In a twist that may surprise fans, Tim Blake Nelson’s portrayal of Samuel Sterns in Captain America: Brave New World hints at a darker role than previously theorized. While promotional materials point towards a connection between Sterns and President Ross’ transformation into the Red Hulk, they also suggest a more complex villainous agenda. In the trailers, Sterns lurks in the background, taunting Captain America with cryptic signals of his nefarious designs. Ultimately, Sam Wilson will confront Sterns, uncovering his ambitions since the events of The Incredible Hulk.
In the climax of The Incredible Hulk, Sterns begins his transformation into a Gamma mutate, a process initiated when the Abomination slams him into vials containing the Hulk’s blood. Traditionally, in the comics, Sterns evolves into the Leader, a formidable adversary of the Hulk whose powers stem not from physical strength but from heightened intelligence. Although he has not appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since The Incredible Hulk, there are strong indications that he has been scheming as the Leader during the Avengers’ battles with various foes.
Captain America: Brave New World’s Potential Main Villain: The Red Leader
Could Samuel Sterns Channel the Same Gamma Energy Used to Create the Red Hulk?
In the Earth-616 narrative of the Marvel Universe, Samuel Sterns engages in multiple confrontations with the Hulk and other heroes before meeting his end at the hands of the Punisher. Subsequently, Thaddeus Ross, in his Red Hulk form, revives Sterns, infusing him with red Gamma radiation. This transformation births the Red Leader, who subsequently aligns with the Thunderbolts, a group of anti-heroes. As the Red Leader, Sterns exhibits an even more devious persona; however, he eventually reverts to his former green appearance.
The lore surrounding Samuel Sterns reveals that red Gamma radiation is essentially a blend of conventional Gamma energy with cosmic radiation. This lethal concoction differentiates the abilities of Red Hulk from those of the Hulk, as Thaddeus Ross has the unique capacity to absorb energy and convert it into heat, while Bruce Banner’s Hulk gains strength in correlation to his anger. Consequently, the rarity of red Gamma mutates in the Marvel multiverse can be attributed to the artificial nature of red Gamma radiation.
Why the Introduction of the Red Leader Would be a Compelling Twist in the MCU
Samuel Sterns’ Long-Awaited Return Aligns Perfectly with the Red Gamma Transformation
With seventeen years and three movie appearances since his introduction, Thaddeus Ross finally emerges as the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World. Trailer footage reveals that Sterns likely plays a crucial role in this transformation as part of a broader strategy to induce chaos within the US government and fuel international tensions. While the narrative hints at Sterns revealing himself as the Leader, the film may take an unexpected turn by unveiling his evolution into the Red Leader.
As the Red Leader, Sterns could potentially wield energy-absorption abilities akin to the Red Hulk. His experimentation with red Gamma radiation hints that he may have subjected himself to similar transformations, rather than merely attempting to replicate Bruce Banner’s classic Hulk change, a pursuit they were all obsessed with during the events of The Incredible Hulk. This transformation could leave him open to exploitation of his weaknesses, a dynamic that Sam Wilson could leverage during their encounter.
Introducing the Red Leader Could Pave the Way for Another Significant Marvel Character
Liv Tyler’s Role in Captain America: Brave New World Could Transform Her into Red She-Hulk
Should Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns undergo a transformation into the Red Leader within Captain America: Brave New World, it would indicate his capacity to manipulate red Gamma radiation to create additional red Gamma mutates. In the comics, Sterns’ faction known as “the Intelligencia”is responsible for evolving several allies of the Hulk into Gamma mutates, including Betty Ross, who becomes Red She-Hulk. With Liv Tyler reprising her role as Betty Ross, there is a compelling likelihood that her character could also transition into Red She-Hulk within the MCU.
Furthermore, the portrayal of the Intelligencia in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law as a radicalized group aligns with the introduction of red Gamma mutations. Sterns’ evolution into the Red Leader would dovetail nicely with the debut of the Thunderbolts in the MCU. In the comics, Red Hulk’s original villainous faction “Code Red”evolved into a new team of Thunderbolts, which could see Thaddeus Ross’ “Red Thunderbolts”lineup featuring Red Hulk, Red Leader, the Punisher, Elektra, Deadpool, Ghost Rider, and potentially Red She-Hulk after the events of Captain America: Brave New World.
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