Marvel Defends Red Hulk Reveal in Captain America: Brave New World Trailers
The director of Captain America: Brave New World has defended Marvel's decision to showcase Red Hulk in promotional material, despite fan criticism that the reveal should have been saved for theaters.
Red Hulk, the gamma-powered transformation of Harrison Ford’s President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, makes his explosive debut in the film's climactic act—after teasing moments where Ross appears to keep his monstrous alter ego restrained.
Among widespread criticism labeling Brave New World as underwhelming within the MCU, fans argue that trailer appearances spoiled Red Hulk’s surprise reveal while exaggerating his role in the story.
Director Julius Onah insists Marvel had little choice but to feature Red Hulk ahead of release, as leaks were inevitable.
"Once Harrison Ford’s casting as Thaddeus Ross was announced—considering how passionate MCU fans are—keeping secrets became nearly impossible," Onah explained to Empire.
"Ideally, revealing Red Hulk in theaters would’ve been incredible. But realistically, merchandise leaks or unofficial trailer drops would’ve spoiled it anyway," he added. "It’s incredibly difficult to prevent surprises from leaking nowadays."
While Marvel films do face persistent leaks—often through toys or promotional items—many argue that past entries handled villain reveals differently. Earlier MCU movies teased antagonists without fully exposing them.
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Compare this with Marvel’s approach to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Trailers hint at Galactus’ appearance without fully unveiling him—preserving anticipation for the cinematic reveal.
Granted, leaked images from a Snapple promotion and unofficial Funko Pop listings exposed Galactus prematurely. However, most moviegoers won’t encounter these spoilers. What truly shapes expectations are official trailers—and Marvel’s selective secrecy.
Many fans believe Red Hulk was overexposed in promos—possibly due to efforts to generate enthusiasm for a film lacking major surprises.
Next, Cap will return in Avengers: Doomsday, following Thunderbolts*/New Avengers, which confirmed Sam Wilson’s efforts to assemble his own version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
