Red Hulk is finally joining the UCM in Captain America: Brave New Worldthe culmination of Thaddeus Ross's journey over the years. Captain America: Brave New World will be released on February 14, 2025 and features Sam Wilson taking on the role of Captain America in a film following the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Continuing the tradition of Captain America, Captain America: Brave New World appears to be a political thriller, introducing new villains to the MCU, including the Red Hulk.
Although Thaddeus Ross will now be played by Harrison Ford, the film will continue the character's journey, which began in The Incredible Hulk. MCU fans have been waiting for the Red Hulk to appear for some time now, and after years of anticipation, those hopes will finally come true, adding another incredibly powerful character to the universe's roster. Before Captain America: Brave New World is released, it's worth going back to Thaddeus Ross' journey in the MCU and seeing how it all led to him becoming the Red Hulk.
General Ross' Secret Super Soldier Mission
The Incredible Hulk
Long before its appearance in Captain America: Brave New World, Thaddeus Ross was an antagonist in The Incredible Hulk in 2008. It was only the second film in the burgeoning Marvel Cinematic Universe and the end credits scene promised a bright future for the franchise as Tony Stark meets Ross, hinting at the eventual formation of the Avengers.
Before becoming President of the United States, Lieutenant General Ross was put in charge of Project Gamma Pulsewhich attempted to recreate the Super Soldier Serum that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America. During the research, Bruce Banner – the boyfriend of Ross's daughter, Betty Ross – was exposed to gamma radiation and transformed into one of the most powerful and tragic characters in the MCU, the Hulk.
Eventually, Blonsky wanted more, becoming an Abomination in the process.
Ross's work trying to create the serum didn't stop thereas he eventually injected Emil Blonsky with a low dose of serum to make him stronger and more capable in combat. It worked well, but eventually Blonsky wanted more, becoming Abomination in the process. Thaddeus Ross became the Red Hulk in Marvel Comics by being exposed to gamma radiation combined with the serum, meaning the basis for him becoming the Red Hulk in the MCU was there from his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk.
Thunderbolt Ross vs. Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
After Bruce Banner initially transformed into the Hulk, he went berserk, breaking Ross' arm and nearly killing Betty Ross during the attack. Banner fled the attack and began a life on the run. Thaddeus Ross felt guilty about what happened to his daughter, developing a hatred for Banner and Hulk which led Ross to focus completely on hunting and capturing Bruce Banner. After an incident at a factory in Brazil, Thaddeus Ross discovered that Banner was likely there, giving him the first clue as to Bruce's whereabouts in years.
This is essentially the beginning and preparation for The Incredible Hulkwhich shows Thaddeus Ross trying to capture Bruce Banner. After learning that Banner is in Brazil, Ross leads a team to capture Bruce, which obviously goes horribly wrong, allowing Banner to escape once again. It's here that Emil Blonsky is initially injected with serum, and they discover that Bruce is now in Virginia after reconnecting with Betty Ross.
Bruce Banner is confronted by Ross and the military when a fight breaks out. With Betty there, things get complicated and the fight with Banner ends with him running away once again. They track Banner once again and this time tranquilize him before he is able to transform into the Hulk. Ross finally manages to capture him, but Blonsky eventually transforms into Abomination, which leads Ross to allow Hulk to try to stop Blonsky's rampage. After Hulk defeats him, Ross lets Banner go, as he owes a debt to Hulk for saving their lives.
Ross reappears as an enemy of the Avengers
Captain America: Civil War
Despite being a significant part of the beginning of the MCU, Thaddeus Ross only returned 8 years later in Captain America: Civil War. In the time since The Incredible HulkRoss became the Secretary of State. He then sets his sights on something much bigger than just the Hulk. In the film, Ross wants the Avengers to sign the Sokovia Accordswhich would give the United Nations control over the team's operations, rather than acting as a private entity.
This causes a feud between the members of the Avengers, ideologically led by Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Filled with guilt for the deaths of civilians after the Avengers: Age of Ultron, Stark wants the Avengers to sign the agreements, while Steve Rogers is tired of signing them, given what happened with S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA's infiltration of the country. Captain America: The Winter Soldierpitting him against the idea of the Avengers being controlled by people with agendas.
After a series of events that put Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes on the run, Thaddeus Ross gives Tony Stark 72 hours to find and capture them. After the climactic final fight between Iron Man and Captain America, Ross arrests several Avengers from Captain America's teamincluding Hawkeye, Falcon and Ant-Man. He sends them to the Jangada, which is a highly secure prison submerged in the ocean.
Hunting Black Widow
Black Widow
Following Captain America: Civil War, Ross believes Natasha Romanoff violated the Sokovia Accords after attacking King T'Challa to help Steve Rogers and Bucky escape being captured by Tony. This leads Ross to launch an operation to find and arrest her, which happens during the events of Black Widow.
Despite being led astray by Black Widow several times in their attempts to find her, they eventually do so when her tracker turns on again. Ross's team finds her in the middle of a field where she landed after destroying the Red Room. Instead of capturing her, Natasha manages to escape, avoiding capture and further sabotaging Ross' overall plans.
The Avengers Turn on Ross
Avengers: Infinity War
During the end credits of Captain America: Civil War, Steve Rogers appears on the Raft, helping the captured Avengers escape. Instead of being fugitives, Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and Scott Lang (Ant-Man) make deals with Ross to be placed under house arrest. Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson and Natasha Romanoff continue to escape, while Wanda and Vision go out on their own. The Avengers as a whole no longer exist, but some remain under Ross's supervision with the Sokovia Accords and others are operating on their own.
In Avengers: Infinity WarJames Rhodes is having a meeting with Ross and the United Nations regarding the location of the missing Avengers, where Ross is adamant about trying to find them. Steve, Natasha, Sam, Wanda and Vision appear at the Avengers facility, but since Ross is just a hologram talking to Rhodey, he personally cannot arrest them.
After a brief conversation with Steve Rogers, who claims they are there to help, Thaddeus Ross orders Rhodey to arrest them, which he refuses to do. Because of this, Ross orders a court-martial for Rhodey. He doesn't seem to care much, happy to see Cap and the rest of the Avengers who disobey Ross in an attempt to protect Earth from Thanos' invasion.
Thunderbolt Ross becomes the president
Captain America: Brave New World
After the death of William Hurt, Harrison Ford took over the role of Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Brave New World. The film is set to be released on February 14, 2025, so the full extent of Ross' story is still up in the air, but the Captain America: Brave New World trailer shows that he became president of the United States since Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The last interaction Thaddeus Ross had with Captain America was during Avengers: Infinity War, where Steve Rogers encouraged him to accept their help. Instead, he wanted them arrested. Now, Steve Rogers has retired as Captain America and passed the mantle to Sam Wilson. With Sam Wilson taking over as Captain, it seems President Ross wants to capitalize on that, talking to him about making Captain America an official military position.
Red Hulk Resurfaces
Captain America: Brave New World
The trailer for Captain America: Brave New World also confirms that President Ross will at some point transform into the Red Hulk. The exact reasons for the transformation are unknown at this time, but threads that began way back The Incredible Hulk with Ross's Super Soldier Serum program are finally coming full circle a decade and a half later.
A possible explanation for President Ross transforming into the Red Hulk appears to be shown in the film's trailer, which features Isaiah Bradley - another super soldier, who was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - apparently trying to murder Ross. If President Ross is seriously injured by this attempt, taking the serum could be a way to save his life, transforming him into a different kind of monster.
Of course, Thaddeus Ross wasn't always a paragon of morality across the world. Marvel Cinematic Universerepeatedly showing his disdain for the superpowered heroes around him. He could just want the power that a character like Bruce Banner has, tempting him to take the serum and become Red Hulk. When Captain America: Brave New World releases, these questions should be answered, helping to make this part of Thaddeus Ross' story a little clearer while also paving the way for his future.
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- Release date
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February 14, 2025
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- Release date
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July 25, 2025
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- Release date
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July 24, 2026