‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Director Confirms a Hulk Appearance Was Considered
Big news dropped recently about ‘Captain America: Brave New World,’ the latest Marvel flick that hit theaters on February 14, 2025. Director Julius Onah shared some juicy behind-the-scenes details, letting us in on a choice that could’ve shaken up the movie. Turns out, they seriously thought about bringing the Hulk into the mix.
This fourth Captain America film stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, stepping up as the new Cap after taking the shield from Steve Rogers in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ The story throws Sam into a wild international mess, facing off against Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, who’s now the U.S. President—and yes, he turns into the Red Hulk. With Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, and a political thriller vibe, the movie’s already packed with action and tension.
So why even consider the Hulk? Well, the film ties back to 2008’s ‘The Incredible Hulk’ in a big way. We’ve got Tim Blake Nelson returning as Samuel Sterns, aka the Leader, and Liv Tyler back as Betty Ross, both from that earlier movie. With Ross transforming into Red Hulk, it felt like a natural spot for Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner to show up. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see two Hulks slugging it out on screen?
But here’s the twist—Onah decided against it. He told The Playlist that while the idea came up, they scrapped it to keep the spotlight on Sam. This is his first solo outing as Captain America, and they didn’t want anyone, even a fan-favorite like Hulk, stealing his thunder. Onah felt Sam’s journey—figuring out how to lead and tackle huge threats with just his wits and a Vibranium suit—needed to stand alone.
Hulk’s absence makes sense when you think about the movie’s focus. It’s less about flashy superhero brawls and more about Sam proving himself. Ross, played by Ford after William Hurt’s passing in 2022, is wrestling with his own demons, trying to move past his old grudges against the Avengers. Adding Hulk could’ve turned it into a green-and-red monster mash, pulling attention away from that personal struggle.
Still, it’s fun to imagine what might’ve been. Ruffalo’s Hulk has been a key player in the MCU, popping up in ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ and even ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ where we last saw him with his son, Skaar. A cameo here could’ve tied up some loose ends, especially with all these ‘Incredible Hulk’ characters running around. But Marvel stuck to their guns, keeping Sam front and center.
The movie’s cast is already stacked—Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, and Giancarlo Esposito in a mystery role add plenty of flavor. Filming kicked off in 2023, with reshoots wrapping up late in 2024, showing how much work went into getting this right. And with a release date of Valentine’s Day 2025, it’s clear they wanted a tight, focused story.
I can’t help but wonder how Hulk would’ve fit in. Maybe a quick team-up with Sam against Red Hulk? Or a nod to his history with Ross? We’ll never know, but Onah’s call keeps ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ as Sam Wilson’s moment to shine.