Meet Red Hulk And Giancarlo Esposito’s Mystery Villain

Marvel Studios unveiled the first teaser trailer and poster for Captain America: Brave New World, including the surprise introduction of Red Hulk and Giancarlo Esposito as a mystery villain. Read on to learn all about the Brave New World cast.

Brave New World is the fourth installment in the MCU’s Captain America franchise and the first since Chris Evans’ beloved Steve Rogers stepped down in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, formerly The Falcon, now takes on the mantle of Captain America in the upcoming blockbuster film.

“Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America,” the official synopsis reads. “After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.”

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Viewers get their first look at Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a role he took over from the late William Hurt, who passed away in March 2022. In the trailer, Ross attempts to recruit the new Captain America to become an official operative of the U.S. government. The action-packed clip ends with the introduction of Red Hulk, the superhero alter ego of Ford’s character, as written in the comics.

Captain America: Brave New World is slated to be released on February 14, 2025. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

Who Is In The Captain America: Brave New World Cast?

Read on to learn all about the Brave New World cast, including which characters are new and who will reprise their roles from previous MCU movies.

Anthony Mackie Is Sam Wilson (Captain America)

Anthony Mackie will star as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America and the former Falcon, after Steve Rogers passed on the shield in Avengers: Endgame. Mackie first appeared as Captain America in Marvel’s Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in 2021.

Harrison Ford Is Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk)

Veteran actor Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut as U.S. President Thaddeus Ross. The late William Hurt previously played the character in five MCU movies between 2008 and 2021. Not only will Ford play Ross, but the teaser trailer revealed that he’ll transform into Red Hulk.

Who Is The Red Hulk?

The Red Hulk is Thaddeus Ross’ superhero alter ego. According to Marvel.com, Ross was transformed into the Red Hulk using radiation siphoned from the Hulk. However, his true identity wasn’t revealed until he was attacked by the Red She-Hulk for a second time.

As for Red Hulk’s powers, he “possesses superhuman strength (lifting 100 tons), stamina and durability and can regenerate from serious injuries within minutes,” according to Marvel.com. “When Red Hulk becomes angry, his skin generates intense heat; this heat can also be released through his eyes and is strong enough to melt through Spider-Man’s webbing or turn sand into glass. Red Hulk can also absorb energies, notably gamma radiation and even Norrin Radd, AKA Silver Surfer’s Power Cosmic.”

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Giancarlo Esposito Is An Undisclosed Villain (Maybe G.W. Bridge?)

Also introduced in the trailer was Giancarlo Esposito, who will portray a mystery villain in the film. Marvel Studios has not revealed what character Esposito is playing in the movie. However, CBR reports that rumors are swirling that he was cast as George Washington “G. W.” Bridge.

G.W. Bridge was created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld and first appeared in X-Force #1. He is a former mercenary and high-ranking agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. While G.W. Bridge has no superhero powers, he’s trained in hand-to-hand combat and the use of firearms.

“In my other life, I’m a real bada**, and you’ve seen me play a little bit of that intellectually as Gus Fring, but when you see me in the MCU, you’re going to see a badass, and I’m excited for that,” Esposito told Deadline in an interview posted to X. “Acting is using every part of your body, your emotions, your senses, your feelings, to portray something. But you haven’t seen me use my body in a way that I’ll be using it. The MCU’s exciting. I can’t tell you who I’m playing, but you’re going to be excited when you see.”

Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns (The Leader)

Tim Blake Nelson first appeared as Samuel Sterns (aka Leader) in The Incredible Hulk. Sixteen years later, he’ll reprise his role in Captain America: Brave New World. Sterns was a scientist working with Bruce Banner to develop a cure for the Hulk. After Banner’s blood drips into Stern’s head wound, he gains the power of superhuman intellect rather than superhero strength.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Nelson explained what it’s like to be returning to the MCU. “I’m headed to Atlanta tomorrow to continue working on that. It’s been very exciting to bring back a character from 16 years ago and imagine how he has aged with me and how that has manifested,” he explained. “The Marvel team has come up with a really interesting explanation – revelation, I should say, as to what he’s been up to for 16 years and why.”

Danny Ramirez Is Joaquin Torres (Falcon)

Danny Ramirez is set to make his MCU film debut in Brave New World, reprising his role as Joaquin Torres from Marvel’s series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier. Torres, a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant and intelligence officer, is a close friend of Sam Wilson, from whom he took over the superhero alter ego Falcon.

“[Shooting in] Atlanta, in the summer, during a 90-degree day is tough. It was insane,” the actor told Deadline about adjusting to the Falcon suit.

Shira Haas Is Ruth Bat-Seraph

Shira Haas will appear in Brave New World as Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow. Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross. In the comics, Sabra first appeared in the early 1980s courtesy of “The Incredible Hulk.”

Her character’s announcement sparked controversy amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict. In 2022, Variety confirmed that Marvel will pivot away from Ruth’s backstory in the comics. “While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics. They are always freshly imagined for the screen and today’s audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago,” the studio said in a statement.

Captain America: Brave New World will also feature Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Liv Tyler as scientist Betty Ross, Xosha Roquemore, and more. Stay tuned to learn more about the cast.

Watch Marvel’s official teaser for Brave New World below.