Captain America: New World Order is set to reintroduce General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leading many to predict that the character will finally be shown in his Red Hulk form. With Harrison Ford taking over the role of General Ross following William Hurt's death in 2022, it seems as though Marvel Studios still has major plans for the character in Phase 5. However, despite the fact that the Red Hulk has never appeared in live-action before, it is possible that Ross has already undergone his transformation off-screen and will already be active in his new antihero role by the time of New World Order.
General Ross made his first appearance in one of the earliest movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, 2008's The Incredible Hulk. While most of the characters and plotlines from this film remained dormant in the MCU for many years after its release, Ross's return in Captain America: Civil War changed this trend. Now, Phases 4 and 5 are endeavoring to follow through on The Incredible Hulk's various unfulfilled teases, with Ross at the very forefront of the MCU's renewed interest in the Hulk's mythos. With a confirmed role in New World Order as well as a rumored appearance in Marvel's Thunderbolts, Ross's Red Hulk transformation is inevitable.
General Ross' Civil War & Endgame Roles Hint He Has Already Become Red Hulk
Chronologically, General Ross's most recent MCU appearance came at the end of Avengers: Endgame, which secretly teased the Red Hulk. Prior to Endgame, Ross revealed during Civil War that he had undergone major health issues as a result of a heart attack several years prior, requiring a triple by surgery to survive. While he seemed in good health while dealing with the Avengers, Black Widow revealed that Ross had undergone another triple by operation shortly after the events of Civil War, indicating that Ross's health situation was far worse than it had originally seemed. His miraculous recovery may be tied to something superhuman.
Despite his pressing health concerns in 2016, Ross appears to be in perfectly good health seven years later in Endgame, hinting at Red Hulk's secret origin. Ross's sudden and seemingly complete recovery is suspicious, to say the least, especially in a world that runs rampant with mad science and super soldier serums. Especially for a man as ego-driven as Ross, it wouldn't be impossible to suggest that he had taken extreme measures to preserve his life between his appearances in Civil War and Endgame. The MCU's version of Red Hulk may have already begun to form inside Ross, manifesting as a result of his desperation to amend his failing health.
Red Hulk's MCU Debut Is Inevitable (But When Will It Happen?)
After William Hurt's death last year, it seemed as though Ross's alter-ego would never make his MCU debut. However, Harrison Ford's casting essentially confirms Red Hulk for the MCU, as Marvel likely wouldn't have recast the character if they didn't have major plans for his future. While Ross's appearance in New World Order seems like a very likely place to include the Red Hulk, the Leader is already confirmed as the main antagonist for the film. The Leader's presence leaves the film with little room to deal with the problematic Red Hulk outside of a potential tease in a post-credit scene.
The next film on Marvel's slate after New World Order might pose a better possibility for Red Hulk's debut. Thunderbolts is a team with which General Ross is often associated, with the character even leading certain iterations of the group in the comics. While Ford has not yet been confirmed to appear in the film, Thunderbolts is likely to complete Red Hulk's transformation, adding to the MCU's growing list of Hulks. Even if Marvel forces its audience to wait until Thunderbolts hits theaters to see the Red Hulk in live-action, viewers can rest assured that Captain America: New World Order will at least tease the new Hulk's arrival.
