It's almost time for a brand new Marvel movie. Yep, after a relatively quiet year for Marvel Studios in terms of theatrical releases (only the record-breaking Deadpool and Wolverine came out last year), we're about to get the first of three film offerings from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
That film is none other than Captain America: Brave New World, which arrives in theaters this Valentine's Day. Anthony Mackie reprises his role as the MCU's long-serving hero Sam Wilson, but he also takes on the titular mantle for, after the events of both Avengers: Endgame and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam has become the new Captain America.
Anticipation is high for the movie, which is the fourth installment in the Captain America franchise, as it will see Cap take on new threats, new missons, and a new president in Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. It turns out, however, that one of the film's stars has confirmed that a certain portion of the film that fans are well aware of now will actually take place in the film's final act.
Harrison Ford confirms Red Hulk battle takes place at the end of Captain America: Brave New World
Acting legend Harrison Ford now joins another famous franchise in MCU as he stars in Captain America: Brave New World as President Ross, taking over the role from the late William Hurt. He will also oversee the character's evolution into the terrifying Red Hulk - a moment that Marvel fans have been hoping to see take place in the MCU for years now. However, now it seems like we know exactly when it will happen.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Ford opened up about joining the phenomenal franchise, revealing that he didn't even get a script before he was cast in the role, saying that he had seen enough Marvel movies involving actors that he admired, who were having a good time, to know that he wanted to be a part of it too. He also cracked a joke about not knowing that he would end up transforming into the Red Hulk at the end of the movie.
"I didn’t really know that at the end I would turn into the Red Hulk... Well, it’s like life. You only get so far in the kit until the last page of the instructions is missing.”
Ross' transformation into the Red Hulk is one of the biggest moments in the movie, and it has been used heavily in all of the film's promotional material to showcase to audiences what they are getting from Brave New World. Now we know that it will take place at the end of the movie, essentially confirming that this could be the film's final fight, and not a battle between Captain America and the film's apparent villain The Leader.
Does that mean that the Red Hulk is the film's real villain? Well, not exactly. From his days as a general in 2008's The Incredible Hulk to his days as Secretary of State in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Ross has always been a questionable character, willing to do whatever it takes - including bending the rules - to achieve what he believes to be the right thing. That will no doubt put him at odds with Sam Wilson throughout the upcoming movie, increasing the tension and setting the stage for the final showdown.
But does someone use Ross to distract Sam or take him out? Is the Red Hulk simply a pawn in a bigger picture? Or has the former general taken to exposing himself to gamma in order to turn him into a brute of a creature who can definitely protect himself from any harm?
Whatever the reasoning, we now know that Captain America: Brave New World will make us wait for the transformation to take place, pulling it out in the film's closing chapter. And honestly, given the scope and the magnitude of having Red Hulk in the MCU, that makes complete and total sense.
Sam Wilson is in for one heck of a final battle in Captain America: Brave New World.