Marvel was compelled to unveil Red Hulk in the trailers for Captain America: Brave New World, according to the film's director, despite fan concerns that the villain's reveal should have been saved for the theater.
Red Hulk, the furious alter ego of Harrison Ford’s President Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, emerges only in the film’s climactic act, after a prolonged buildup where Ross appears to restrain his gamma-fueled rage.
Amid widespread criticism of Brave New World—often deemed a lackluster MCU addition—fans have argued that showcasing Red Hulk in trailers not only ruined the surprise but also exaggerated the character’s role in the movie.
Director Julius Onah explained that Marvel had no choice but to reveal Red Hulk before the film’s release, citing the inevitability of leaks.
"When you’re crafting a film like this, with Harrison Ford cast as Thaddeus Ross and a fanbase as vast and dedicated as the MCU’s, keeping secrets is nearly impossible," Onah told Empire.
"In an ideal world, it would’ve been thrilling to unveil Red Hulk in theaters, but that was impractical," he added. "A toy would’ve surfaced, or a trailer would’ve leaked. Secrecy is incredibly tough in today’s era."
While Marvel productions indeed face relentless leak pressures, with merchandise like toys often spoiling plot points, the decision to showcase Red Hulk doesn’t fully align with how other Marvel films have handled villain reveals.
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For example, in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, trailers hint at the massive villain Galactus but carefully avoid a full reveal, saving the spectacle for the film itself.
Despite this, Galactus’ full appearance leaked through an unlikely source—a Snapple promotion—while another unshown character surfaced via a Funko Pop toy. Yet, these leaks reach only a small portion of the audience. For most fans, official trailers define expectations.
Many Marvel fans feel Red Hulk’s extensive trailer presence was a bid to boost excitement for a film that otherwise fell flat.
Looking ahead, Captain America will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, following Thunderbolts*/New Avengers, where Sam Wilson begins assembling his own iteration of Marvel’s iconic team.
