Movies News Talk
Marvel Studios faces a great difficulty in introducing Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World retconning the divisive Hulk choice taken in Avengers: Endgame. Red Hulk's look begs several questions about his relationship to Bruce Banner and the direction of their conflict based on the closing shot of the trailer.
Red Hulk's arrival in the MCU chronology will surely thrill fans, but it also begs a crucial issue: when will Hulk and Red Hulk finally collide? Bruce Banner's main enemy has always been Thaddeus Ross, the man behind Red Hulk, thus their conflict is unavoidable. Rooted in their different conceptions of manliness and power, this rivalry has simmered since The Incredible Hulk but the MCU has not explored it entirely.
Their conflict will get more intense when Ross changes into Red Hulk, thus a confrontation between the two Hulks is absolutely essential. Apart from the great action scene, this fight will give a chance to investigate the intricate relationship between Banner and Ross in both their human and Hulk personas.
Although a conflict between Hulk and Red Hulk seems unavoidable, a big obstacle stands in the way: the choice taken in Avengers: Endgame to feature Smart Hulk. Bruce and the Hulk battled to coexist in Avengers: Infinity War, so impairing Bruce's transforming power. Bruce overcome this in Endgame, though, by combining his human and Hulk sides into the Smart Hulk persona.
Although this choice is efficient in the near future, it poses a major issue for a possible Hulk against Red Hulk fight. Red Hulk has a number of special powers, which would help him to be stronger than the natural Hulk. To have a chance against Red Hulk, Hulk would have to go back to his natural, uncontrollable state and unleash his whole physical power. Acknowledging his physical restrictions, the self-aware Smart Hulk persona may even see this need for a return to the rage-fueled Hulk.
Originally divisive among viewers, the Smart Hulk character has peaked in the MCU. Its appearance in Endgame and She-Hulk has worn out its possibilities, leaving many fans yearning for the separate Bruce Banner and Hulk personas. Moreover, Bruce suffers in any future fight since the strength of the Smart Hulk is maybe less than that of the original Hulk.
Red Hulk offers Marvel the ideal chance to right their Endgame choice. Together with the unresolved rivalry between Banner and Ross, the arrival of this new Hulk demands a return to the old Hulk persona. There will inevitably be a Hulk against Red Hulk conflict, thus the Smart Hulk must be dropped if it is to be a fair fight.
For Hulk and Banner in the MCU, a World War Hulk film might provide the much-needed arc. Still, the Smart Hulk persona has to be thrown aside if this is to work. This would enable Hulk to release his full might, so enabling a confrontation with Red Hulk. Fans would be able to see a raw, fierce Hulk, maybe setting off a World War Hulk situation.
The inevitable Hulk against Red Hulk fight demands a retcon of the Endgame choice. Although Smart Hulk has fulfilled its role, Red Hulk's approaching arrival calls for a return to the original, uncontrollable Hulk identity. This will guarantee a fair fight and let Marvel to investigate the complicated conflict between Bruce Banner and Thaddeus Ross completely. Depending on this choice, Hulk's future in the MCU will be different; if Marvel accepts the required transformation, the fight between Hulk against Red Hulk could become a legendary event in the series.