MCU fans are curious to know President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, AKA Red Hulk’s origin in Captain America 4: Brave New World. Although the comics don’t go into great depth about his drastic transformation, the recently released film appears to have. Moreover, fans are eager to learn about the Leader’s whereabouts since his last appearance in The Incredible Hulk.
Without further delay, let’s delve into the details of where the Leader has been all along as well as Red Hulk’s origins.
How did Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross become the Red Hulk in Captain America 4?
Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) discovers about facing death sooner than expected. Thus, he turns to Samuel Sterns, AKA Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) to ask for aid, including helping him prolong his life and becoming US president. In exchange, Ross promises him freedom from prison. Therefore, Sterns provides him with mysterious tablets.
When Ross breaks his promise and lets the scientist remain in prison, it is ultimately disclosed that Sterns’ plans are much bigger than what meets the eye. At first, he appears to have saved the former’s life by asking him to consume life-prolonging tablets. However, Sterns is secretly also exposing Ross to gamma radiation, which leads to him turning into Red Hulk.
Leveraging his smarts from behind bars, Sterns stages Isiah Bradley’s assassination to provoke Ross’ Red Hulk. However, his attempts fail due to Sam Wilson’s intervention. Albeit, Ross officially channels his red, monstrous energy in front of the whole crowd during his White House Q&A.
Where has the Leader been since The Incredible Hulk in MCU?
Apart from Red Hulk’s origin story, Captain America 4 reveals that Samuel Sterns has been held captive since the events of The Incredible Hulk.
Thaddeus Ross makes sure to pin all the blame on Samuel Sterns for his Abomination rampage in The Incredible Hulk. While his alter ego, Leader, does massive damage to the world, it also helps him develop massive intellectual abilities. On top of that, Ross keeps exposing Sterns to more gamma radiation, enhancing his smarts but leaving him deformed.
Despite this, Samuel Sterns develops an ability to predict outcomes and helps the military in many possible ways. While he never gets the freedom Ross promised him, he ensures the to-be president gets the taste of his own medicine in Captain America: Brave New World. After secretly transforming him into Red Hulk, Sterns also exposes his actions publicly after his White House debacle. As a result, both Sterns and Ross are imprisoned for their crimes.
