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    Captain America 4 Must Finally Complete Marvel’s World War Hulk Setup

    There isn’t a Marvel project in a better position to complete the MCU’s setup for World War Hulk than Captain America: New World Order.

    Marvel Studios’ Captain America: New World Order can finally complete the MCU’s setup for a potential World War Hulk project. Following the success of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie was confirmed to be reprising the role of Sam Wilson in Captain America: New World Order, his feature film debut as the MCU’s Captain America. As well as putting Mackie front-and-center for his first solo MCU film, New World Order will also feature the likes of Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Liv Tyler, Shira Haas, and Harrison Ford, who will be taking over from the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.Sam Wilson’s take on Captain America will be far different from Steve Rogers’, who passed on the stars and stripes to the Falcon at the end of Avengers: Endgame. With no superpowers to speak of, Wilson is set to portray a much more humane and grounded Captain America, which becomes even more interesting when considering the villains he’ll be up against in Captain America: New World Order. While Phase 5 isn’t expected to include Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk in any capacity, several of his related characters will be appearing in New World Order, which could help to set up one major potential project for the MCU.

    Captain America 4 Will Star Several Hulk Supporting Characters

    Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige confirmed the development of Captain America: New World Order at 2022’s SDCC, and at the D23 Expo two months later, Feige revealed some of the principal cast for the Phase 5 film. This included Mackie, Ramirez, Carl Lumbly from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and most surprisingly, Tim Blake Nelson was confirmed to return as Samuel Sterns from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Nelson was revealed to be portraying the Leader, one of the Hulk’s biggest villains. His transformation into the Leader was set up by exposure to Bruce Banner’s blood in The Incredible Hulk.Captain America: New World Order will also mark the return of Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, Bruce Banner’s love interest who hasn’t been seen since the 2008 Hulk film (aside from a variant popping up in What If…?). Betty Ross is set to join her father as Thaddeus Ross is also set to return. Ross will be the President of the United States in New World Order, with Harrison Ford assuming the role in Hurt’s place. The inclusion of so many of the Hulk’s supporting characters in New World Order is curious, but could be the final piece in the puzzle for the MCU’s World War Hulk.

    Marvel Studios Has Been Teasing World War Hulk For The MCU’s Phase 6

    2007’s World War Hulk event is one of Marvel Comics’ most memorable storylines, and many have speculated that the plot could be adapted into the live-action MCU in the very near future. Marvel Studios hasn’t exactly been subtle about teasing the story either, particularly after Sakaar debuted in Thor: Ragnarok. Sakaar is remembered as the Hulk’s home at the start of World War Hulk in the comics. The storyline kicks-off when the Illuminati banish the Hulk from the Earth during the earlier Planet Hulk storyline, and since the concept of the Illuminati were introduced during Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU is another step closer to World War Hulk.With Namor’s introduction in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Phase 6’s Fantastic Four set do debut the MCU’s official Reed Richards, several members of the Illuminati will be in place for Phase 6. Other major characters from the World War Hulk story have also been introduced into the MCU, such as the Hulk’s “Warbound,” including Korg and Miek, Hercules (Brett Goldstein’s Greek demigod from Thor: Love & Thunder’s post-credits scene), and Bruce Banner’s son, Skaar, who debuted during She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Recent rumors also suggest that the Sentry could debut during Thunderbolts, which, if true, would further set up World War Hulk’s epic final battle.

    World War Hulk Can Start Soon After Captain America 4

    Even if Ruffalo won’t have a part to play as Banner in Captain America: New World Order, the fact that his supporting characters are being reintroduced to the MCU in Phase 5 means that they could all be involved in the upcoming World War Hulk project. The MCU bringing back General Ross in a story that also includes the Leader is a sign that he might transform into the MCU’s much-anticipated Red Hulk, possibly as a result of the villain’s machinations. Red Hulk could make the perfect adversary for Banner’s Hulk in battle. Developments that could occur with Betty Ross and the Leader could also potentially push him over the edge and cause the original Hulk persona to emerge once more.While the entire Phase 5 slate was revealed at 2022’s SDCC, there are still many open slots in Phase 6. So far, only Deadpool 3, Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars have been confirmed, so it’s possible that one of these empty spaces will be filled by a World War Hulk project – should Marvel Studios and Universal come to some agreement over the Hulk’s film rights. The fact that the project has stayed hidden could simply be to avoid spoilers for other upcoming projects, but Captain America: New World Order could conclude this, meaning the wait for World War Hulk​​​​​​​ might not go on for much longer.

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