We Think We Know Exactly Why Harrison Ford's Ross Is In Captain America 4

Harrison Ford has been cast as General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in the MCU, and he's surely going to play a major role in Captain America: New World Order. Thunderbolt Ross is one of the most important enemies of the Hulk and was initially portrayed by William Hurt in the future Avenger's eponymous 2008 movie. After co-starring in The Incredible Hulk, Hurt reprised the role in Captain America: Civil War and Black Widow. The actor passed away in March 2022, leading Marvel Studios to recast the part of Thunderbolt Ross for future appearances.

Marvel has now chosen Harrison Ford as the new Thunderbolt Ross in one of the studio's most high-profile casting announcements to date. Marvel recently changed their contracts, moving away from signing actors up for a decade or more and instead making single-season or single-movie deals. This was seen as a more talent-friendly strategy with the potential to draw in the biggest stars who wouldn't be willing to sign away such a massive part of their lives. The decision seems to have been successful, with Ford being cast as Ross in the upcoming sequel Captain America: New World Order. Ross's role in the movie is still a mystery, but it's possible that he'll be there to put pieces of the plot together.

Thunderbolt Ross Needs A New Role In The MCU

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In the comics, Thunderbolt Ross is traditionally portrayed as a military leader in charge of pursuing the Hulk. The MCU's iteration started the same way but changed jobs by the time of Captain America: Civil War. Apparently, a heart attack led him to leave the military and begin a political career. He became associated with the Sokovia Accords — intrusive legislation passed by the United Nations to control the Avengers and police the emerging superhuman community. But it's important to note that this role has come to an end in MCU Phase 4. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law revealed that the Sokovia Accords were repealed sometime after the events of Avengers: Endgame. This means Ross no longer has a clear role in the MCU.

Thunderbolt Ross Could Be Tied To Damage Control

Sokovia Accords Repealed MCU Change She-Hulk Deparment of Damage Control

The Sokovia Accords may be over, but Spider-Man: No Way Home, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law all suggested superhuman activity is still closely monitored in the United States. Enhanced individuals are now policed by the Department of Damage Control, originally established to clean up after the Avengers but with some sort of extended remit. The Department of Damage Control now have the right to arrest superhumans, holding them in their own Supermax prison, and they can conduct criminal investigations into the loss of advanced technology. Most concerning, there's evidence Damage Control then make use of the tech they've confiscated, meaning they're an increasingly well-resourced organization.

Thunderbolt Ross would be the perfect head of Damage Control. He has experience dealing with superhumans — even liaising with the Avengers during the time the Sokovia Accords were law — and in the past, he's run black-ops projects to create super-soldiers and reverse-engineer advanced tech. Damage Control's aggressive approach is perfectly in keeping with Ross's character, too, because he considers superhumans potential threats; this is the man who compared Thor and the Hulk to "a couple of 30 megaton nukes," after all. A position in charge of Damage Control would make Thunderbolt Ross a key player in the post-Avengers: Endgame "New World Order," and therefore potentially in Captain America 4 as well.

What Will Thunderbolt Ross' Relationship To Sharon Carter Be?

Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross could well be something of an antagonist to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, but the most interesting question is how he could interact with Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter, who is also confirmed to appear in Captain America: New World Order. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier revealed Sharon has gone rogue after the passing of the Sokovia Accords. She is now the MCU's Power Broker, positioning herself to sell state secrets, super-soldier serums, and advanced technology to the highest bidder. She'd certainly be interested in acquiring Damage Control's secrets, which would probably put her on Thunderbolt Ross's radar.

Alternatively, it's important to remember that Thunderbolt Ross hasn't always been known for going by the book. In fact, in the comics there have been many occasions where he has worked with people like the Power Broker, using them to gain access to technology he wouldn't otherwise possess. It's entirely possible Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross will be an ally of the Power Broker, rather than an adversary.

Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross WIll Surely Become The Red Hulk

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In the comics, Thunderbolt Ross ultimately becomes the Red Hulk — a powerhouse who puts even Bruce Banner's Hulk to shame. If Harrison Ford really is signed up for just the one movie, then it's quite likely Marvel will choose to tell that particular tale in Captain America: New World Order. The studio surely wouldn't want to waste Ross's most famous story now they've cast such a major actor for the role. Indeed, that would potentially explain why a recast was so necessary after William Hurt's death. Thunderbolt Ross is simply too important to the script, and they couldn't possibly write him out.

Supporting this theory, Marvel has already confirmed the return of another character from The Incredible Hulk: Tim Blake Nelson's Samuel Sterns, a.k.a. "The Leader." Exposed to Gamma radiation at the end of The Incredible Hulk, the Leader has been missing from the MCU for more than a decade. It's likely he's actually been watched over by Ross all this time. The general would surely have been put in charge of the clean-up after The Incredible Hulk, and there's no way he would have missed someone who'd been exposed to Gamma radiation. In the comics, the Leader conducts his own Gamma experiments, and he is one of two supervillain scientists responsible for transforming Ross into the Red Hulk.

All this would set Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross up as one of the most important characters in Captain America: New World Order. It would mean Ford isn't just joining the MCU; he's becoming one of the most important characters of all, a key player in the titular "New World Order" and a Hulk to boot. Viewers would no doubt be thrilled to see the celebrated actor transform into a big-screen powerhouse.

Next: The Winter Soldier Still Has A Huge Impact On The MCU