Captain America 4 director Julius Onah has addressed the decision to highlight Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk role in Captain America 4 within the film’s early marketing, explaining why this reveal was made before moviegoers could experience it firsthand. Onah spoke with Empire Magazine to clarify the challenge of keeping major surprises hidden when anticipation around the Marvel Cinematic Universe is high and leaks are frequent.
Marvel Studios released Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth entry in the franchise, in United States theaters this past February. The film features Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, stepping into his role as Captain America, and introduces Harrison Ford as Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross—who transforms into Red Hulk, a long-awaited moment for fans.
Challenges in Keeping Red Hulk a Secret
Although the transformation into Red Hulk is reserved for a dramatic finale in the movie, viewers already knew Ford would embody the character due to the studio’s trailers and promotional content. Many fans were taken aback that this major development had not only been revealed pre-release but also occurred so late in the story. When asked about the decision to show Red Hulk in the trailers instead of saving the twist for theaters, Julius Onah pointed to the sheer scale of Marvel’s audience and the modern landscape of leaks and merchandising.
“When you’re making a movie like this, an announcement goes out that Harrison Ford is going to play Thaddeus Ross, and you have a fandom as massive and as passionate as the MCU fandom is, you’re toast at that point, you know? In a perfect-case scenario, it would have been awesome [if ] that [had been] an in-theatre surprise, but I think it would have been very difficult. Somewhere along the way, a toy would have been found, or somebody would have leaked a trailer. It’s just so hard to keep anything secret in today’s day and age.”
—Julius Onah, Director
Expanding Cast and Ongoing Storylines
Aside from Ford and Mackie, the film boasts an expansive ensemble that includes Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Xosha Roquemore as Leila Taylor, Giancarlo Esposito as Seth Voelker, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns. Their roles help drive the plot and deliver fresh perspectives within the MCU, expanding the universe for fans both old and new.
Following its theatrical launch, Captain America 4 is now available for streaming on Disney+, giving viewers the opportunity to catch Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk role in Captain America 4 and witness the impact of these creative marketing choices themselves. The advanced publicity around Red Hulk serves as a testament to both the anticipation of Marvel’s audience and the serious difficulties of keeping secrets in the age of internet leaks and eager fandoms, suggesting future reveals may face similar challenges.
