Director Julius Onah reveals whyCaptain America: Brave New Worlddidn’t include an Avenger whoseMCUreturn would have fit the movie seamlessly.Captain America: Brave New World’s plot centers around an international conspiracythat pushes various governments to the edge and transforms the US President into a Red Hulk, yet Captain America receives no help from any of the many superheroes still active around the world. In fact,only Bucky Barnes makes a cameo inCaptain America: Brave New World, and he does it just to offer words of support to his friend Sam Wilson.
In an interview withThe Playlist,Captain America: Brave New Worlddirector Julius Onah reveals Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner doesn’t help out Captain America in his fight against the Leader and Red Hulk. Onah explains that as soon as Bruce Banner appears on screen in Captain America’s first solo movie,“the focus shifts away from Sam.“Onah admits that the possibility of adding Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner toCaptain America: Brave New World"obviously came up,“but it was discarded. Read Julius Onah’s full comments:
“Well, I think at the end of the day, and I’m happy it landed where it did—this is Sam’s story. This is Sam’s first cinematic adventure as Captain America. And you want it to be about Sam leaning into his superpower to overcome the odds,” Onah said. “So, you pull in Banner—as great as Mark Ruffalo is and as exciting as it would be to have him—and suddenly, the focus shifts away from Sam. The conversation obviously came up, but ultimately, it felt like this wanted to be Sam’s film.”
What The Hulk’s Removal From Brave New World Means For Marvel
Hulk Loses Out On His Own Stories, But Captain America Keeps His Place In The Spotlight
Captain America: Brave New Worldgives two of Hulk’s most famous villains to Captain America, andBruce Banner doesn’t play any role in Thaddeus Ross' transformation into Red Hulk or Samuel Sterns' public return as the Leader. Unfortunately, Hulk hasn’t starred in a movie of his own since 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk, and his MCU journey has taken place across multiple supporting roles. If Marvel could release a new Hulk solo movie without any logistical obstacles, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk would likely be able to act as the protagonist of an MCU event that doesn’t necessarily involve other MCU heroes.
An MCU Leak That Nailed 99% Of Captain America: Brave New World’s Plot Claimed Another Hulk Cameo Was Supposed To Happen
An alleged Captain America: Brave New World plot leak shared four months before the movie’s release suggests the movie almost introduced a new Hulk.
The narrative relevance ofCaptain America: Brave New World’s Hulk-related characters make Hulk’s absence quite evident. If the Jade Giant had appeared,Captain America: Brave New Worldwould have become a full-fledged Hulk movie, stripping Captain America of his protagonist role in his own movie. Sam Wilson doesn’t have as many well-defined villains as Steve Rogers, which is why the MCU needs to give him enough time to establish himself as a standalone hero. AfterCaptain America: Brave New World, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson may have new encounters with enemies like Sidewinder and the Secret Society, all on his own.
If Hulk Worked For Thor, Surely He Could Have Worked For Captain America
Captain America: Brave New World Could Have Used A Hulk Cameo, At The Very Least
While Hulk could have distracted from Sam Wilson’s story inCaptain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studios already showed how Sam Wilson’s first MCU movie could have balanced two protagonists.Thor: Ragnarokis certainly a Thor-focused movie, yet it features Hulk in what’s practically a co-protagonist role without taking too much screentime away from Thor. Ultimately, the events ofThor: Ragnarokare an essential part of both Thor and Hulk’s arcs.Captain America: Brave New Worldcould have done the same for Captain America and Hulk, and perhaps it would have benefited both heroes by dividing the action sequences between the two.
