Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise and the first starring Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, unexpectedly serves as a sequel to The Incredible Hulk. This connection stems from the return of several key characters from the earlier film.

Captain America: Brave New World Debut Trailer Images

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Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader: The Incredible Hulk introduced Samuel Sterns, who, after exposure to Bruce Banner's blood, began transforming into The Leader. Brave New World finally delivers on this long-awaited transformation. The Avengers Prelude: Fury's Big Week comic reveals Sterns' capture by S.H.I.E.L.D., his subsequent escape, and his central role in the film's conspiracy. His involvement with Ross's transformation into Red Hulk and his potential interest in adamantium are key plot points.

Liv Tyler's Betty Ross: Betty Ross, Bruce Banner's former love interest and daughter of Thunderbolt Ross, returns after a long absence. Her past involvement with Project Gamma Pulse and her complex relationship with her father are revisited. The film's marketing remains silent on her role, leaving open the possibility of a reconciliation with her father or a contribution based on her gamma research expertise. Her potential transformation into Red She-Hulk, as seen in the comics, is also a compelling possibility.

Harrison Ford's President Ross/Red Hulk: The film heavily features Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, continuing the character arc established in The Incredible Hulk. His transformation into Red Hulk is a major plot point, showcasing a shift from his previous antagonistic role to a more complex, albeit still dangerous, character. His pursuit of adamantium and his attempts at reconciliation with his daughter add layers to his character.

The Absence of Hulk: The notable omission of Bruce Banner/Hulk from the main narrative is the only factor preventing Brave New World from being a direct Incredible Hulk sequel. While a cameo isn't entirely ruled out, Banner's absence might be explained by his involvement with his newly revealed son, Skaar, and his extended Hulk family.

The introduction of adamantium, a new super-metal, adds a significant geopolitical element to the plot, further highlighting the film's connection to the broader MCU narrative. The film explores the potential benefits and dangers of this new technology.

The question remains: will Hulk appear? A poll invites readers to share their predictions. The article concludes by highlighting the anticipation for future Marvel projects and the ongoing saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.