The basis for Hulk’s next MCU story may finally be laid out by Captain America: Brave New World. More than a decade and a half after their introduction, Hulk villains Thaddeus Ross and Samuel Sterns will take on their Gamma-powered forms in Phase 5’s upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, where they will face Captain America instead of the Hulk. Hulk, meanwhile, seems to be taking a long break from fighting, having achieved his tamer Smart Hulk form off-screen some time before the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Unfortunately for the Jade Giant, Hulk’s movie distribution rights have been owned by Universal for a long time, which prevents Marvel from earning the full box office gross of Hulk’s solo movies. As a result, Hulk’s MCU journey has been developed through supporting roles and team-up movies. However, Captain America: Brave New World is the latest MCU installment to hint at a Hulk-centric event, which could be inspired by the Marvel Comics storyline World War Hulk, where Hulk takes revenge on Earth’s heroes for being exiled to outer space.

Red Hulk’s MCU Arrival Changes Hulk’s Story

Bruce Banner Will No Longer Be The MCU’s Only Rampaging Hulk

As Banner learned how to control the Hulk and use his power for good over the years, Hulk gradually became tamer and more intelligent, until Banner eventually found a way to combine the human with the monster between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Although Smart Hulk seems to have found peace in his current form, his journey might not be over. President Ross’ transformation into the Red Hulk introduces a new savage monster to the world when there is no heroic counterpart to stop him.

With Red Hulk’s arrival and the possibility of more Gamma monsters being created in the near future, Smart Hulk may need to awaken “the other guy” once again

Despite She-Hulk and Skaar’s superhuman strength, the only Hulk who could go toe-to-toe with Red Hulk might be the original one. Bruce Banner’s efforts to gain full control over his Hulk persona were intended to prevent further destruction. But now, Banner may realize that he has only made it impossible for himself to use Hulk’s strength to stop a similar threat. With Red Hulk’s arrival and the possibility of more MCU Hulks being created in the near future, Smart Hulk may need to awaken “the other guy” once again.

Red Hulk Can Make The World Fear Hulks Again

President Ross’ Red Hulk Transformation Can Restore Hulk’s Fear Factor

In 2017, Thor: Ragnarok gave Thor and Hulk a drastic overhaul with a more comedic and lighthearted tone. Avengers: Infinity War continued this trend with Bruce Banner’s comic relief as he tried to bring a reluctant Hulk out, and Avengers: Endgame fully placed the story’s humor on both Smart Hulk and “Fat Thor”. By the time Jennifer Walters became a Gamma-powered hero in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Smart Hulk was already far from the terrifying monster that the original Hulk once was. She-Hulk’s introduction as a comedic character, albeit accurate to the source material, has also distanced the MCU from Hulk’s serious tone.

Red Hulk’s MCU debut in Captain America: Brave New World comes seven years after the last time a truly savage Hulk appeared on screen. In the comics, Red Hulk is much smarter yet crueler than Bruce Banner’s first Hulk alter ego ever was. Given that Red Hulk might be getting manipulated by Samuel Sterns in Captain America: Brave New World, the whole world may realize that Hulk and Abomination were only the beginning, and that many other Gamma monsters could start wreaking havoc at any time.

How The MCU Can Now Set Up World War Hulk

All The Pieces Are Laid Out For An MCU World War Hulk Story

While there hasn’t been a direct sequel to The Incredible Hulk in all sixteen years of MCU history, everything seems to be falling in place for a World War Hulk or World War Hulks event. Smart Hulk brought Skaar to Earth, Jennifer Walters got her Gamma powers, the Abomination has gotten a new taste for fighting, President Ross can now transform into the Red Hulk, and the Leader is trying to destabilize the world. After the events of Captain America: Brave New World, Gamma monsters could replace Super Soldiers as the most sought-after weapon on the planet, capable of destroying whole cities by themselves.

If the MCU adapts World War Hulk, the Thunderbolts could be the ones who attempt to kill or exile a Hulk, to disastrous consequences. If the MCU adapts World War Hulks, then the Leader’s plans might succeed in Captain America: Brave New World, possibly creating several new Gamma monsters who force Smart Hulk to bring back the original savage Hulk. Either way, the presence of multiple Gamma-powered characters in Phases 4 and 5 doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. Smart Hulk’s peaceful lifestyle may not last too long. After all, very few Hulk variants in the Marvel multiverse ever receive a happy ending to their lifelong suffering.