Captain America Brave New World is out – but instead of crying, we will try to fix it!
Seventeen years ago, The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton was released – a film that, in today's time, plays virtually no role in the MCU, despite originally being intended to do the exact opposite.
Marvel's plan back then was to release two films and determine, based on their success, whether other comic book heroes would receive their own blockbuster movies. The film about the green gamma giant was meant to be the spearhead, while a lesser-known superhero, played by an actor whose career was already hanging by a thread, was supposed to ride its coattails to success: Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man.
But everything turned out differently: Iron Man became to the MCU what Pikachu is to Pokémon, while Hulk became what Robert Downey Jr. was before playing Iron Man.
Why am I telling you all this?
Because understanding this could have been the key to making Marvel’s latest movie actually good.
I Want Endgame, Boohoo!
Captain America: Brave New World certainly doesn’t deserve the harsh words and criticism it has received from the fanbase. While it may not be the best MCU installment, it is still entertaining popcorn cinema that manages to build real tension in some moments.
Much of the criticism stems from the general sentiment among fans towards Marvel Studios and the lingering complaint that "There hasn’t been a good movie since Endgame." (Let’s completely ignore the “It’s the M-She-U now!” crybabies.)
However, it’s fair to acknowledge that the film has its flaws – a lot of them, in fact. It’s full of questionable decisions, and that’s not even considering the excessive, unnecessary close-up shots during dialogue scenes or the backgrounds overloaded with blur effects. Instead, let’s take a look at what could have been changed in terms of story and execution to truly save Captain America – just like, well... Captain America usually saves us.
Be aware, though: No way in fixing the movie without doing a deep dive. Consider this a spoiler warning!
Cap, Hulk, and Hulk
To keep things from spiraling too much in terms of story, let’s not dwell on questions like "Why didn’t the Leader turn Ross into the Hulk earlier or under more control?" or "Why was the post-credit scene used to tease the multiverse when that had already been established years ago?"
Instead, let’s structure our rescue mission around three key characters in the film: Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the Red Hulk, and… a character who is completely absent from the movie but absolutely should have been there: Bruce Banner.
Remember 17 Years Ago...?
But why the classic Hulk, of all characters?
Somewhere along the way, someone had the brilliant idea that Captain America: Brave New World should serve as a sequel to The Incredible Hulk from 2008. So, the film is not just packed with references and nods – it actually revolves around key plot points from the movie that was once supposed to be the flagship of the MCU.
But that film wasn’t the flagship.
Which makes it all the stranger that Marvel chose to dig Samuel Sterns out of his grave – a character teased in The Incredible Hulk’s post-credit scene when he transformed into The Leader. A character who has been completely forgotten for 17 years is suddenly the movie’s big bad?
Dragging Sterns back after all this time, creating a conflict with Thaddeus Ross, introducing a subplot with Ross' daughter Betty, and expecting fans to find all of this coherent after nearly 20 years is, at best, questionable.
Especially considering that for many fans, The Incredible Hulk is only partially canon due to the fact that Bruce Banner was played by Edward Norton at the time – not Mark Ruffalo.
And yet, it is precisely this Bruce Banner who could have been the key to making Brave New World a great film – especially in connection with Sam Wilson.
The Problem With Sam Wilson
Marvel Studios expects audiences to remember The Incredible Hulk from 2008 but simultaneously hopes that TFATWS from just four years ago has been forgotten.
Not just by the audience – but seemingly by the characters, too.
Because Sam Wilson doesn’t seem to remember what he learned after receiving Steve Rogers’ shield.
In TFATWS, Sam learns that being Captain America isn’t just about having a new title. He experiences firsthand the importance of the symbol, especially for marginalized communities. After being racially profiled and almost arrested by police officers for no reason, and later learning the tragic story of the first Black super soldier, Isaiah Bradley, Sam realizes that he must be a Captain America for a new America.
The movie initially presents Sam as accepted in his new role, but throughout Brave New World, he keeps questioning whether he deserves to be Captain America.
Even after proving himself in battle, even after handling the moral responsibilities of the role, and even after President Thaddeus Ross offers him the opportunity to rebuild the Avengers – Sam still doubts himself.
Better A Red President Than An Orange One
Who would have thought, just a few years ago, that we’d see Harrison Ford in the MCU?
Sadly, William Hurt’s passing led to Ford taking on the role of Thunderbolt Ross. But instead of rocking the classic military uniform and mustache, Ross shaves and swaps it for a presidential suit.
And, of course – he’s the Red Hulk!
The film tries to present this as a shocking third-act twist, seemingly unaware that the marketing department already spoiled it. Trailers, posters, action figures – Red Hulk was everywhere.
So, since the surprise factor was already wasted, Marvel could have used the character in a more compelling way. Instead, his introduction feels borderline laughable.
Ross’ transformation is teased twice in stressful situations. One involves a relaxed press conference on a sunny day. The other? A looming world war aboard a swaying military ship, with a giant Adamantium Titan emerging from the Earth.
Yup. It’s the chill press event that finally makes Ross Hulk out.
And when he does appear, his big moment is... underwhelming.
Bullets don’t affect him. Soldiers keep shooting. He jumps onto a building. Soldiers keep shooting. He tears apart a facade and hurls it. Soldiers reload and shoot more useless bullets.
Nothing about Red Hulk’s reveal feels impressive.
Brave New Ending
Accordingly, the confrontation between Captain America and Red Hulk only generates average excitement but no real surprises. We’ve already seen Captain America take on oversized opponents, witnessed his new equipment and vibranium wings in action, and watched a Hulk smash enemies into the ground who were much smaller but technologically well-equipped.
What we’ve never seen before – and what could have ultimately saved the film – is a Hulk vs. Hulk fight.
A long time ago in this text, I mentioned Mark Ruffalo’s green Hulk – now it’s time to bring him into play.
Not only because it makes far more sense for Bruce Banner to show up when his two biggest adversaries, Sterns and Ross, are at the center of the story, but also because he is the powerhouse with moral implications that could have provided all the characters with necessary character development.
Since everyone and their mother already knew that Red Hulk would appear and be played by Harrison Ford, the ruby-colored giant should have appeared much earlier in the film and had a first battle with Banner’s Hulk. If they had both been on the warship and transformed there, it would have been a truly spectacular moment.
The sheer brute force of two gamma monsters would not only have been something entirely new for the MCU (yes, I’m also ignoring Abomination) and absolute trailer gold, but it would have also demonstrated the immense power imbalance between Ross and Wilson. A Hulk pummeling another Hulk into the ground is an entirely different kind of threat.
Banner would have been the one to lose the fight, and Sam Wilson would have had to rescue his friend (okay, they haven’t had much interaction in the MCU so far… but hey, as former Avengers, they’re at least colleagues) and bring him to safety while Ross, as the rampaging Red Hulk, smashed his way through America.
At this point, Sam would have fallen into a deep crisis. Though he was convinced that he had everything it took to be Cap, the sheer strength of his opponents would have made the situation feel utterly hopeless.
A conversation with the injured Banner, who would explain that this is exactly what made Steve Rogers who he was – being a symbol of hope even in seemingly lost situations – would have made Sam realize that it wasn’t about him finding hope, but about others being able to find hope through him.
Banner and Cap would then confront Red Hulk in a final showdown, and since Bruce was still weakened, it would ultimately fall on Sam Wilson to take on Ross.
Here, Sam would tap into his newfound understanding of Captain America’s strength and explain to Ross that together, they could find a solution to all of these dilemmas: his transformation into Red Hulk, the trust of the American people that he had lost, the impending war, and even his fractured relationship with his daughter, Betty.
Red Hulk would find in Wilson the very hope he had lost – the loss that had triggered his transformation in the first place – and would finally calm down. Fade to black.
This way, all three characters would have undergone meaningful development, we’d have had a perfect setup for future Avengers-based installments, and after 17 years, we would finally have tied up the loose ends of The Incredible Hulkwithin the MCU. And in doing so, the film –though never really intended to be a major milestone – would have gained a whole new significance.
Now, it's your turn: What did you think about Brave New World? What are your ideas? Let us know in the comments!