Marvel Just Wasted Its Best Hope Of Ever Bringing The MCU’s World War Hulk Story On-Screen

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.

Phase 5’s Captain America: Brave New World had the best opportunity to set up a World War Hulk adaptation for the MCU, but Marvel Studios wasted this perfect chance. In recent years, there has been speculation that Marvel Studios has been setting up a live-action version of 2007’s World War Hulk event, which explored the Hulk’s vendetta against Earth’s heroes in Marvel Comics. Bruce Banner has been central to the MCU since his debut in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, and his impact has most recently been felt, despite his absence, in Captain America: Brave New World.

Captain America: Brave New World took it upon itself to resolve many loose ends from The Incredible Hulk, even though the Phase 4 movie didn’t feature an appearance by Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Thaddeus Ross, his estranged daughter Betty, and Samuel Sterns all returned in Brave New World, and the movie even marked the debut of a brand-new Hulk in the MCU. This means Brave New World was perfectly primed to set up a variation of the World War Hulk storyline, but Marvel’s plans for this highly-anticipated live-action adaptation haven’t yet become clear.

It’s Hard To Imagine Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner In The World War Hulk Storyline

Marvel Comics’ World War Hulk kicked off after the events of the Planet Hulk storyline, which saw the Illuminati declare the Hulk too dangerous to remain on Earth, and therefore exile him into outer space. He crashes on Sakaar, allies with the Warbound and marries the alien Caiera, who is killed when the Illuminati ship explodes. Banner blames the Illuminati for his wife’s demise, and so leads the Warbound back to Earth to wreak vengeance on them, battling many different groups in one of Marvel’s most violent and popular storylines.

A split image of the MCU Hulk roaring and in armor

The MCU Can Still Do World War Hulk Even Without A Solo Hulk Movie

Mark Ruffalo has noted that he may never get a solo MCU film as Bruce Banner’s Hulk, but that doesn’t mean his most iconic story will be forgotten.

While many would love to see World War Hulk brought into live-action, it’s hard to imagine Mark Ruffalo’s mild-mannered and well-tempered Bruce Banner embarking on this destructive storyline. Bruce Banner has been through some huge changes since Edward Norton debuted as the MCU hero in The Incredible Hulk, culminating in him becoming Smart Hulk, a combination of the human and Hulk personas. This version is unlikely to turn savage again, meaning Marvel Studios might be pushed to find an alternative for the World War Hulk story.

Captain America: Brave New World’s Red Hulk Would Have Been The Perfect World War Hulk Villain

Red Hulk Could Have Replaced Bruce Banner In A World War Hulk Storyline

While it’s difficult to picture Bruce Banner involved in a World War Hulk adaptation in the MCU, Captain America: Brave New World introduced another Hulk to the MCU who would be perfect as the focus of this narrative. Harrison Ford assumed the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt in Brave New World, and the Phase 5 movie saw him transform into the Red Hulk, following in the footsteps of his Marvel Comics counterpart. Unlike Smart Hulk, Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk is angry, very angry, so he could easily be central to World War Hulk.

Thaddeus Ross’ Live-Action MCU Movie	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

The Red Hulk’s emergence in Captain America: Brave New World was a huge shock to the world, particularly since Ross had been elected as the President of the United States. The Red Hulk caused a huge amount of damage in Brave New World, including destroying the White House and Haynes Point Park, so it would make sense for a team such as the Illuminati to choose to exile him. This would have perfectly set up World War Hulk in the MCU, while avoiding rights issues by focusing on Bruce Banner’s Hulk, but this opportunity was missed.

Marvel Failed To Set Up World War Hulk In Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World Missed Its Best Shot At Setting Up World War Hulk

Sam Wilson and Ruth Bat-Seraph watching Red Hulk in Captain America Brave New World-1

There has recently been speculation that a version of the Illuminati team was set to be directly mentioned or teased in Captain America: Brave New World’s post-credits scene. This means the ambiguous post-credits scene could have originally seen the Illuminati discuss exiling Thaddeus Ross off-world, which would have been easy considering his incarceration in the Raft. Due to his sheer rage, tactical mind and destructive personality, the Red Hulk would have been the perfect subject of a World War Hulk adaptation, but this didn’t come to fruition.

Instead of releasing an even more dangerous Hulk on the MCU, Captain America: Brave New World ends with Thaddeus Ross being imprisoned and voluntarily relinquishing the presidency. It was quite surprising to have the villainous Red Hulk redeemed only moments after his debut in the MCU, as he could have gone on to become a formidable threat to many heroes, or even every hero in a World War Hulk adaptation. Marvel really missed a trick here, as the Red Hulk is Bruce Banner’s best replacement, and Brave New World could have made the MCU’s World War Hulk plans much clearer.

Marvel’s World War Hulk Plans Still Haven’t Become Clear

World War Hulk Has Been Teased But Not Officially Announced By Marvel Studios

Several aspects of the World War Hulk storyline have already been teased in the MCU, which has spurred theories and speculation about the event being brought into live-action. We saw a glimpse of the destructive potential of Bruce Banner’s Hulk a decade ago, as he embarked on an unhinged rampage through the streets of Johannesburg under the influence of the Scarlet Witch. It was 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok that introduced Sakaar and saw the Hulk in self-exile, and, since then, Marvel has teased World War Hulk many more times, but hasn’t officially announced the story’s adaptation.

Split Image: The Hulk gives a battle cry in Ragnarok; Secret Wars comic event

World War Hulk Is Better If It Comes After Secret Wars

World War Hulk may finally be coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this storyline works much better outside of the Multiverse Saga.

2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced a version of the Illuminati, albeit from another universe, and may have set up the team’s formation in the MCU’s main continuity. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law then made the Hulk’s time on Sakaar more important by debuting Skaar, the Hulk’s son, possibly with Caiera as his mother. Captain America: Brave New World had the perfect opportunity to pay off these teases and finally lay strong foundations for World War Hulk, but there has been no word from Marvel Studios on whether bringing this story to the MCU is actually the plan.