This article contains spoilers For “Captain America: Brave New World”.

“Captain America: Brave New World” may have been the first foray for Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as Captain America in the Marvel cinematographic universe, but that also looked like a series of “The Incredible Hulk” of 2008. This strange aberrant value of the otherwise interconnected MCU feels different, does not correspond, left behind for years. Even its titular character has been rebuilt as Moody, Edward Norton Skulking Hulk has been abandoned For the more optimistic alternative and Chummy Avengers by Mark Ruffalo.

The fourth film “Captain America” ​​overturned the script by integrating the first adventure in the world of Sam as a ceiling in a continuation of several scenarios which directly connected to this second film MCU. Despite the cameos and connections, Hulk de Ruffalo has never appeared. For what? The director of “Brave New World”, Julius Onah, recently explained the omission of Mr. Green in an interview with La Playlistexplaining:

“Well, I think that at the end of the day, and I am happy that it landed where he did – this is Sam’s story. This is Sam’s first cinematographic adventure as Captain America. And you want it to be about Sam that Mark Ruffalo is as exciting as it would be to have done, but suddenly, but suddenly, Sam film. “

In other words: “Captain America: Brave New World” may have closed several loose ends of “The Incredible Hulk”, but that did not feel the need to steal the show with a direct appearance of the other guy.

Okay, so Ruffalo did not rush any pen with a return to “Brave New World”, but there were many other reminders and cameo that gave life to the biggest interconnected story, and three of them came directly from “The Incredible Hulk”. The elephant of the crimson shade in the room is the return of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as president of the United States. With a Harrison Ford without a mustache taking over from Ross The late William Hurt (That makes two major stars “Incredible Hulk” which have been reconditioned), Ross plays a central role in the intrigue of the fourth film “Captain America” ​​… even if Her involvement creates as many questions as she answers.

It goes double for Samuel Sterns, played once again by Tim Blake Nelson. The character of Nelson was sidelined in “The Incredible Hulk” and left aside in the ethers for more than a decade and a half before being resurrected under the name of The villain too smart in “Brave New World”. He even arrives during the final credit scene to make disturbing comments on the future threats of the MCU. Ross’ daughter and Banner’s romantic interest, Betty Ross, has also made a quick appearance, with Liv Tyler taking up the role.

Apart from the veterans of “Incredible Hulk”, Bucky Barnes by Sebastian Stan also appeared for a comforting and hilarious scene – clearly preparing the field for his next return to “Thunderbolts *”. The result of these MCU more good -taste integrations is a fun and relatively autonomous captain America film that connects to other MCU properties without allowing these IPS to overshadow the first outing of Sam Wilson as a CAP. The real question, however, is whether Wilson and Banner will meet again at some point. Maybe in A next Avengers film? Again, these are already quite congested.

“Captain America: Brave New World” is now playing in theaters.