The first Captain America: Brave New World trailer teased a funeral scene, and while one character has become the popular candidate to die, I think it will be someone else instead. I am very excited about a new Captain America movie. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is my favorite MCU hero, and after getting a perfect Captain America trilogy from him, I’m curious to see how Anthony Mackie’s tenure as the new Captain America of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will go. If Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailer is anything to go by, it should be great.

The first footage revealed from the movie evokes Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s tone, with a lot of focus on the political aspects of the MCU and including thrilling action scenes. The fast-paced trailer also teased that a major funeral would be part of Captain America: Brave New World‘s plot. As he was last seen as an old man in Avengers: Endgame, most fans instantly went to Evans’ Steve Rogers as the character to die in the film. However, I have a more interesting theory about which MCU character will die.

MCU Theory: Thunderbolt Ross Dies In Captain America: Brave New World

Marvel Studios Takes A Page From The Comics

I don’t think Steve Rogers will die or appear in Captain America: Brave New World. Instead, my theory is that Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross will be the one to die in the movie, but with a twist. In the comics, Ross became the Red Hulk to stop the Hulk once and for all, with one of the characters who helped him being the Leader, who is confirmed for Captain America: Brave New World — as is Red Hulk. Ross also faked his death, using a Life-Model Decoy to make everyone believe he was dead when he became the Red Hulk.

I think a version of that story will be part of Captain America: Brave New World, with Ross becoming the Red Hulk and faking his death so that he could find out who was trying to assassinate him in the first place, as the movie’s trailer showed Isaiah Bradley — seemingly not in control of himself — shooting at Ross. Another possibility is that, in the MCU, the Leader is the one trying to kill Ross, faking his death and transforming him into Red Hulk to serve his goals. Ross’ death would fit Captain America: Brave New World‘s military funeral.

Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross Will Return For At Least A Funeral Scene

The Actress Comes Back After A Long MCU Absence

Another strong evidence that helps my theory that the funeral is for Harrison Ford’s character is the role Thunderbolt Ross’ daughter, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross, will play in Captain America: Brave New World. Tyler last appeared in the MCU in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, playing the love interest to Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner, never sharing the screen with Mark Ruffalo, the MCU’s second and main Hulk actor. After 17 years, Tyler will be back as Betty Ross in the MCU, with the actress confirmed to appear in Captain America: Brave New World.

While her role in the movie’s story is still unknown, with Betty Ross not appearing in the MCU film’s first trailer, Captain America: Brave New World set photos confirmed that she will be back for at least the funeral scene shown in the footage. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Tyler’s Betty Ross could be seen in the set photos, with Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross nowhere to be seen. As Betty has not appeared in the MCU since 2008, her father’s death could be the major event that finally sees the character return, as she would not miss his funeral.

How Captain America: Brave New World Could Fake Thunderbolt Ross’ Death

The Leader Would Be Involved

Based on how the Red Hulk story goes in the comics and Tyler coming back for the funeral as Betty Ross, I strongly feel that it will indeed be Thunderbolt Ross who “dies” in Captain America: Brave New World. In Marvel Comics, the Leader was one of the villains who approached Ross and got him to agree to become Red Hulk, using his hatred of the Hulk to get him to say yes. I think a somewhat similar thing could happen in the MCU, with the Leader orchestrating the attempt on Ross’ life and then appearing with a solution.

He could manufacture Ross’ fear for his life, approaching him to provide Ross with super soldier serum, only for it to actually transform Ford’s character into Red Hulk. As seen in Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailers, the same cherry blossoms are present in the funeral scene and when Red Hulk debuts. As such, I think Ross could be “dead” in his coffin when he transforms into Red Hulk, with the Leader’s plan possibly leading to the MCU’s rumored World War Hulk movie after Captain America: Brave New World.