Who is Red Hulk? Is he a hero or villain? Find out in 'Captain America: Brave New World'

Everyone’s favorite superhero is suiting up again to take on a new threat.

Anthony Mackie returns in the newest MCU installment “Captain America: Brave New World” and there may be a new red-hot villain in town causing trouble.

The Red Hulk is making his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the man who gave life to Han Solo and Indiana Jones — Harrison Ford — will be playing the new red menace.

If you’re like me and had no idea a Red Hulk existed, get ready to meet the fiery new villain that will give Mackie’s Cap a run for his Vibranium shield.

Will Red Hulk be in Captain America 4?

Anthony Mackie will once again suit up as Captain America and he'll be the new Cap in town for the MCU going forward.

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Mackie has been appearing in the MCU since "Civil War" in 2016, when he was known as the hero The Falcon. With Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) gone, the Vibranium shield has been passed to Mackie's Sam Wilson, who will continue the Cap's legacy on screen.

And there's a new Hulk in town, replacing Bruce Banner (played by the lovable Mark Ruffalo).

The teaser trailer Marvel released for “Captain America: Brave New World” includes an exclusive first look at not only Giancarlo Esposito as a mysterious new villain but also Harrison Ford as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross aka Red Hulk.

Is Red Hulk stronger than Hulk?

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a close match, but Red Hulk has some pretty impressive powers that the OG Hulk doesn't possess and causes him to lose against his red counterpart in the comic books.

The Red Hulk's powers consist of absorbing radiation from other people, which increases his strength and power to immeasurable levels. However, with great power comes limitations and Red Hulk's kryptonite is literally overheating from absorbing too much radiation.

How does Ross become the Red Hulk?

In the comics, Thaddeus Ross enlists in the military and his brothers-in-arms give him the nickname "Thunderbolt" because he would "strike like a thunderbolt" when leading them in combat.

Ross rises through the ranks and develops a deep hatred of his green counterpart, Hulk. He spends most of his life trying to destroy Hulk, until he becomes the very thing he hates.

His obsession is what causes his downfall in the end: Ross, with the help of the M.O.D.O.K they used, siphoned radiation from the Hulk and turned himself into the Red Hulk.

How is Red Hulk related to Hulk?

The Hulk family tree is truly something out of a soap opera.

Remember Hulk's one true love, Betty? Yeah, that's Ross's daughter, making Bruce Banner Ross's mortal enemy and father-in-law. Awkward is an understatement.

Is Red Hulk a hero or villain?

While Ross wanted to be a hero when he entered the military, he quickly allowed his obsession with destroying Bruce Banner/The Hulk and became the villain of the story.

While we wait to see what kind of arc Red Hulk goes through in "Captain America: Brave New World" — because we all know the MCU isn't always comic book accurate — in the comics, he did make a turn to antihero at the end of his arc.

When does "Captain America: Brave New World" come out?

Grab a date and plant your butt in the nearest movie theater seat when "Captain America: Brave New World" releases in theaters on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2025.

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Meredith G. White covers entertainment and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She has the latest news about video games, television and things to do in metro Phoenix. Follow her on X and Instagram @meredithgwhite and on Facebook as Meredith G. White. Email her at meredith.white@arizonarepublic.com.