Summary

• Marvel Studios is likely hiding a crucial member of the Thunderbolts* team from fans.
• Red Hulk's inclusion in Captain America 4 hints at his role in Thunderbolts*.
• Red Hulk's addition to Thunderbolts* fixes the power issue and adds more interconnectivity to Phase 5 of the MCU.

I have never been more convinced that Marvel Studios is hiding a crucial member of the Thunderbolts* ensemble cast will be made up of actors from prior MCU films.

Other than a strange Marvel Studios' Hall H at SDCC 2024, but, until then, official updates are few and far between. Although reveals about Thunderbolts* specifically have been rare, a recent Marvel trailer has me convinced that a member of the MCU's Thunderbolts is being hidden from fans.

Captain America 4’s Red Hulk Confirmation s A Thunderbolts* Theory

Red Hulk Is Now Part Of The MCU, & Could Complete The Thunderbolts Team

The Marvel news in question was the teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World. It has long been rumored that the events of Captain America 4 would tie closely to the story of Thunderbolts*, with the teaser providing the biggest, reddest, angriest reason as to why this is likely the case. At the end of the trailer, it was revealed that Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross will become Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World, ending years of speculation and theorizing that Ross would finally undergo his transformation from Marvel Comics.

With this confirmation, I am convinced that Red Hulk will be part of Thunderbolts*. It has long been theorized that either Red Hulk or Abomination will be part of Thunderbolts* due to their ties to the team in Marvel Comics. However, Red Hulk always made more sense given the connection between the team name and Thunderbolt Ross, and the fact that Red Hulk led an iteration of the team in the source material. Now that Red Hulk has been confirmed for an MCU appearance, I am 100% convinced that he will live on into the events of Thunderbolts* story.

Red Hulk Being Part Of Thunderbolts* Fixes A Power Criticism

Thunderbolts* Could Do With A Heavy Hitter

When the line-up for Thunderbolts* was first announced, it received some criticism. The primary critique of the team was that they did not possess enough individual power. In of sheer strength, the likes of Yelena, Taskamster, and Ghost are simply human, as is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The other three team , U.S. Agent, Red Guardian, and the Winter Soldier, are more powerful in that they are super soldiers, but even then, do not have the power of Avengers like Thor or Hulk.

This was a large reason behind the Red Hulk and Abomination theories, as audiences felt the Thunderbolts needed more of a powerhouse member. With the inclusion of Red Hulk, this criticism would be answered. Red Hulk is just as powerful if not more so, than Bruce Banner's Hulk, giving the Thunderbolts a much-needed dose of raw strength. With Thunderbolts* rumored villain being Sentry, the addition of Red Hulk will massively benefit the team should Captain America 4 set up his appearance in future MCU films.

Why Red Hulk Being Part Of Thunderbolts* Is The Right Move For Marvel

Thunderbolts Including Ross' Angry Alter Ego Has Many Advantages

Aside from fixing the power issue prevalent with the current Thunderbolts* line-up, Red Hulk being involved in the film is simply the right choice for Marvel. For one, it would provide a greater deal of interconnectivity. One of the most common overall criticisms of the MCU's Multiverse Saga is that it has been too disconnected, with some films leaving characters and storylines off that are not picked up for years on end. If Red Hulk is part of Captain America 4 and Thunderbolts*, he will appear twice in under three months.

Aligning Red Hulk - who was formerly a morally gray politician - with a more corrupt team of antiheroes makes much more sense...

Similarly, Red Hulk being involved with the Thunderbolts makes more sense from a character perspective. Red Hulk is much more of a villain or antihero than an outright hero, meaning it would not be logical for him to be part of a team like the Avengers. Instead, aligning Red Hulk - who was formerly a morally gray politician - with a more corrupt team of antiheroes makes much more sense. For these reasons, Red Hulk's potential inclusion in Thunderbolts* is the right move after Captain America: Brave New World.