Marvel Studios has already revealed exactly how Sam Wilson can beat the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World. The most recent trailer for Captain America: Brave New World, Anthony Mackie’s first solo MCU movie as the new Captain America, provided a closer look at President Ross’ transformation into the Red Hulk. This is a much-anticipated evolution for the character who was previously portrayed by the late William Hurt, but some huge questions have been raised about Sam Wilson’s ability to take on the powerful new MCU villain.
After being handed the shield by Steve Rogers at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson officially became the MCU’s new Captain America in 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. It’s a shame that it’s taken four years for Sam Wilson to make his next appearance, and this hiatus puts pressure on Captain America: Brave New World to mark a strong return for the new Star-Spangled Man. Introducing the Red Hulk could be a great way to ensure this, but he might simply be a villain too unbeatable for Sam Wilson’s Captain America.
Sam Wilson May Not Be Strong Enough To Defeat Red Hulk
Sam Wilson Vs. Red Hulk Doesn’t Seem Like A Fair Fight
Ever since Harrison Ford was confirmed to be joining Captain America: Brave New World’s cast as the Red Hulk, there have been doubts that Sam Wilson will be strong enough to beat the new antagonist. Sam Wilson has no superhuman powers, having avoided taking the super soldier serum during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, despite evolving into Captain America. Sam’s wing-suit and vibranium, Wakanda-made armor give him some incredible abilities, but these pieces of equipment are unlikely to hold up against the Red Hulk’s incomprehensible strength.
Captain America: Brave New World’s most recent trailer has confirmed that the Red Hulk will express the same abilities that his Marvel Comics counterpart harbors. Most notably, aside from being incredibly strong, intimidating and violent, the Red Hulk also exudes a huge amount of heat, which proves capable of leaving scorch marks on his presidential podium and fueling a raging fire surrounding him. This will prove him to be a far superior opponent to Sam Wilson’s Captain America, but there is one way that the Star-Spangled Man could beat the Red Hulk.
Tony Stark Managed To Beat The Hulk With No Powers 9 Years Ago
Tony Stark’s Iron Man Battled The Hulk In Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Sam Wilson fighting the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World won’t be the first time a non-superpowered character has battled a Hulk in the MCU. Nine years ago in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark took on Bruce Banner’s Hulk during the latter’s Scarlet Witch-fueled rampage through the streets of Johannesburg. This battle caused a huge amount of damage, putting many innocent lives in the firing line and destroying a number of buildings, but Iron Man was able to hold his own against this wild version of the Hulk.
Thaddeus Ross’ MCU Project | Year | Actor |
---|---|---|
The Incredible Hulk | 2008 | William Hurt |
Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | William Hurt |
Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | William Hurt |
Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | William Hurt |
Black Widow | 2021 | William Hurt |
Captain America: Brave New World | 2025 | Harrison Ford |
For this battle, Tony Stark employed the help of Veronica, a machinery system he designed that included both a cage capable of holding the Hulk that speared itself into the ground, and a new Iron Man armor. This Hulkbuster armor encased itself around Iron Man’s own suit, making the Avenger as big as the Hulk and providing him with new tricks that could subdue the rampaging creature. The Hulkbuster allowed Iron Man to best the Hulk in the Duel of Johannesburg, and there’s nothing to stop Sam Wilson from using the same technique in Captain America: Brave New World.
Sam Wilson Could Get A Hulkbuster Armor In Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America Getting A Hulkbuster Upgrade Would Be Great
It’s very possible that Sam Wilson could use Stark technology in Captain America: Brave New World to upgrade his new Captain America costume and become powerful enough to battle the Red Hulk. It’s even possible that Sam Wilson could get his own version of the Hulkbuster armor, though the recent trailer for Captain America: Brave New World has hinted that Sam’s superhero costume may have some hidden abilities audiences haven’t yet seen. Avengers: Age of Ultron proved that non-superpowered characters can best Hulks in battle, so there is still hope for Sam Wilson’s Captain America.
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order)ย marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers’ successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
- Director
- Julius Onah
- Release Date
- February 14, 2025
- Studio(s)
- Marvel Studios