Captain America: Brave New World Fails to Launch Hulk’s Epic Comeback!

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Summary

  • Anthony Mackie steps up as Captain America in Brave New World, shifting focus from Chris Evans’s Steve Rogers.
  • Brave New World introduces Hulk elements, but falls short of a complete Hulk story like World War Hulk.
  • World War Hulk movie is teased, with fans hoping for redemption of Hulk’s character and a return to Sakaar.

HEADS UP! Major plot reveals are coming for Captain America: Boldly Into Tomorrow. For the first time, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will be center stage in his very own movie titled Captain America: Boldly Into Tomorrow, as he takes over the role of the star-studded hero from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers in this new chapter. This marks a significant shift in the Captain America series with Captain America: Boldly Into Tomorrow.

In contrast to the upcoming film “Thunderbolts,” which seems like a fusion of characters similar to Captain America and Black Widow, “Brave New World” can be described as Captain America merging with The Incredible Hulk. Although Louis Leterrier’s “The Incredible Hulk” holds the distinction of being the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is frequently overlooked and considered a less prominent member of the family. Unfortunately, plans for a sequel did not materialize, but for now, “Brave New World” serves as an alternative to what would have been “The Incredible Hulk 2.”

Captain America: Brave New World Is Missing Amadeus Cho

Although the promotional material for “Brave New World” had given away the revelation that Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross would eventually transform into Red Hulk, this wasn’t entirely unexpected for those well-versed in comics. Additionally, Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, who was teased as a villain at the end of “The Incredible Hulk”, finally gets to assume the role of the Leader. However, the main focus is on this being a Captain America film, with only a brief appearance from Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross towards the end and some previously-shot footage of Hulk and Abomination wrecking havoc in Harlem.

In the vast landscape of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Brave New World” is more of a miniature Hulk tale rather than a full-blown saga, as there’s no appearance from the iconic figures like Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk or Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Even though the pieces are intriguingly set for a Gamma-infused cast to intertwine, “Brave New World” chooses to maintain a more independent narrative, neither bringing these characters together nor hinting at future collaborations. Emil Blonsky/Abomination, portrayed by Tim Roth, is presumably still in hiding with Benedict Wong’s Wong at Kamar-Taj, adding another layer of anticipation for potential Gamma-powered encounters down the line.

It’s been reported that, much like how the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced new characters to replace some legacy heroes such as Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, and even Anthony Mackie’s Falcon (who took over from Evans’ Captain America), there’s speculation about who might step into Mark Ruffalo’s shoes as the Hulk in future projects. However, unlike these characters who are currently absent from the storyline, Bruce Banner is still crucial and expected to be a key figure in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Secret Wars.” Nevertheless, there’s confusion about where Amadeus Cho stands within this narrative.

If the name Amadeus Cho seems familiar to you, it’s likely due to Spider-Man (the friend next door) having recently introduced him in a cartoon set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s orbit. Beyond discussing potential roles for Cho in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”, several reports indicate that he was eliminated from its broadcast. Additionally, it is said that Seth Rollins’ character and Rosa Salazar’s were also dropped during post-production, known as the cutting room floor. There’s currently no information on how Cho might have fit into the storyline, but considering his intellect, it’s plausible he revealed that Dr. Sterns had been administering Gamma radiation to President Ross to William Mark McCullough’s character, Dennis Dunphy. Furthermore, there were many stories circulating about Logan Kim getting cast and then being let go during test screenings for “Ghostbusters”.

Amadeus Cho, also known as “The Totally Awesome Hulk”, made his debut in Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15 back in 2005. He acquired his Hulk-like powers after absorbing gamma radiation to prevent a nuclear disaster, unlike Bruce Banner who viewed his alter ego as a burden. Instead, Cho embraced his Hulk persona as a gift. However, he was once overpowered by his other self and became known as Brawn when he regained control. With an intelligence that ranks him among the top 7 smartest individuals in the Marvel Universe (though it’s seen as something of a jest), Cho’s intellect is only surpassed by the likes of Reed Richards and Hank Pym. In the World War Hulk miniseries, Cho played a significant role. Including him in Brave New World would have subtly hinted at that saga.

It’s Time For A World War Hulk Movie

Despite skepticism about restoring the MCU’s portrayal of The Incredible Hulu, a long-speculated World War Hulk film might help rectify this. Certain aspects seem to have been prefigured when an armored Hulk emerged in Thor: Ragnarok, referencing the Planet Hulk comic, but for fans seeking a true sequel to The Incredible Hulk, World War Hulk could be the answer. Besides granting Ruffalo his long-overdue solo film, it would consolidate the disparate Hulk storylines across the franchise and introduce new characters as well.

Beyond mere hope that Sakaar will be revisited for an authentic portrayal of the 2007 comic miniseries, there’s been lots of discussion about George Miller directing a World War Hulk film in the MCU. The MCU is known for its adaptations that stray from the source material, and instead of the death of Hulk’s wife causing his World Breaker persona, the death of his son, who was introduced in She-Hulk, might be the trigger. Also notable is that Amadeus partners with Hercules in World War Hulk, which could tie back to Thor: Love and Thunder’s teaser of Brett Goldstein’s Olympian character. Regrettably, the absence of Cho and a lack of Ruffalo in Brave New World appears to move the MCU one step away from producing a World War Hulk film.

Since Universal retains the rights to the Hulk, a standalone movie featuring the character may not materialize in its entirety. However, this could be beneficial for “World War Hulk,” given its ensemble nature. The comic series unfolds after the Illuminati exile the Hulk to planet Sakaar, and with the introduction of the Illuminati already hinted at (and swiftly eliminated) in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” it’s clear that some universes contain this group. Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk, has fueled speculation about a potential “World War Hulk” storyline in “She-Hulk” by making such comments to Variety.

I believe the journey to Sakaar serves as an excellent starting point for fulfilling what fans have been requesting, specifically the concept of Planet Hulk or World War Hulk. This storyline about Banner and Hulk’s journey towards reconciliation is intriguing to me. I sense there’s a desire to delve deeper into this narrative in the future.

Other people have proposed Miller as the ideal choice for an Immortal Hulk adaptation, and he’s also been mooted to succeed Taika Waititi on Thor 5. Miller is familiar with grand-scale action sequences, and bringing him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a project like World War Hulk could make up for the disappointment of his unfinished Justice League: Mortal vision. It appears that something significant will happen soon regarding the Incredible Hulk and his expanding family, and some believe that a live-action adaptation of the 2010 comic, World War Hulks, is in the works. Regardless, the Green Goliath is long overdue for his moment to shine and an opportunity to demonstrate the true potential of Hulk within the MCU.

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2025-02-17 23:27