The latest casting news for Captain America 4, titled “New World Order,” suggests that it is essentially The Incredible Hulk 2. The film is set to feature the return of several characters from The Incredible Hulk, including Betty Ross and The Leader.

Characters Returning From The Incredible Hulk

Hulk, The Leader, Captain America

Samuel Sterns, played by Tim Blake Nelson, will reprise his role as The Leader, while Harrison Ford will play Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who has been recast since his prior appearances in the MCU. Liv Tyler is also rumored to be returning as Betty Ross.

Continuing The Story

The Leader

The return of these characters suggests that Captain America 4 will continue the story established in The Incredible Hulk, which has gone largely underutilized in the MCU. Thunderbolt Ross has undergone a big change since the events of The Incredible Hulk, going from Lieutenant General to US President. Meanwhile, Samuel Sterns’ story will likely pay off the hints to his alter ego, The Leader, present in the 2008 film.

No Hulk Appearance

World-War-Hulk

Despite the film’s Hulk-centric elements, it is unlikely that the Hulk himself, played by Mark Ruffalo, will make an appearance. This is because the Hulk’s story has been set up in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where he was last seen with his son Skaar. While She-Hulk herself could potentially make a cameo in Captain America 4, neither she nor Bruce Banner are likely to have significant roles.

Why No Incredible Hulk Sequel?

Edward Nortan Hulk

The reason why Marvel Studios has not produced a solo Hulk movie since The Incredible Hulk is due to the distribution rights, which are held by Universal Studios. Marvel can only use the Hulk as a supporting character in other projects, which is why the character has appeared in other MCU films, such as the Avengers movies, Thor: Ragnarok, and She-Hulk.

In conclusion, Captain America 4 appears to be the secret sequel to The Incredible Hulk, continuing the story with the return of several characters from the 2008 film. While the Hulk himself is unlikely to appear, Thunderbolt Ross and The Leader will likely play significant roles in the film. Despite the clear links between the two films, it remains unlikely that Marvel Studios will produce another solo Hulk movie in the near future due to distribution rights issues.