasn’t an accidental victim, but was given the ability to transform into Red Hulk by AIM and the Intelligence so that he could fight the Hulk. The character is inherently villainous, so while Smart Hulk can still keep his gentle side, Red Hulk can fill the “huge, scary brawler” niche. Smart Hulk is now a more heroic character, so his aggressive opponents can be even more terrifying.
AIM was published on
Iron Man 3
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She-Hulk: Lawyer
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In all of the MCU movies the character has appeared in, Ross has shown a willingness to go against the Hulk or members of the Avengers, so the concept of him being on the more hostile side is already established and sets the stage for him to take the next step. Captain America: Brave New Worldhe may be manipulated by the new villain leader and become a pawn to cause destruction.
It’s not too late for Banner’s Hulk to be redeemed
The chances of the rampaging green behemoth making a comeback are slim, but not zero.
While Banner is now the Smart Hulk, there’s still time for him to eventually return and possibly redeem the original terrifying version, as in 2008’s underrated The Incredible HulkIf Banner is calmer now, events in the MCU (such as the injury to Betty Ross) could cause him to snap. This development would entirely depend on whether Mark Ruffalo would be interested in continuing to play the character, but there is plenty of source material in the comics for the MCU to use for such a dramatic return.
Rumor has long been World War Hulk The film could provide a perfect backdrop for the Hulk’s return, and rumors continue to swirl as to whether or not the film will be adapted into a larger crossover project or future Avengers event. However, things became more complicated when Mark Ruffalo recently clarified that Kevin Feige told him that the Hulk solo project would not happen. While the prospects of a standalone film seem slim, anything is possible in the Marvel Universe, so the terrifying Hulk could still make an appearance.
Some storylines have been uneven in the MCU, but a new Hulk that represents a terrifying monster might be exactly what audiences are waiting for, and it doesn’t need to overturn all of Banner’s character development so far. But the Red Hulk represents a great opportunity to bring a monster into the MCU in the near future. Captain America: Brave New World would introduce some new elements to the MCU’s cinematic canon, and if Red Hulk is used correctly, it could make for some spectacular confrontations that would satisfy any craving for Hulk havoc.
