How MCU Phase 4 Can Set Up Red Hulk

How MCU Phase 4 Can Set Up Red Hulk

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Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) could become Red Hulk in the MCU in the near future. Here’s how Phase 4 can set up this transformation.

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How MCU Phase 4 Can Set Up Red Hulk

Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can set up Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (William Hurt) transforming into Red Hulk, and here’s how Marvel Studios might do it. Thanks to the interconnected nature of the MCU films, there are no characters or movies that can ever truly be forgotten. For years The Incredible Hulk gained a reputation of being unnecessary viewing for new fans since Mark Ruffalo replaced Edward Norton as Bruce Banner aka Hulk and no other major connections were made to it.

This began to change in 2016 with the release of Captain America: Civil War, which featured the return of Ross as the new Secretary of State. He played a pivotal part in the film through the introduction of the Sokovia Accords and the splintering of the Avengers. Even though the Sokovia Accords weren’t discussed much after this film, Ross returned for small roles in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. His renewed role in the MCU has since left fans wondering if Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige could be building towards Ross making a superpowered turn and becoming Red Hulk. In the comics, Ross transforms into Red Hulk after undergoing an experiment that exposed him to the siphoned gamma powers of Banner.

No one involved with Marvel has yet to confirm that this is their intention, but their plans for Phase 4 and Ross are starting to add more fuel to these theories. Through additional appearances by William Hurt and how the MCU is expanding the “Hulk universe” after Smart Hulk fried his arm saving the universe, here’s how Red Hulk could be set up in upcoming Phase 4 projects.

Ross’ Black Widow Role Explained

How MCU Phase 4 Can Set Up Red Hulk

Ross will be involved in the launch of Marvel’s Phase 4 as he’s set to appear in Black Widow. He’s only been featured in one shot during the marketing campaign, but it could be a telling one. It looks like Ross has been de-aged for at least one scene in the film. With Black Widow taking place between Civil War and Infinity War, the need to dramatically de-age Ross is non-existent. Instead, this could be a sign that part of his role will go farther back in the MCU timeline. Black Widow will explore various points in Natasha Romanoff’s life, and that could give the film a chance to visit Ross’ younger days too and establish more of his backstory and motivations for the career he’s taken.

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Not only could Black Widow shed light on Ross before The Incredible Hulk or fill in the gaps between that appearance and Civil War, but it could also show his life after the latter film. The prelude comic for Black Widow shows that Ross is hunting down Natasha after she turned against the Accords to help Captain America. His search for Black Widow doesn’t just explain why she is on the run in the film, but it could also add to his continued efforts to have control over those who have greater power and ability than he does. But, this has proven to be futile in the past, and Black Widow slipping through his hands could further illustrate to Ross that something needs to change.

In addition to potentially showing his past, set photos for Black Widow could tease set up for Ross becoming Red Hulk too. The images showed Ross using a cane to walk, something Hurt doesn’t need to use in real life. This could be a scene set in the present day of the MCU and indicate that his health has started to decline since his brief appearance in Avengers: Endgame. If that is the case, it isn’t too difficult to imagine Ross trying anything and everything to get his strength back. Perhaps he’d even mess around with a super soldier serum or gamma radiation to do it, which could be how he transforms into Red Hulk.

She-Hulk Introduces Another Hulk To The MCU

How MCU Phase 4 Can Set Up Red Hulk

To this point in the MCU, Bruce Banner has been the only Hulk that has been featured repeatedly, but they have introduced the idea that other people could Hulk out as well with Abomination. While that villain has been largely forgotten about, Marvel will bring another Hulk into this universe with Jennifer Walters. She is the cousin of Banner in the comics and becomes known as She-Hulk after getting a blood transfusion from him. This relationship with Banner and She-Hulk’s origin will reportedly be kept for the character’s introduction in the Disney+ She-Hulk series.

In doing so, there will be multiple versions of Hulk in the MCU going forward, even if Smart Hulk isn’t too active as a hero. The notion that other people could become Hulk is a necessary one for Marvel to re-introduce if Red Hulk is on the horizon. There are even rumors that Ross and his daughter Betty (Liv Tyler) will be featured in She-Hulk. It isn’t known what role he will play in the series, but given his previous obsession with Banner’s DNA and the Hulk, the idea that he helps create another Hulk – intentionally or not – is one that would surely catch Ross’ attention.

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Furthermore, if Black Widow does show his health in the present day isn’t what it used to be, then She-Hulk could include Ross wanting to use Hulk’s DNA to heal him too. Since Ross’ declining health is still unconfirmed though, She-Hulk can still propel him towards a Red Hulk transformation with the creation of another Hulk. Ross is power-hungry after all, so he might just want the power of Hulk running through his veins to show that he could use them better.

What Red Hulk Means For The MCU’s Future

Regardless of whether Ross transforms into Red Hulk during Black Widow, She-Hulk, or after Phase 4, his introduction would be a big addition to the MCU moving forward. He is the biggest Hulk villain in Marvel Comics and could now be used as one of She-Hulk’s arch enemies in the MCU. It is also possible that Ross becoming Red Hulk would give Banner a purpose in the MCU moving forward as he could be motivated to heal himself so he can stop Ross.

There’s also the possibility that Red Hulk’s involvement in the MCU could be used to bring back Abomination too. In Red Hulk’s comic origin, his first fight is with Abomination and ends with Red Hulk using a giant gun to kill Emil Blonsky. If Marvel Studios builds to Ross’ transformation over the course of multiple projects, then the return of Tim Roth as Abomination could happen as well and bring another element from the comics into the MCU’s ongoing narrative. There’s even the possibility that the MCU’s version of The Leader or Doc Sampson could be realized after both characters were introduced in The Incredible Hulk.

Additionally, Ross gaining the power of a Hulk could be used to further set up the Thunderbolts. Although the team is not named after the former general, he has been a member and leader of the team in the comics. The MCU might be setting up the supervillain team in Phase 4 too with the return of Baron Zemo in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. If the Thunderbolts are nearing an MCU debut, it would hardly be a stretch to envision Red Hulk as part of the initial roster or even leading the team. With all of these possibilities in play, Red Hulk joining the MCU in Phase 4 or shortly thereafter can be another exciting addition to the universe moving forward.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/mcu-phase-4-red-hulk-thunderbolt-ross-transformation/

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