Draft:Thaddeus Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

In late 2006, Marvel Studios announced on their website that their next project would be a reboot of Hulk (2003), set for release in 2008.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2006 |title=The Incredible Hulk To Smash Into Theaters JUNE 13, 2008 |url=http://marvel.com/news/movies/2006/11/6/729/the_incredible_hulk_to_smash_into_theaters_june_13_2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001100906/http://marvel.com/news/movies/729/the_incredible_hulk_to_smash_into_theaters_june_13_2008 |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2014 |website=Marvel.com}} By June 2007, American actor William Hurt was cast to play the comic character Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in the film, eventually titled The Incredible Hulk (2008).{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=June 13, 2007 |title=Hurt hurtling to Hulk cast |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hurt-hurtling-hulk-cast-138667/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} The Hollywood Reporter reported that movie would see Ross dedicating his life to capturing the Hulk, who was set to be played by American actor Edward Norton. Sam Elliott, who portrayed Ross in the 2003 film expressed disappointment at being replaced stating he wished Marvel would "have considered using some of the 2003 cast".{{Cite news |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=November 2, 2007 |title='Hulk' Stars Give Thumbs-Up For Sequel Counterparts; Marvel Goes Red |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2429358/hulk-stars-give-thumbs-up-for-sequel-counterparts-marvel-goes-red/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303152813/http://www.mtv.com/news/2429358/hulk-stars-give-thumbs-up-for-sequel-counterparts-marvel-goes-red/ |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=December 8, 2022 |publisher=MTV}} Despite this, he praised the new cast and added that he approved of Hurt's casting.

{{quote box||align=|width=25em|quote=When Hurt passed, it was a surprise. You figure out if it's worth proceeding with the story you have or trying something else. It just so happened that Harrison Ford reached out to Kevin Feige about potentially playing in the Marvel sandbox.|source=—MCU producer Nate Moore on recasting Ross.}}

Hurt died on March 13, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=March 13, 2022 |title=William Hurt Dies: Oscar-Winning Kiss Of The Spider Woman Actor & Four-Time Nominee Was 71 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/william-hurt-dead-oscar-winning-actor-was-71-1234977307/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} MCU producer Nate Moore noted that before Hurt's death, he was told about the plans to turn Ross into his comic counterpart, the Red Hulk which reportedly excited him.{{Cite magazine |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Seeing red: How the new Captain America turned Harrison Ford into the Red Hulk (exclusive) |url=https://ew.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-red-hulk-harrison-ford-making-of-exclusive-8763310 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221015433/https://ew.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-red-hulk-harrison-ford-making-of-exclusive-8763310 |archive-date=December 21, 2024 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} After his death, Moore noted that Marvel began to reevaluate how to proceed with Ross's story or come up with a new plot until American actor Harrison Ford reached out to Kevin Feige about potentially appearing in a MCU film. The role was announced to be recast in October 2022 with Ford replacing Hurt in Captain America: Brave New World (2025).{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=October 17, 2022 |title=Harrison Ford Joining Captain America 4 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/harrison-ford-joining-captain-america-4-marvel-1235241621/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ford called the idea of replacing Hurt a "daunting prospect", adding that it's a "delicate thing to think about, stepping into the shoes of someone else that has played a character so successfully and so treasured by the Marvel universe [...] I had the emotional opportunities to continue what he had done and bring it to some kind of conclusion".{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/harrison-ford-william-hurt-captain-america-brave-new-world-daunting-prospect-9754199|title=Harrison Ford on taking over Captain America role from the late William Hurt: 'It was a daunting prospect'|accessdate=February 16, 2025|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 12, 2025|last=Romano|first=Nick}}

The character, played by William Hurt, first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film The Incredible Hulk (2008) as a high-ranking military officer who was obsessed with recreating the serum that gave Steve Rogers his abilities.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/mcu-sam-wilson-red-hulk-recap-story-captain-america-brave-new-world/|title=Sam Wilson And Red Hulk Recap: 10 Things To Know From Previous Marvel Movies & Shows Before Captain America: Brave New World|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=February 13, 2025|last=Craig|first=Richard}} Scientist Dr. Bruce Banner uses gamma radiation to try and achieve results, which accidentally transforms him into a monster nicknamed the Hulk.{{Cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/captain-america-brave-new-world-things-to-remember-incredible-hulk/|title=4 Things to Remember From The Incredible Hulk Before Watching Captain America: Brave New World|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=The Nerdist|date=February 14, 2025|last=Diaz|first=Eric}} Screen Rant writer Richard Craig noted that Ross saw the Hulk as a "potential weapon". Ross is portrayed as one of the film's antagonists hunting Banner down, and later recruits British Royal Marine Emil Blonsky to take an alternate version of Banner's serum which turns him into the Abomination.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/red-hulk-mcu-timeline-explained/|title=Red Hulk's Complete MCU Timeline Explained: Super Soldier Origin, Avengers Villain, & President|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=December 28, 2024|last=Howard|first=Brandon}} Hurt later reprised his role for the Marvel One-Shot The Consultant (2011) via archival footage from the final scene of The Incredible Hulk.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Cindy |date=August 29, 2011 |title=First Impression: Thor 3D Blu-ray Special Features |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/29/first-impression-thor-3d-blu-ray-special-features |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223062726/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/29/first-impression-thor-3d-blu-ray-special-features |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=January 13, 2014 |website=IGN}}

After eight years, Hurt next appeared as Ross in Captain America: Civil War (2016).{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=August 15, 2015 |title=Marvel brings Captain America: Civil War to Disney's D23 Expo |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/15/marvel-d23-expo-civil-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815200414/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/15/marvel-d23-expo-civil-war |archive-date=August 15, 2015 |access-date=August 15, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} On his role, Hurt called it a "new iteration completely", describing Ross as mature and less like the comic book version.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-hurt-captain-america-civil-20150624-story.html|title=William Hurt promises a new version of General Ross in 'Captain America: Civil War'|website=Los Angeles Times|date=June 24, 2015|accessdate=February 16, 2025|last=Woerner|first=Meredith}} The film saw Ross transitioning from a military officer into politics, becoming the United States Secretary of State, and presenting the Avengers with the Sokovia Accords, a legislation designed to regulate superheroes. Ross's crackdown on the Avengers lead to a rift between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark and the subsequent breaking apart of the team. Director Joe Russo noted that Red Hulk was considered for the movie, but was decided against due to the excess amount of characters in the narrative.{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/civil-war-iron-spider-red-hulk/|title='Captain America: Civil War' Directors Considered Including Red Hulk and Iron Spider|publisher=/Film|last=Han|first=Angie|date=August 25, 2016}} In 2017, director James Gunn expressed interest in making a film featuring both Red Hulk and the Hulk, but due to conflicts with Universal Pictures over the film rights, the film never project never entered development.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/james-gunn-wanted-to-direct-red-hulk-film/|title=James Gunn Wanted to Helm a Hulk/Red Hulk Film |last=Sobon |first=Nicole |date=July 1, 2017 |website=Comic Book Resources |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518080750/https://www.cbr.com/james-gunn-wanted-to-direct-red-hulk-film/ |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019 |df=mdy-all}} Ross's appointment as Secretary of State was also covered in the second season of the faux digital series WHIH Newsfront (2016) as promotion for Captain America: Civil War.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/captain-america-brave-new-world/|title=10 Things to Know About Red Hulk Before You See Captain America: Brave New World|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Comic Book Resources|date=January 31, 2025|last=Apgar|first=Michael}}

Hurt went on to reprise the role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).{{Cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Huw |date=April 30, 2018 |title=The biggest cameos and surprise appearances in Avengers: Infinity War |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2018-04-30/avengers-infinity-war-cameos-guest-stars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501073258/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2018-04-30/avengers-infinity-war-cameos-guest-stars/ |archive-date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2018 |website=Radio Times}}{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Cooper |date=April 27, 2019 |title=Every Character in Avengers: Endgame |url=https://screenrant.com/avengers-endgame-cast-every-character-return/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426133414/https://screenrant.com/avengers-endgame-cast-every-character-return/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=April 28, 2019 |website=Screen Rant}} The former saw him enforcing the Accords on James Rhodes, while the latter saw him attending Tony Stark's funeral after falling victim to The Blip.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-infinity-war-showed-my-son-a-hero-like-him-war-machine-1107350/|title=My Son Finally Has a Hero Like Him in 'Avengers: Infinity War' (Guest Column)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 1, 2018|accessdate=February 16, 2025|last=Kalfrin|first=Valerie}} Screenwriter Christopher Markus also stated that the writers briefly considered bringing Ross as Red Hulk in Endgame.{{cite web|author=Bonomolo, Cameron|title=Red Hulk Was Considered for Avengers: Endgame|publisher=ComicBook.com|url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/2019/08/03/avengers-endgame-red-hulk-considered-writers/|date=August 3, 2019|access-date=October 2, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804000352/https://comicbook.com/marvel/2019/08/03/avengers-endgame-red-hulk-considered-writers/}} Hurt appeared as Ross in Black Widow (2021){{efn|Set after the events of Captain America: Civil War and before the events of Avengers: Infinity War.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/black-widow-setting-marvel-timeline/|title=When is Black Widow set? Marvel movie's timeline explained|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Radio Times|last=Fullerton|first=Huw|date=July 7, 2021}}}} which saw the character pursing Natasha Romanoff for violating the Accords.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/black-widow-marvel-references|title=16 details you may have missed in 'Black Widow'|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Business Insider|date=July 10, 2021|last=Acuna|first=Kirsten}} On his character, Hurt noted that there was a "fatigue setting" in Ross after trying to control the Avengers, adding that Ross "imagined, back when he was contending with Hulk, that he was the conquering soldier going around the world, but things have gotten more complex and difficult".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/black-widow-william-hurt-thunderbolt-ross-mind/|title=Black Widow Star William Hurt Explains 'Thunderbolt' Ross' State of Mind|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Comic Book Resources|date=November 19, 2020|last=Childs|first=Kelvin}} Despite this, Hurt felt that the character still had a "sense of dignity" but that "he's the soldier on the last hill at this point".

In Captain America: Brave New World, Ross, now played by Harrison Ford after Hurt's death, has been elected the President of the United States (POTUS). During the film, Ross clashes with the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, after an assassination attempt. Ross becomes the Red Hulk after ingesting gamma pills given to him by Samuel Sterns.{{efn|Screen Rant writer Simon Gallagher noted that Sterns was trying to ruin Ross's legacy for scapegoating him as the mastermind behind the events of The Incredible Hulk (2008).}} As the Red Hulk, Ross destroys the White House, fights Captain America (who talks and calms him down), and is later imprisoned in the superhuman prison, the Raft.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/mcu-red-hulk-origin-captain-america-brave-new-world-explained/|title=How Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross Becomes Red Hulk Explained|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=February 14, 2025|last=Gallagher|first=Simon}} Additionally in the film, Ross's head of security, Ruth Bat-Seraph is a former Black Widow assassin, in which Collider writer Gregory Mysogland noted that this implied Ross "helped neutralize the Red Room after [Romanoff] publicly exposed it and freed the other Widows", which "explains how he and [Bat-Seraph] joined forces".{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/hulk-movie-2008-captain-america-brave-new-world-connections/|title=Here's How Edward Norton's 2008 Hulk Movie Connects to 'Captain America: Brave New World'|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=Collider|last=Mysogland|first=Gregory|date=February 13, 2025}} In 2022, there were conflicting reports about Ford being set to reprise his role in Thunderbolts* (2025), with The Hollywood Reporter reporting that he would, while Variety reported that he would not.{{Cite web |last1=Vary |first1=Adam B. |last2=Jackson |first2=Angelique |date=October 17, 2022 |title=Harrison Ford Joins Marvel's 'Captain America: New World Order' as Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, Replacing William Hurt |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/harrison-ford-marvel-captain-america-4-william-hurt-1235403286/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017170925/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/harrison-ford-marvel-captain-america-4-william-hurt-1235403286/ |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=Variety}} By 2024, various media outlets suggested that Ford would not be appearing the film.{{Efn|As suggested by Entertainment Weekly,{{Cite magazine |last1=Bucksbaum |first1=Sydney |last2=Holub |first2=Christian |date=July 27, 2024 |title=Marvel's Thunderbolts cast tease stunts and Lewis Pullman's mystery role at Comic-Con panel |url=https://ew.com/marvel-thunderbolts-comic-con-2024-lewis-pullman-8684871 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728164137/https://ew.com/marvel-thunderbolts-comic-con-2024-lewis-pullman-8684871 |archive-date=July 28, 2024 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} and Esquire.{{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Josh |date=July 27, 2024 |title=Marvel's Thunderbolts: Everything We Know So Far |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a41622790/harrison-ford-mcu-thunderbolts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728030716/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a41622790/harrison-ford-mcu-thunderbolts/ |archive-date=July 28, 2024 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=Esquire}}}}

File:Liv Tyler 2, 2007.jpg is portrayed by American actress Liv Tyler]]

In The Incredible Hulk, Ross's daughter, Dr. Elizabeth "Betty" Ross, helps create the primer that allowed Bruce Banner to "absorb gamma radiation" which ultimately turned him into the Hulk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/betty-ross-mcu-explained/|title=Who is Betty Ross in the MCU?|accessdate=February 22, 2025|website=Comic Book Resources|date=February 28, 2024|last=Sawan|first=Amer}} After Banner's transformation, Ross's character arc focuses on him chasing the Hulk, which puts him at odds with Betty as she is in love with Banner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/incredible-hulk-captain-america-brave-new-world-connections/|title='Captain America: Brave New World' Is Basically a Sequel to 'The Incredible Hulk' – Here's What You Need to Remember|website=TheWrap|date=February 13, 2025|accessdate=February 16, 2025|last=Bryant|first=Jacob}} Betty opposes her father which causes friction and tension between the two, and they subsequently become estranged.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/captain-america-brave-new-world-features-surprise-mcu-cameo-2008-film|website=soapcentral.com|title=Captain America: Brave New World features a surprise MCU cameo from this 2008 film|accessdate=February 22, 2025|last=Batham|first=Anurag|date=February 18, 2025}}

Throughout Captain America: Brave New World, Ross is shown trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Betty, who later visits her father at the Raft after his Red Hulk transformation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/was-liv-tyler-really-in-captain-america-brave-new-world-betty-ross|title=The Return of an MCU Character in Captain America: Brave New World Sure Felt Weird, But Marvel Says There Was Nothing Fishy About It|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=IGN|date=February 15, 2025|last=Zalben|first=Alex}} Director Julius Onah found Ross and Betty's relationship to be the heart of the film as Betty represented a "human side" to Ross. He also said that the biggest motivating factor for Ross becoming President was seeking reconciliation with Betty.{{Cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=February 13, 2025 |title=How Harrison Ford's Red Hulk Leaned Into 'American Werewolf in London' for 'Captain America: Brave New World' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/captain-america-brave-new-world-director-julius-onah-interview-1235094797/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213204805/https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/captain-america-brave-new-world-director-julius-onah-interview-1235094797/ |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=IndieWire}} while simultaneously "trying to cement his legacy and redefine who he has been as a human being and as a leader".{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/captain-america-brave-new-world-director-defends-harrison-ford-cameos-reshoots-1236315040/|title='Captain America: Brave New World' Director Julius Onah Explains Those Cameos, Reveals What the Reshoots Replaced and Defends Harrison Ford: 'He Was an Utter Professional'|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=Variety|date=February 21, 2025|last=Vary|first=Adam}}

In Captain America: Brave New World, Ross's transformation into the Red Hulk required motion capture and visual effects (VFX) technology, which Ford embraced after having utilised de-aging effects for his role in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=August 1, 2024 |title=Harrison Ford Says Red Hulk Acting in 'Captain America 4' Required 'Not Caring' and 'Being an Idiot for Money, Which I've Done Before. I Don't Mean to Disparage It' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/harrison-ford-red-hulk-acting-captain-america-brave-new-world-1236091166/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806141638/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/harrison-ford-red-hulk-acting-captain-america-brave-new-world-1236091166/ |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |website=Variety}} The visual development team for Red Hulk was led by Ryan Meinerding alongside the New Zealand–based digital VFX company, Wētā FX.{{Cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=February 13, 2025 |title=How Harrison Ford's Red Hulk Leaned Into 'American Werewolf in London' for 'Captain America: Brave New World' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/captain-america-brave-new-world-director-julius-onah-interview-1235094797/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213204805/https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/captain-america-brave-new-world-director-julius-onah-interview-1235094797/ |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=IndieWire}} Wētā was involved in making Red Hulk resemble Ford with CGI, which required filming him giving an "angry performance" at Trilith Studios. Speaking to Variety, Ford noted that the motion capture process required him to be "an idiot for money, which [he had] done before".{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/harrison-ford-red-hulk-acting-captain-america-brave-new-world-1236091166/|title=Harrison Ford Says Red Hulk Acting in 'Captain America 4' Required 'Not Caring' and 'Being an Idiot for Money, Which I've Done Before. I Don't Mean to Disparage It'|date=April 1, 2024|website=Variety|accessdate=April 27, 2025|last=Sharf|first=Zack}} He clarified that he did not mean to "disparage" it, but added that "you have to do certain things that normally your mother would not want you to do — or your acting coach, if you had one", but noted that he had fun doing so.

While the VFX for Banner's green Hulk was based on apes, Ford's Red Hulk was based on a bear, with Onah stating that they wanted Red Hulk "to have a slightly different posture" and a "different way he held his chest out". Wētā was also involved in "modeling a new high-resolution muscle set", and to help show "bones breaking, reforming, driving under the skin, vein detail, and clothes ripping and disintegrating". Onah noted that a key inspiration for Red Hulk's transformation was An American Werewolf in London (1981).

In the film, Ford's portrayal of Ross is noticeably missing the character's signature moustache.{{Cite web|url=https://fandomwire.com/sam-elliott-and-william-hurt-both-had-it-some-marvel-fans-are-pissed-with-harrison-fords-1-comic-inaccurate-decision-with-general-ross/|title="Sam Elliott and William Hurt both had it": Some Marvel Fans Are Pissed With Harrison Ford's 1 Comic Inaccurate Decision With General Ross|accessdate=April 27, 2025|date=July 13, 2024|last=A|first=Nishanth}}{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-thunderbolts-ross-harrison-ford-moustache-kept-op-ed/|title=I Wish Harrison Ford Had Kept 1 Key Part Of Thunderbolt Ross' Character In Captain America: Brave New World|accessdate=April 27, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=February 21, 2025|last=Young|first=Kai}} Screen Rant writer Kai Young noted that "VFX artists may have struggled to properly animate the Red Hulk with Ross' mustache, or this could have simply looked too silly to bring into live-action, so getting rid of it meant that the Red Hulk's emergence wasn't a comedic affair".

{{quote box|align=right|width=20em|quote=Any resemblance to US Presidents living or dead is entirely coincidental. So far, we have not had a President who can transform into a Hulk [...] This is about one man trying to deal with his own history, with his own temperament, with his own circumstances.|source=—Harrison Ford on any coincidental resemblances to US Presidents.{{Cite web |last=Ayala |first=Nicolas |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Captain America: Brave New World's Title Change And Reshoots Addressed By Marvel Executive And Anthony Mackie |url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-title-change-reshoots-marvel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221015312/https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-title-change-reshoots-marvel/ |archive-date=December 21, 2024 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |website=Screen Rant}}}}

Some fans and critics compared President Ross to that of real-life American President Donald Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/captain-america-star-anthony-mackie-cautions-fans-not-make-comparisons-between-trump-red-hulk|title='Captain America' star Anthony Mackie cautions fans to not make comparisons between Trump and 'Red Hulk'|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Fox News|date=February 1, 2025|last=Tamasco|first=Marc}}{{Cite web|url=https://fandomwire.com/why-fans-are-comparing-harrison-fords-red-hulk-to-us-president-donald-trump-explained/|title=Why Fans Are Comparing Harrison Ford's Red Hulk to US President Donald Trump: Explained|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Fandom Wire|date=March 22, 2025|last=Sultan|first=Maria}} Reason writer Peter Suderman called Ross a "loose allegory" for Trump, opining that despite the film being shot before the 2024 United States presidential election where Trump won a second term, it was not hard to overlook any parallels.{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2025/04/04/captain-america-brave-new-world/|title=Review: Is the New Captain America Movie an Allegory for Donald Trump?|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Reason|date=May 1, 2025|last=Suderman|first=Peter}} He felt the movie was a warning for the "perils of supercharged executive power" running amok. Writing for the same publication, writer Matthew Rosza opined that "Trump, at his worst, is easily the inferior of Marvel's Ross since his motivation for not accepting the election results was pure ego", and noted that while Ross gave up his power in the end, Trump "refused to do the right thing".{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2025/02/14/the-new-captain-america-film-has-important-lessons-for-trump-and-biden-stans/|title=The New Captain America Film Has Important Lessons for Trump and Biden Stans|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Reason|date=February 14, 2025|last=Rosza|first=Matthew}} David Fear, writing for Rolling Stone, joked that Ross is "still only the second-most destructive, rage-filled commander in chief to ever hold office".{{Cite magazine |last=David |first=Fear |date=February 12, 2025 |title='Captain America: Brave New World' Is Just MCU: Business as Usual |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-mcu-anthony-mackie-1235251815/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212174659/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-mcu-anthony-mackie-1235251815/ |archive-date=February 12, 2025 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

The assassination attempt on President Ross by Isaiah Bradley was compared to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks, which occurred two days after the Captain America: Brave New World trailer was released.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-4-ross-assassination-attempt-prediction-continues/|title=Captain America Movies Keep Predicting The Real World (Up To The Trump Rally Shooting)|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=July 14, 2024|last=Erdmann|first=Kevin}} Screen Rant writer Kevin Erdmann found the situation "bizarre" feeling that it was not "hard to draw parallels", but did add that it was not the first time a Captain America film referenced real life situations, remembering a pandemic-related subplot of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) being deleted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some compared Ross's international treaty to Trump's "America First" policies, which cancelled federal diversity programs and ultimately pulled the US out of "out of international treaties and threatened America's allies". Ross destroying the White House as the Red Hulk was linked with the January 6 United States Capitol attack, while Suderman also noted similarities between Samuel Sterns and his manipulation of Ross, to that of Elon Musk's relationship with Trump.

In an Esquire interview, Anthony Mackie denounced the comparisons noting that he is "tired of all the political jousting", urging fans to "chill" and go watch the movie.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a63544860/anthony-mackie-captain-america-brave-new-world-interview-2025/|title=Anthony Mackie Is Captain America Now. How About That?|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=Esquire|date=January 30, 2025|last=Langmann|first=Brady}}{{Cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/anthony-mackie-captain-america-red-hulk-donald-trump-comparison/|title=Red Hulk Comparisons to Donald Trump Gets Blunt Reaction from Captain America Star|accessdate=April 5, 2025|last=Lund|first=Anthony|website=Movie Web|date=January 31, 2025}} Ford also commented on the comparisons, noting he "would not taint any movie with the reality of the world we're living in right now", adding he "prefers the reality of the Marvel universe to the morning's news".{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250212-new-captain-america-film-flies-into-trumpian-headwinds|title=New 'Captain America' film flies into Trumpian headwinds|accessdate=April 5, 2025|website=France 24|date=February 12, 2025}}

{{Main|Thunderbolt Ross|Red Hulk}}

In the mainstream comics set in the Marvel Universe (Earth-616), Ross's comic counterpart, Thunderbolt Ross, made his debut in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) and was primarily depicted as a villain for the Hulk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/captain-america-brave-new-world/|title=10 Things to Know About Red Hulk Before You See Captain America: Brave New World|date=January 31, 2025|last=Apgar|first=Michael|website=Comic Book Resources|accessdate=February 21, 2025}} In Hulk #1 (2008), Red Hulk made its appearance, but it was not until World War Hulk (2010) that the Red Hulk was revealed as Ross.{{cite comic|writer=Loeb, Jeph|Penciller=McGuinness, Ed|Inker=Vines, Dexter|story=Who is the Hulk?|title=Hulk|volume=2|issue=1|date=February 2008|publisher=Marvel Comics}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a63799131/captain-america-brave-new-world-red-hulk-marvel-comics-history/|title=Captain America: Brave New World Introduces Red Hulk. But Thunderbolt Ross's Alter Ego Has History.|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=Men's Health|date=February 14, 2025|last=George|first=Joe}} Ross has been well received in the comics, being ranked at number 71 by IGN on their list of the "Greatest Comic Book Villains of All Time".{{cite web|url=http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/71.html|title=71. Thunderbolt Ross|publisher=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509075929/http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/71.html|archive-date=May 9, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=January 23, 2017}}

There are various difference between the MCU and comic version of the Red Hulk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/is-red-hulk-stronger-than-green-hulk/|title=Is Red Hulk Stronger Than Green Hulk? The Captain America: Brave New World Villain, Explained|accessdate=February 21, 2025|date=December 21, 2025|last=Morganti|first=Ben|website=Comic Book Resources}} In the comics, Red Hulk had the power to absorb energy which is not present in the MCU.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/thunderbolt-ross-explained-mcu-harrison-ford/|title=Thunderbolt Ross Explained: The Man, The Myth, The Mustache|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=Collider|date=October 24, 2022|last=Tash|first=Kevin}}{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-hulk-red-hulk-differences-list/|title=10 Biggest Differences Between The Hulk & Red Hulk In The MCU To Know Before Captain America: Brave New World|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=Screen Rant|last=Young|first=Kai|date=January 20, 2025}} Additionally, in the comics, Ross transformed into Red Hulk with the help of Intelligencia headed by MODOK, while in the MCU, Samuel Sterns gave him his powers through gamma-radiated pills. Another major difference Men's Health writer Joe George noted was that unlike his MCU counterpart, Ross "enjoys very little public support" with George going on to describe him as a "monster himself". Additionally, despite being depicted as a villain, Red Hulk has appeared as member of the Avengers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/red-hulk-thunderbolt-ross-marvel/|title=Red Hulk - Harrison Ford's MCU persona explained|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=GamesRadar|last=Marston|first=George|date=July 13, 2024}} and has lead the Thunderbolts, a team comprised of various antiheroes. Comic Book Resources writer Michael Apgar noted that the comic team Red Hulk leads is "very different from the lineup of anti-heroes set to headline" in the 2025 film Thunderbolts* (2025), featuring characters such as the Punisher and Elektra among others.

In the comics and in other various media, Ross as a character has had various titles and nicknames, most notably nicknamed "Thunderbolt".{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/mcu-thunderbolt-ross-name-explained/|title=Why MCU Ross Is Called Thunderbolt In Captain America: Brave New World (& How He Connects To The Movie)|accessdate=February 22, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=February 16, 2025|last=Tanenbaum|first=Ross}} However, in the MCU, it is not fully addressed except as a "cool nickname that adds to his legendary military status". George opined that the nickname derived from his rise into becoming the US President "with a reputation as a war-mongering hot-head". Contrastingly, in the comics, Ross earned the name during a fight in the South Pacific "for his tendency to strike like thunder". In Captain America: Brave New World Ross also earned the "insult[ing]" nickname "Hulk Hunter" in the media for his relentless chase of Bruce Banner, and his unintentional creation of the Abomination and its subsequent battle with the Hulk.

Thaddeus Ross joined the United States Army and served during the Vietnam War. Ross worked his way up the American military, eventually becoming a three-starred lieutenant general. He married Karen Lee who later passed away, but not before the two had a daughter named Betty Ross. As a young girl, Ross often took Betty to see the cherry blossom trees in Japan.

Sometime before 2010, Ross became involved in a military research program, Project Gamma Pulse, aimed at replicating the Super Soldier Serum, which was created by Doctor Abraham Erskine in World War II to create the super soldier Captain America. Doctors Bruce Banner and Betty become involved in the project believing gamma radiation to be the answer to Erskine's original formula. During an experiment, Ross and Betty watch as Banner transforms in the Hulk. The Hulk kills two scientists, knocks Betty unconscious, crushes Ross's left arm and escapes. Ross blames Banner (who goes into hiding) for the incident and vows to hunt him down, causing a rift between himself and Betty.

{{Further|The Incredible Hulk (film)|label1=The Incredible Hulk|The Consultant (film)|label2=The Consultant}}

In 2010, Ross becomes aware that Banner is hiding out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He recruits a team of soldiers, including British Royal Marine Emil Blonsky, to bring Banner in tranquillised, but does not divulge information about Banner's condition to them. After arriving in Brazil, Ross watches on a computer inside a van as the team attempts to capture Banner who turns into the Hulk killing various soldiers, and escapes. Ross later informs an angry Blonsky of Banner's condition, and offers him a similar serum, gaining enhanced abilities.

Ross tracks Banner to Culver University where Banner has reunited with Betty. As Ross and his army attempt to capture Banner in his Hulk form, Betty begs her father to stop. Ross watches as Blonsky is subsequently kicked by the Hulk across the university's field, breaking every bone in his body. Banner escapes with Betty. Blonsky survives his injuries with the help of Ross's first serum, and allows him to be injected with more. Ross tracks Banner and Betty down trying to cure Banner with the help of Samuel Sterns, and takes them into custody. Unbeknownst to Ross, Blonsky coerces Sterns to further enhance his strength. Sterns transforms Blonsky into a monstrous "Abomination", who goes on to rampage around Harlem. Ross reluctantly allows Banner to transform into the Hulk to stop him. After the Hulk defeats Blonsky, Ross watches him escape one last time.

Ross is later approached by Tony Stark, acting as a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D., who informs him that a team is being put together. Ross attempts to have Stark removed from the bar and refuses to release Blonsky into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Sometime after, Ross uses Sterns as a scapegoat, blaming him for the Harlem incident. He imprisons Sterns in an underground military base called Camp Echo One, and forces him into making advanced weapons. Ross promises to release Sterns if he gets elected President.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-incredible-hulk-2-list/|title=8 Ways Captain America: Brave New World Is The Incredible Hulk 2|accessdate=February 21, 2025|last=Erdmann|first=Kevin|website=Screen Rant|date=February 18, 2025 }}

{{Further|Captain America: Civil War|Black Widow (2021 film)|Avengers: Infinity War|Avengers: Endgame|label2=Black Widow}}

By 2016, Ross had suffered from a heart attack and underwent thirteen hours of a triple bypass surgery, and consequently retires from the military. He is appointed as the United States Secretary of State. He visits the Avengers Compound and presents the Avengers with the Sokovia Accords, a set of legal documents signed by 117 countries, designed to regulate the activities of powered individuals such as themselves. He later orders Stark to bring Rogers in for violating the Accords by aiding Bucky Barnes who was a suspect in a terrorist bombing at the United Nations. After Stark brings in Rogers's allies, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton and Scott Lang, Ross locks them up in the Raft, a maximum security prison designed to hold enhanced people.

Sometime after the Avengers Civil War, Ross undergoes a second triple bypass surgery, and is now dying from heart failure.{{efn|As mentioned in Black Widow (2021).{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/black-widow-movie-general-ross-cgi-deaging-marvel-reason/|title=Black Widow: Why Marvel Has CGI De-Aged General Ross|accessdate=February 21, 2025|last=Hood|first=Cooper|website=Screen Rant |date=March 10, 2020}}}} Running out of hope, Ross reapproaches Sterns who develops pills to keep him alive. Ross refuses to release Sterns for fear that he would no longer make the pills. Unbeknownst to Ross, Sterns then alters the pills and adds gamma radiation. Ross later pursues Natasha Romanoff who is in violation of the Accords for assisting Rogers. Ross tracks Romanoff down to a train station with a SWAT team, only to find her tracker. He later tracks her down to the destruction of the Red Room in which Romanoff orchestrated. Sometime after, Ross becomes aquatinted with a former Black Widow assassin, Ruth Bat-Seraph.

In 2018, Ross contacts James Rhodes at the Avengers Compound about the disappearance of Vision. After seeing Vision brought in by Rogers, Wilson, Romanoff, and Maximoff, he orders Rhodes to arrest them. When Rhodes refuses, Ross responds by placing him under court-martial. Ross later falls victim to The Blip. In 2023, Ross is revived and attends Stark's funeral.

{{Further|Captain America: Brave New World}}

In November 2026,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/captain-america-brave-new-world-timeline-mcu/|title=When does Captain America: Brave New World take place on the Marvel timeline?|accessdate=February 25, 2025|magazine=Games Radar|date=February 14, 2025|last=Watson|first=Fay}} Ross is elected as the President of the United States, and is upset when Betty does not attend his inauguration. In response to the emergence of a "Celestial Island",{{efn|An island formed when the Celestial Tiamut emerged from the Indian Ocean, as depicted in the film Eternals (2021).}} Ross sets up an international treaty with Japan, India and France, to govern the mining and distribution of a rare metal inside the island known as Adamantium.

In 2027, Ross sends the newly appointed Captain America, Sam Wilson, and Joaquin Torres to Oaxaca, Mexico to stop the Serpent Society from selling stolen refined samples of Adamantium. To celebrate Wilson and Torres, Ross invites them and Isaiah Bradley to a summit at the White House with various world leaders. During the meeting, Bradley and four other men attempt to assassinate Ross. Wilson, Torres and Bat-Seraph, Ross's new security advisor, manage to stop them and arrest Bradley, who denies any knowledge of the attack. Ross has trouble with the world leaders who do not think Ross can salvage the treaty. Ross deduces that Sterns is behind the attacks. He later leads the US army at Celestial Island in race to acquire Adamantium before the Prime Minister of Japan. Ross becomes angry after a phone call from Sterns, although he calms down after Wilson and Torres manage to stop two pilots that Sterns had brainwashed from declaring war on the Japanese. Ross tells Wilson of his heart failures and Sterns's pills, and also rings his daughter Betty; the two share a heartfelt phone call.

During a press conference, Ross loses control of his emotions after being hounded by the press, and turns into a Red Hulk due to the excess gamma radiation in his body from Sterns's pills. Wilson arrives and fights the Red Hulk who destroys the White House and the surrounding Washington, DC monuments and landscape. Unable to overpower the Red Hulk, Wilson attempts to calm him down by reminding him of visits to DC's cherry blossom trees with Betty. After being talked down by Wilson, Ross reverts to normal, takes full responsibility for his actions and stands down as President. He is incarcerated at the Raft where he reunites with Betty.

File:Travis Willingham by Gage Skidmore.jpg voiced Ross in the Disney+ animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025)]]

Multiple alternate versions of Ross are depicted in the MCU multiverse, voiced by Michael Patrick McGill (What If...? and X-Men '97) and Travis Willingham (Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/x-men-97-season-1-episode-7-bright-eyes-review|title=X-Men '97: Season 1, Episode 7 - "Bright Eyes" Review|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=IGN Africa|date=April 25, 2024|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse}}{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/your-friendly-neighborhood-spider-man-marvel-season-2-villains/|title=Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: Every Villain Teased for Season 2|accessdate=February 21, 2025|website=ComicBook.com|last=Vito Oddo|first=Marco|date=February 19, 2025}}

{{See also|What If...? (TV series)|Label1=What If...?}}

• In an alternate 2010, Ross leads the United States Army at Culver University in order to capture Banner. He finds Banner with Betty Ross and Natasha Romanoff who both try to stop Ross from attacking. During the chaos, a soldier accidentally shoots Banner turning him into the Hulk. Unbeknownst to everyone else, a revenge-driven angry Yellowjacket / Hank Pym enters Banner's body and enlarges his heart with Pym Particles. Ross watches in horror as Banner explodes.
• In another alternate universe, Ross is made aware of the murder of Tony Stark, apparently at the hands of the Wakandans. He seizes Stark's assets despite protests from Pepper Potts. Ross puts the Stark Liberator Drones into production, and wages war on Wakanda. However, once the drones passed beyond Wakanda's protective barrier, their signals were disrupted before being destroyed by the Wakandan army and a traitorous Erik Stevens.
• In an alternate 2015, Ross watches as Infinity Ultron launches all of Earth's Nuclear weapons on itself, leading to the extinction of the human race.

{{See also|X-Men '97|Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man}}

• In an alternate 1997, Ross's military base is attacked by X-Men member Rogue who demands information from Ross about where to find Henry Peter Gyrich and Bolivar Trask.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-97-episode-7-easter-eggs-marvel-references/|title=All 16 Marvel Easter Eggs & References In X-Men '97 Episode 7|accessdate=March 30, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=April 24, 2024|last=Erdmann|first=Kevin}}
• In an alternate 2016, Ross attends a charity diner in support of an incident in Lagos. He is approached by Norman Osborn who asks him how the search for Steve Rogers is going. Ross refuses to comment. Osborn brags about his security before Ross notices an intruder alarm on Osborn's tablet, suggesting Osborn focus on his own security. Ross later receives intel from Osborn about Otto Octavius illegally distributing Gamma-infused weaponry. Ross orders a raid on Octavius' lab, and calls on Iron Man to help stop him.{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/your-friendly-neighborhood-spider-man-marvel-heroes-deserve-spin-off-series/|title=Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: 8 Marvel Heroes That Deserve A Spin-Off|accessdate=March 30, 2025|website=Game Rant|date=February 23, 2025|last=MacReady|first=Melody}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = William Hurt (2005) crop.jpg

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| footer = Ross has been portrayed by William Hurt (left) and Harrison Ford (right); both have received generally positive reviews for their roles.

}}

Hurt's portrayal of Ross received a generally mixed-to-positive reception with Looper and BuzzFeed ranking him at numbers 71 and 36 respectively in their list of worst to best MCU villains.{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/77198/every-mcu-movie-villain-ranked-worst-best/|title=Every MCU Movie Villain Ranked Worst To Best|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Looper|date=November 25, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/marvel-studios-movie-villains-ranked|title=All Of The Marvel Studios Movie Villains, Ranked From Worst To Best|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=BuzzFeed News|date=May 1, 2019|last=Vary|first=Adam}} For his role in The Incredible Hulk (2008), BuzzFeed News writer Adam Vary noted that Hurt is "never not interesting" but the character was often "so all over the place that there's not much there for [Hurt] to play". In a review for the same film, writing for The Independent Critic, Richard Popes praised Hurt's portrayal, opining that he "shines by giving General Ross the perfect touch of humanity to accompany his obviously dastardly ways".{{Cite web|url=https://theindependentcritic.com/the_incredible_hulk|title= "The Incredible Hulk" Review|accessdate=February 17, 2025|last=Popes|first=Richard|website=The Independent Critic}}

Ford's portrayal of Ross in Captain America: Brave New World (2025) received generally positive reviews with various writers finding Ford's portrayal to have "gravitas".{{efn|As per The Guardian,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/12/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-harrison-ford-juggles-green-screens-red-fists-and-vanilla-plotting|title=Captain America: Brave New World review – Harrison Ford juggles green screens, red fists and vanilla plotting|accessdate=February 16, 2025|website=The Guardian|date=February 12, 2025|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter}} Radio New Zealand, and Entertainment Weekly.}} Radio New Zealand writer Samuel Rillstone added that Ross "gets a little short-changed towards the end though and [he] would've liked a little more out of him in this outing".{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541971/review-captain-america-brave-new-world|title=Review: Captain America - Brave New World|accessdate=February 16, 2025|date=February 15, 2025|last=Rillstone|first=Samuel|website=Radio New Zealand}} Collider writer Aidan Kelley praised Ford's portrayal for "inject[ing] a lot of humanity into a previously pretty unlikable character".{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-review/|title='Captain America: Brave New World' Review: Not Even Harrison Ford Can Save the MCU From Hitting Rock Bottom|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Collider|date=February 13, 2025|last=Kelley|first=Aidan}}

Entertainment Weekly writer Maureen Lee Lenker also positively reviewed Ford's portrayal, opining that Ford "acts the hell out of his scenes", and that he "commands any scene he’s in with a gruff stillness, but he also brings compassion to Ross, transforming him from a military shill to a character who's easy to root for".{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-harrison-ford-hulk-smashes-together-movie-11571830|title=Captain America: Brave New World review: Harrison Ford Hulk-smashes together a hodge-podge movie|accessdate=February 17, 2025|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date= February 12, 2025|last=Lee Lenker|first=Maureen}} Lee Lenker added that while the Red Hulk reveal was inevitable and known to most audience members, "it's a testament to Ford’s intuitive, deft performance that the moment still feels shocking when it does finally come". The Hollywood Reporter writer Frank Scheck also praised Ford, noting that he "makes the most of it, even subjecting himself to the rigors of motion capture for his character’s extreme physical transformation".{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford-marvel-1236133439/|title='Captain America: Brave New World' Review: Anthony Mackie Takes the Lead, but Uninspired Marvel Entry Lets Him Down|accessdate=February 17, 2025|date=February 12, 2025|last=Scheck|first=Frank|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

Thunderbolt Ross appears in The Incredible Hulk (2008), a tie-in video game to the film of the same name, voiced by William Hurt.{{cite web |title=General Thunderbolt Ross Voices (Hulk) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Hulk/General-Thunderbolt-Ross/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Additionally, Red Hulk appears as a playable character in the GameStop-exclusive Xbox 360 version.{{Cite news| title = The Red Hulk Comes To GameStop | publisher = Game News International | date = May 8, 2008 | url = http://gamenewsi.com/index.php?itemid=19866&catid=1 | access-date = May 8, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080512132450/http://gamenewsi.com/index.php?itemid=19866&catid=1 |archive-date = May 12, 2008}}

Funko released multiple variant bobbleheads of Ross as both human and the Red Hulk in support of Captain America: Brave New World.{{Cite web|url=https://www.superherohype.com/movies/584068-captain-america-4-funko-pop-harrison-ford-red-hulk-falcon|title=Captain America 4 Funko Pops Show Harrison Ford's Red Hulk & More Characters|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Superhero Hype|date=September 19, 2024|last=Rastogi|first=Apoorv}} Three versions of these were as the Red Hulk; two 6-inch version (one standard and the other a "Retro Comic" variant), and one standard sized as part of the film's Marvel Collector Corps suprise box.{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-funko-pops-leader-marvel-2000534141|title=Captain America: Brave New World's Funko Pops Give Us Our First, Big-Headed Look at The Leader|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Gizmodo|date=December 4, 2024|last=Whitbrook|first=James}} A version of Ross as a human (with Ford's likeness) was also released.{{Cite web|url=https://comicbookmovie.com/captain-america/captain-america-brave-new-world/captain-america-brave-new-world-funko-pops-reveal-closer-look-at-new-falcon-and-villainous-red-hulk-a213219#gs.kf3dwu|title=Captain America: Brave New World: Funko Pops Reveal Closer Look At New Falcon And Villainous Red Hulk|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website= ComicBookMovie.com|last=Wilding|first=Josh|date=September 19, 2024 }} Hasbro also released a set of "Red Hulk Gamma Smash Fists" which allows wearers to slip on Red Hulk's hands and "imagine having superhuman strength".{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-anthonny-mackie-cast-toy-unboxing-clip/|title=Anthony Mackie & Danny Ramirez Fight With Red Hulk Hands In This Captain America: Brave New World Toy Unboxing Video|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=February 14, 2024|last1=Danoff|first1=Owen|last2=Keyes|first2=Rob}} They additionally released a 6-inch Marvel Legends action figure, and a 4-inch Marvel Epic Hero figure which sported a melted car door accessory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/red-hulk-hasbro-captain-america-brave-new-world/|title=Red Hulk smashes his way into new wave of Hasbro Captain America: Brave New World toys|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Comics Beat|date=November 4, 2024|last=Dar|first=Taimur}} In 2024, Lego released a Lego set based on Brave New World called "Captain America vs. Red Hulk Battle" featuring a Bigfigure of Ford's Red Hulk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/best-captain-america-toys/|title=The Best Captain America Toys for MCU Fans|accessdate=February 17, 2025|website=Den of Geek|date=February 11, 2025|last=Parham|first=Lee}}

• Characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

{{Noteslist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/26fa255c-655f-49b8-8642-3670a34e26ea |title=The Consultant |date=September 13, 2011 |type=short film |access-date=April 13, 2023 |people=Leythum (director) |url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/dc2f0aea-bac6-450d-bb3c-062309e4942d |title=Captain America: Civil War |date=May 6, 2016 |type=motion picture |access-date=April 13, 2023 |people=Russo, Anthony; Russo, Joe (directors) |url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/ebaaf404-b012-4a35-a4bd-0d5d4f32ccd01 |title=Avengers: Infinity War |date=April 27, 2018 |type=motion picture |people=Russo, Anthony; Russo, Joe (directors) |url-access=subscription}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/aa2c93d5-6e09-4e2b-84ae-9f0773cc0238 |title=Avengers: Endgame |date=April 26, 2019 |type=motion picture |people=Russo, Anthony; Russo, Joe (directors) |url-access=subscription}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/6e3d316b-778f-4050-ad1a-daef6cba38d8 |title=Black Widow |date=July 9, 2021 |type=motion picture |access-date=April 13, 2023 |people=Shortland, Cate (director) |url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/5f67d8ec-b5d0-4e5b-88e2-6a84211121ad |title=Eternals |date=November 5, 2021 |type=motion picture |people=Zhao, Chloé (director) |url-access=subscription}}

{{Cite episode |title=What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes? |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/b06dadd8-b057-4972-b126-5d70326e9be1 |series=What If...? |series-link=What If...? (TV series) |last=Bradley |first=A.C. |author-link=A.C. Bradley (screenwriter) |last2=Chauncey |first2=Matthew |network=Disney+ |date=August 25, 2021 |season=1 |number=3 |access-date=April 13, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}

{{Cite episode |title=What If... Ultron Won? |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/5b75f5e6-43c1-456c-b605-da503d2ff909 |series=What If...? |series-link=What If...? (TV series) |last=Chauncey |first=Matthew |network=Disney+ |date=September 29, 2021 |season=1 |number=8 |url-access=subscription}}

}}

• {{MCU Wiki}}
• {{Marveldatabase|Thaddeus Ross (Earth-199999)|Thaddeus Ross}}

{{Marvel Cinematic Universe drafts}}

{{Draft categories|

Category:Fictional generals

Category:Fictional military strategists

Category:Fictional presidents of the United States

Category:Fictional United States secretaries of state

Category:Film characters introduced in 2008

Category:The Incredible Hulk (film)

Category:Male characters in film

Category:Male film villains

Category:Marvel Cinematic Universe characters

Category:Superhero film characters

}}