The trailer drop for Captain America: Brave New World brought on a new Captain America, a new President of the United States, a new actor behind a very familiar character, as well as the smackdown we all felt when the Red Hulk grabbed Cap’s shield with ease, and embedded it into the ground!
Wait, why is the Hulk red when he’s always been green (or grey)? And why is Harrison Ford both the President and Thaddeus Ross? And is that the Mandalorian hunter Giancarlo Esposito?
From mysterious characters to intriguing plot twists, here are the top eight questions we have after watching the latest trailer for the fourth film in the franchise, and the first led by Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal, 8 Mile) as Sam Wilson aka Captain America, and not Chris Evans (The Avengers, Knives Out) as Steve Rogers.
1. Who is the Red Hulk and is he Bruce Banner?
One of the biggest surprises and questions from the trailer is the appearance and identity of the Red Hulk. Is Red Hulk just Green Hulk having a bad day? In the comics, the Red Hulk, or Rulk aka The IncREDible Hulk is another gamma-irradiated beast but this one retains the knowledge and skills of his human persona, so this Hulk smashes with tactical precision! Sadly, Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers, Spotlight), who plays Bruce Banner, is not in this film so there won’t be a Green versus Red battle but the bigger question is, who is the Red Hulk?
In the comics, Red Hulk’s debut in 2008’s Hulk (Vol 2) #1 kept his identity a secret until 2010, when he was revealed to be General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who was played by the late William Hurt (Body Heat, Syriana) in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Yes, that President Ross in the trailer is now played by acting legend Harrison Ford (Air Force One, Star Wars). However, it remains to be seen if Marvel will stick with comic book lore for the movie, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been known to deviate from the source material, and everything regarding the live-action Red Hulk is pure speculation at this point.
After all, Ross never became the President in the comic books.
2. Who is Giancarlo Esposito playing?
The trailer gave us a glimpse of Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian), Hollywood’s go-to actor for villainous roles these days but his character remains a mystery. Given his history of portraying complex and nuanced villains, it’s safe to assume he’ll be a formidable antagonist.
But who exactly is he playing? Some say he’s playing former S.H.I.E.L.D agent George Washington Bridge though the actor has claimed that no one has guessed it yet, so that’s a question we can’t wait to have answered.
3. Where’s Bucky aka The Winter Soldier?
Bad news Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Devil All the Time) stans – Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, is notably absent from the trailer and that is because Captain America’s longtime partner is not in this movie, even though we last saw the duo partnering up in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). Instead, we see Sam Wilson team up with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez, Top Gun Maverick, No Exit), who has taken on the mantle of Falcon. If you’re completely lost as to why this has happened, you may want to check out the aforementioned Disney+ series.
4. Is that Isaiah Bradley trying to assassinate the President?
Yes, that’s Carl Lumbly (Alias, The Fall of the House of Usher) reprising his role as Isaiah Bradley from the mentioned Disney+ series. Isaiah was last seen in the series where he was revealed to have been a Korean War veteran who was unwillingly subjected to human testing of a version of the Super Soldier Serum in the 1950s.
As a survivor of the testing, he was sent to go after the Winter Soldier in South Korea but failed, and he spent the next thirty years incarcerated after the United States military feared the revelation of an African American super soldier. He was finally released and his reputation returned by Sam Wilson, so it’s not surprising to see him at the White House, which leads to the next question…
5. Why is Isaiah Bradley trying to kill President Ross?
The trailer shows Isaiah Bradley in action, attempting to assassinate the President. During his incarceration, Bradley was further experimented on by the U.S. government and HYDRA, which means some level of mind control isn’t out of the question. But is he a sleeper agent or was he brainwashed like the Winter Soldier? What possessed him to do such a thing? His motivations remain unclear, adding a layer of intrigue to the plot.
6. Will Sam Wilson get the Super Soldier Serum?
He’s fought aliens, super-powered villains and evil robots, but he’s also human and if he’s Captain America, then shouldn’t Sam Wilson receive the same Super Soldier Serum that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America?
But Wilson’s appeal as Captain America lies in his humanity and not having any superpowers is what makes his character so relatable. While there’s no indication he’ll receive the Super Soldier Serum, we do recommend that he relook at getting a helmet (See bonus question) while in costume.
7. Wait, isn’t Liv Tyler returning as Betty Ross? Why isn’t she in the trailer?
Yes, Liv Tyler (The Lord of the Rings, Armageddon) is back as Betty Ross, reprising her role in The Incredible Hulk (2008) as the cellular biologist and estranged daughter of Thunderbolt Ross. This reunion with the First Daughter adds another layer of complexity to the story, especially with the introduction of Red Hulk.
Why don’t we see her yet? Well, it links back to her father and why he may not be revealed as Red Hulk in the MCU. For one thing, few expect Ford to sign up for multiple movies which means making him the Red Hulk will limit the character’s live-action appearance. However, in the comics, there is a Red She-Hulk who happens to be Betty Ross, so what if her appearance has ties to the Red Hulk here?
8. Who is Samuel Sterns?
The trailer also revealed the return of Samuel Sterns, played by Tim Blake Nelson (Leaves of Grass, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), who we last saw in The Incredible Hulk. Sterns was exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood, beginning his transformation into the Leader, one of Hulk’s most intelligent and dangerous foes. His return is bound to have significant implications for the film’s plot. How does he factor into the Red Hulk mystery?
Bonus question: Where’s your helmet, Sam?
The biggest question on everyone’s mind: why did Steve Rogers wear a helmet when he had the Super Soldier Serum, which makes him nearly invincible, but Sam Wilson, who’s basically a regular human, doesn’t need to wear one? When you consider that he’s zooming around in the sky all the time, wouldn’t a helmet be a good and logical tool to have? Come on Marvel, safety first!
The latest trailer for Captain America: Brave New World has certainly piqued our curiosity and left us with many questions and not that many answers. With a blend of returning characters, new alliances, and mysterious villains, this film is shaping to be an exciting addition to the MCU.
When Marcus is not trying to full combo a song on his favourite rhythm games, he’s either reading or watching some obscure Japanese mystery show/novel. Don’t ask him how much his Arkham Horror collection costs either, it’s his most closely guarded secret.
Natalie
