How Can Thunderbolt Ross Become The MCU"s Red Hulk?

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Red Hulk makes his MCU debut in Captain America: Brave New World, but previous events would appear to make this impossible. In the MCU"s Captain America: Brave New World, Harrison Ford takes on the role of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, replacing the late William Hurt, who first portrayed the character in The Incredible Hulk. Ross has been a significant figure in the MCU, playing the aggressive military leader obsessed with controlling or eradicating the Hulk. With his return in Brave New World, there"s a strong possibility that the MCU may finally deliver on Ross"s transformation into the Red Hulk.
In Marvel comics, General Ross becomes Red Hulk after being exposed to gamma radiation and a variation of the Super Soldier Serum. This parallels Bruce Banner’s origin as the Hulk in the MCU, where Banner"s transformation resulted from an experiment to recreate the serum that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America. However, bringing Red Hulk into the MCU isn’t as simple as recreating his comic book origins. The MCU timeline has evolved its narrative, creating hurdles that need to be addressed before Ross can become the monstrous Red Hulk.
The Big Problem For Red Hulk's MCU Origin The Super Soldier Serum Has Been Destroyed

One major obstacle standing in the way of Ross’s transformation into Red Hulk is the fate of the Super Soldier Serum in the MCU. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Baron Zemo destroyed all remaining samples of the serum. This leaves the question of how Ross could access the serum to begin his transformation into Red Hulk. Since the serum was originally designed to enhance human abilities, it’s key to Ross becoming the powerful, rage-filled Red Hulk.
Zemo’s destruction of the serum creates a roadblock. With no Super Soldier Serum seemingly left, Ross will need to find another means to become Red Hulk. The MCU has been meticulous in showing that the serum is rare, heavily protected, and difficult to recreate. Any new Super Soldier Serum would have to be developed in secret or through an unconventional method, given that the previous experiments were heavily monitored and resulted in dangerous consequences like Abomination.
The MCU Has Set Up Other Super Soldier Serum Answers Numerous Similar Experiments Are Still Extant In The MCU Close The MCU has introduced several alternative Super Soldier Serums and related experiments, each of which could serve as the catalyst for General Ross’s transformation. In The Incredible Hulk, a variation of the Super Soldier Serum was used on Emil Blonsky, which, when combined with gamma radiation, turned him into the monstrous Abomination. This serum could be the key to creating Red Hulk, as Ross has extensive knowledge of these experiments, having overseen them himself. Given the similarities between Blonsky’s transformation and the Red Hulk in the comics, Ross may use this serum as the foundation for his own transformation.
In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it was revealed that the U.S. government continued experimenting on Super Soldier Serums, one such experiment being the enhancement of Isaiah Bradley. These experiments, though inhumane, demonstrate that the serum has not been completely lost. The secret continuation of these experiments could serve as a plot point in Ross"s transformation, suggesting that he might acquire one of these lesser-known serums for his own use.
Nick Fury’s efforts to keep tabs on the Avengers have been well documented, particularly his secretive methods of collecting data on each member. It is possible that Ross could gain access to Fury’s stored DNA samples of superhuman individuals like Bruce Banner. These samples, when experimented on, could lead to a new form of the Super Soldier Serum that incorporates the Hulk’s gamma-based transformations.

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2 In The Incredible Hulk, a sample of Bruce Banner"s blood was used to transform Samuel Sterns into the villain known as The Leader. This blood is an active source of gamma-infused serum and can cause significant mutations in those exposed to it. Ross could use the same blood, possibly in conjunction with the Leader, to induce his transformation into Red Hulk. This option seems quite plausible since *The Leader* is set to return in *Captain America: Brave New World*, potentially tying Ross"s arc to him.
Out of these alternatives, the most likely scenario for Ross becoming Red Hulk could involve a combination of the Abomination’s serum and Bruce Banner’s gamma-infused blood. This would tie Ross"s transformation directly to the established history of Hulk experiments in the MCU. The result would make for a logical and organic narrative.
Why Would Thunderbolt Ross Want To Be A Hulk? Thaddeus Ross Has Historically Hunted The Hulk

Image via Marvel Studios Thunderbolt Ross"s hatred for the Hulk has been a defining aspect of his character since his introduction in the MCU. However, his desire to control or destroy the Hulk could be the very reason he ends up becoming one himself. In the comics, Ross’s transformation into Red Hulk stems from a complex mix of personal and professional motivations, many of which could translate effectively into the MCU.

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5 In the comics, Ross undergoes the transformation to gain power and control. This could easily be adapted into the MCU, with Ross viewing the Hulk"s power as a means to secure authority and finally defeat the enemies he cannot control through conventional means. Becoming Red Hulk would offer Ross a way to take the fight directly to Bruce Banner, avenging his past failures and showing that he can harness the power he once sought to eliminate. Another compelling motivation for Ross to undergo such a dangerous transformation could be his deteriorating health.
In Black Widow, it is implied that Ross has ongoing medical issues. These could push him to seek out extreme measures to prolong his life or regain his strength, even if it means becoming the very thing he despises. Ross’s bitterness and resentment toward the superhero community could also play a role, particularly after his involvement in the Sokovia Accords and his failure to bring the Avengers under control. His desire to remain relevant in a world increasingly dominated by superhumans may push him to drastic measures, including becoming Red Hulk.
Moreover, Ross’s bitterness toward the superhero community has been building since the events of Civil War. His inability to control the Avengers, combined with his personal vendetta against Bruce Banner, could drive him to a breaking point, where becoming Red Hulk is not only a means of survival but also revenge. The MCU has carefully crafted Ross’s character to show that he’s willing to take extraordinary steps to achieve his goals, making his transformation into Red Hulk both believable and inevitable.

Captain America: Brave New World Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order) marks Sam Wilson's first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk's former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
Upcoming MCU Movies

Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025