A new MCU theory suggests that President Ross' dramatic transformation into the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World could be easily explained after the end of 2023 Secret Invasion. Red Hulk's debut in Captain America: Brave New World was confirmed in the first trailers for the 2025 film, marking a powerful introduction to the MCU for Harrison Ford, who succeeds the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross. Ross' means of evolving into the Red Hulk has been teased, but a new theory goes even deeper.
Thaddeus Ross first appeared in the MCU in 2008 The Incredible Hulkand made a series of small appearances in several subsequent projects. Captain America: Brave New World will mark his biggest change as he will not only become President of the United States but also become the villain Red Hulk. Ross will be one of several villains facing off against Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, and his connections to another powerful adversary have informed a huge theory that makes more sense. Secret Invasion controversial ending.
President Ross' Red Hulk Transformation Continues Secret Invasion's Biggest Theme
The Secret Invasion Had Huge Political Themes
According to a new theory shared by Reddit user Nid45h, Captain America: Brave New World is perfectly poised to continue the 2023 controversial themes of politics and paranoia Secret Invasion series. Secret Invasionof The slow pacing and failure to faithfully adapt the epic 2008 Marvel Comics event led to the series becoming one of Marvel's lowest-rated projects of all time. However, this theory suggests the end of Secret Invasion could be crucial for Captain America: Brave New World plot and the emergence of Red Hulk.
In Secret Invasion end, Dermot Mulroney President Ritson declared war on extraterrestrials living on Earth after making the existence of the Skrulls public. This culminated in society experiencing greater fear and paranoia towards high-profile figures, and even led to the assassination of some world leaders, including the British Prime Minister. THE Reddit The theory suggests that Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, aka Leader, could have exploited this paranoia to orchestrate the new US President's transformation into the Red Hulk.
Thaddeus Ross May Have Used Secret Invasion Failures to Win the Presidency
Thaddeus Ross succeeds Secret Invasion Ritson as President of the United States
Marvel Studios has confirmed several United States presidents in the history of the MCU, including Matthew Ellis, JFK and more recently, Secret Invasion Ritson. Ritson was apparently elected president after the Blip, and he apparently began working to bring order back to the United States, even hiring a former Avenger, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, onto his team. Ritson was an abject failure as president, however, and Captain America: Brave New World could reveal that Ross used Ritson's incompetence to assume the presidency.
During his time as President of the United States, Ritson failed to realize that his right-hand man was actually a shape-shifting Skrull who orchestrated global terror, remained oblivious to a growing Skrull rebellion for as long as possible, and nearly started World War III. , and declared that all extraterrestrials on Earth were hostile forces. Ritson will certainly go down in history as one of the most controversial presidents of all time, but his closing remarks in Secret Invasion must have had an impact. Global paranoia would have spread like wildfire, which Ross will have to deal with during his tenure as president.
Why Marvel shouldn't just ignore the end of Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion may have failed, but its ending was intriguing
Although Secret Invasion Perhaps unable to make its mark on the MCU in the way Marvel Studios wanted, the 2023 series finale was still extremely important and should have far-reaching repercussions for the MCU. The only way to give Secret Invasion any significance is to ensure the series has a lasting impactand continuing Ritson's war against Earth's aliens and delving into the themes of paranoia and fear towards high-ranking officials is the perfect way to do so. Captain America: Brave New World will take this even further, making the president himself turn into a super-powered villain.
Secret Invasion left many unexplored loose ends and unanswered questions, and just as Captain America: Brave New World will also address Eternals' Huge Celestial Mystery, Phase 5 Movie May Also Continue Secret Invasion plot. This could work to give the series more gravitas and weight, which might earn it some retrospective respect. Exploring these themes of paranoia in more depth is the perfect way to explain President Ross becoming the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New Worldand this would also make the Leader an even more sinister and intriguing villain.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026