Captain America: Brave New World features Anthony Mackie as the new Cap taking on Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk. However, unlike Steve Rogers, how is a puny human going to survive as Sam Wilson doesn’t have the super soldier serum?
It’s a gripe that the fans have brought up, particularly with that poster which shows Red Hulk punching Cap’s shield (see below). It seems Marvel is well aware of the fan concerns as along with four new images released, producer Nate Moore tackles Sam vs Red Hulk along with VFX supervisor Dan Cox.
Marvel well aware of the concerns
Moore fills in EW.com they are well aware of concerns regarding how a powerless Sam would be able to go toe to toe with Red Hulk (who in the comics can beat the original Hulk, She-Hulk, Thor, Silver Surfer, and even punched a Watcher!).
“As soon as we decided this was the story we were going to tell, we realized there was a big hurdle,” Moore admitted to EW.com.
Cox also realizes that if Sam “takes a punch” from Red Hulk that “his head’s going to go flying.”
How to even the playing field?
The solution? Thank Black Panther. Sam gets outfitted with a new Wakanda-made vibranium wingsuit, where Moore says it “somewhat” levels the playing field.
“I say ‘somewhat’ because it’s a Red Hulk,” Moore said. “What are you going to do? We’re very conscious of not having the movie feel disingenuous. So, giving Sam equipment to survive is different than giving Sam equipment to succeed.”
In the comics, virbranium absorbs kinetic energy, so technically, Hulk’s punches wouldn’t be effective.
Sam vs Red Hulk battle
Rumors have said that Sam only faces Red Hulk one time in the movie. The article actually reveals details and says the big fight happens at the end of the film in Washington, D.C. across multiple different environments. It’s doubled down that Sam is able to fight (and survive) Red hulk because of Sam’s new Wakanda-made vibranium wingsuit and Captain America’s shield.
“We had to choreograph the fight sequences to allow him to constantly be using those as, basically, two additional limbs so that he can take the Hulk punches from time to time, but he does everything he can to avoid those anyway,” Cox revealed. “You’ll see it in the action sequence; it’s not fun when he gets hit.”
Captain America: Brave New World opens February 14, 2025 directed by Julius Onah.
