Captain America: Brave New World introduced Red Hulk to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a long-awaited moment for fans of the comics. However, while Red Hulk’s brief screen time delivered exciting action, his actual transformation scenes left much to be desired.
Despite heavy marketing around Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ transformation, the moment was strangely handled, with much of it happening off-screen. Here’s why Red Hulk’s transformation in Brave New World felt underwhelming and how it could have been improved.
Why Red Hulk’s Transformation in Brave New World Feels Weird
1. The Transformation Mostly Happens Off-Screen
Red Hulk’s first full transformation occurs during a high-stress press conference, where Samuel Sterns (The Leader) manipulates Ross into Hulking out in public, effectively destroying his political career.
- Instead of a dramatic, full-body transformation, we only see his hands and limbs changing.
- The rest of the scene is obscured by the podium, meaning audiences never get the full impact of the transformation.
This is surprising, especially considering how The Avengers (2012) handled Bruce Banner’s iconic Hulk transformation, where his entire shift into Hulk was shown in one seamless shot before he smashed a Chitauri Leviathan.
2. His Reversion to Human Form is Also Off-Screen
After a brutal showdown with Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Red Hulk is wounded by a kinetic blast from Sam’s vibranium wings. However, the final blow comes from a simple name—Betty Ross.
- Upon hearing Betty’s name, Ross calms down and reverts to human form.
- The transition is seen from Ross’ perspective, meaning we don’t actually see him shrink back down—we only realize it after the fact.
Given how important Ross’ transformation is to the movie, it feels strange that both his Hulk-out and his return to normal were handled so subtly, especially when Marvel has shown more detailed Hulk transformations in the past.
Why Did Marvel Avoid Showing Red Hulk’s Full Transformation?
1. Budget Constraints?
Creating high-quality CGI transformations is expensive and time-consuming. While Brave New World had strong CGI overall, the cost of animating a full Red Hulk transformation may have been too high.
2. Avoiding Uncanny Valley Issues
Marvel’s past CGI issues (She-Hulk’s transformation criticism, for example) may have made the VFX team hesitant to show too much detail.
3. A Stylistic Choice?
Some directors prefer implying a transformation rather than showing it. However, considering how central Red Hulk’s debut was to the marketing, this choice feels anticlimactic.
The CGI on Red Hulk Was Otherwise Fantastic
Despite questionable choices regarding his transformation, Red Hulk looked incredible on screen:
- His skin emitted heat, reflecting his comic-accurate power-up ability.
- Bullets bounced off his skin, emphasizing his indestructibility.
- Harrison Ford’s motion capture made Red Hulk feel authentic and expressive.
- The fight between Red Hulk and Captain America was a visceral and well-choreographed spectacle.
If Brave New World had fully showcased his transformation, it would have made his limited screen time even more impactful.
