Harrison Ford responds to his potential return to theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)afterCaptain America: Brave New World.Ross first appeared in the MCU inThe Incredible Hulkin 2008, with the late William Hurt taking on the character.
Hurt reprised his role for a handful of subsequent MCU movies, butFord took up the mantle after Hurt’s death in 2022. Ford made his debut asRoss inCaptain America: Brave New World, which marked the first MCU movie to feature the character’s alter ego, Red Hulk. There’s been no word on Ross' future in the franchise.
In a recent interview withVariety, Ford is asked whether Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has been able to convince him to return as Ross. The actor offers a blunt response:
What This Means For The MCU
Will Red Hulk Return?
Following the release ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps(2025), there are several big MCU movies on the horizon. One of these isSpider-Man: Brand New Day, which will arrive on July 28, 2025, but it’sAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for July 21, 2025, and August 11, 2025, respectively, that mark the franchise’s most anticipated titles.
Avengers: Doomsdayis currently in production in the UK, with Robert Downey Jr. playing the titular villain. Ford’s response would suggest that audiences shouldn’t expect to see Ross/ Red Hulk make an appearance in this movie.
TheCaptain America: Brave New Worldendingfeatures Ross imprisoned on the Raft, an underwater prison facility. He’s resigned as the American President, butthe fact that he remains alive means he could certainly return.
Though Ford may not be showing up inAvengers: Doomsday, it’s possible that he will make an appearance inSecret Wars, which is expected to feature an abundance of franchise starsfrom across all phases. It’s also possible, however, that, given the very mixed response toBrave New World, the character will be kept on ice for the foreseeable future.
Our Take On Harrison Ford’s MCU Return Comments
Secret Wars Will Have Plenty Of Other Characters To Juggle
Ford is famously blunt in interviews, and his latest comment about his MCU return chances is in keeping with this trend. It’s worth noting thatFord could also be lying, which wouldn’t be unusual for Marvel stars trying to keep their appearances secret.
Ultimately, however,Ross not returning for the next few movies isn’t a major loss. Though Ford was effective as Red Hulk, the two upcomingAvengersmovies will seemingly have plenty of other characters to balance.
If Ross doesn’t show up in the next twoAvengersmovies, it’s likely Ford’s version of the character will never return to theMCU.It’s expected thatSecret Warswill wipe the slate clean for a fresh franchise start, meaning Ford’s time as Red Hulk could be over.
