HOLLYWOOD (AP) — The director of Marvel’s upcoming “Captain America: Brave New World” has shared his enthusiastic reaction to seeing Harrison Ford’s transformation into the Red Hulk, describing the experience as both “surreal” and “incredible.”
Julius Onah, speaking to Fandango, revealed that the iconic character’s inclusion in the film sparked immediate excitement during development. “When Red Hulk first became a possibility in this film, I just smiled. I was smiling like a kid,” Onah said, emphasizing the character’s significance to the story.
The film marks a significant transition for the character of President Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, previously portrayed by William Hurt, who passed away in 2022. Ford has stepped into the role, bringing his legendary screen presence to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5.
Ford himself maintained his characteristic dry humor when discussing his crimson alter ego at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con. “It was based on what I had done and it’s animated so it looked familiar,” the actor noted, adding with a quip that his wife “thinks I look like that all the time.”
Onah emphasized that the Red Hulk’s inclusion goes beyond mere spectacle, touching on deeper themes within the film. “The Hulk character is such an expression of pure id,” he explained, highlighting the relatable aspects of the character’s rage and its thematic significance to the story’s central conflict.
The film, which will feature a showdown between Ford’s Red Hulk and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, represents a new chapter in Marvel’s evolving narrative. According to Onah, the transformation serves both the inner fan and the storyteller in him, promising to deliver both visual spectacle and emotional depth.
This adaptation of the Red Hulk character marks another milestone in Ford’s storied career, bringing a fresh interpretation to the Marvel universe while maintaining the character’s iconic status in comic book lore.
