As Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut in Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel fans are discussing the franchise's best recasts

Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Captain America: Brave New World sees Harrison Ford replace the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross, the newly elected President of the United States. Now, Marvel fans are discussing other MCU recasts on Reddit, including Mark Ruffalo replacing Edward Norton as Bruce Banner and Don Cheadle taking over from Terrance Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes.

"First two are really not so much better but just different kinds of performances," wrote one user. "Terrance Howard for Don Cheadle however is just a plain upgrade." Others agree that Ruffalo and Cheadle were both excellent additions to the franchise.

"Edward Norton wouldn’t have worked as the Avengers Hulk, I think that was a good recast," said someone else.

"All three were good. But Cheadle was the best. Such a massive upgrade in skill," wrote another fan.

Viewers are divided on which actor was the better version of Ross, however, although most can agree that Ford still did a good job in the role. "I think William Hurt would have been a better President Ross. I've just rewatched his scenes as Ross, and he so intense and intimidating!" another user wrote.

"Harrison Ford was great as well (he especially had an incredible chemistry with Anthony Mackie), but imo he had no as much charisma as William Hurt, as an antagonist. RIP."

"Harrison Ford is so good in Brave New World," someone else posted. "He makes me fully believe that Ross wants to turn a corner but is struggling with everything baring down on him. And damn it it’s Indiana Jones, it’s Han Solo. I want to like him already!"

The latest big-screen installment in the MCU sees Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson take on the mantle of Captain America after the shield was passed on to him in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He's joined by Joaquin Torres (played by Danny Ramirez) as the new Falcon, along with Ford's President Ross, AKA Red Hulk, and Giancarlo Esposito as new villain Sidewinder.

Captain America: Brave New World is out now in theaters. For more, check out our Captain America: Brave New World review and our guide to watching the Marvel movies in order.

Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

Read more
Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
Harrison Ford hopes that he doesn't "disappoint" fellow Marvel star Mark Ruffalo with his performance as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World director says it was "surreal" seeing Harrison Ford's Red Hulk for the first time
Captain America: Brave New World trailer still
Harrison Ford hopes Red Hulk can return after Captain America: Brave New World – and pays tribute to William Hurt
Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World ends a surprising 17-year Marvel streak with its no-nonsense opening
Danny Ramirez and Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World review: "Anthony Mackie's Cap earns his Stars and Stripes in this uneven, un-MCU thriller"
Captain America: Brave New World
First reactions to Captain America: Brave New World compare the Marvel movie to Winter Soldier, but point out some major issues
Latest in Marvel Movies
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
The Russo Brothers say Robert Downey Jr. "tried to talk us into" doing another Avengers movie but they "said no" until they heard the pitch for Doomsday: "That story has to be told"
Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia!
Mean Girls star Amanda Seyfried was offered the role of Gamora in the MCU, but turned it down because she thought Guardians of the Galaxy would be "Marvel's first bomb"
Robert Downey Jr. during the Doctor Doom announcement at Marvel's SDCC 2024 panel
Kevin Feige was behind the decision to bring Robert Downey Jr. in as Doctor Doom, and the conversation was had "a while ago"
Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds has given us the weirdest Marvel movie marathon ever to mark 10 years since the first Deadpool movie started filming
Pacific Rim
The 35 greatest 2010s sci-fi movies
Gwyneth Paltrow in Avengers: Endgame
Gwyneth Paltrow can't believe how many Marvel movies she's been in: "That can't be right"
Latest in News
Silent Hill 2
Famed Silent Hill artist Masahiro Ito, creator of Pyramid Head, says scrapped concepts of freaky creatures "still exist in my mind" and "their children may be" used in future titles
The two characters in Split Fiction holding their hands up in surrender in a futuristic city
The actors behind Split Fiction's main characters nearly botched their first auditions because they didn't know the script had two sides: "We were just stood there, sweating"
Wreckfest 2
Devs behind beloved destruction-focused racing game Wreckfest launch the sequel in early access with a trailer full of physics glitches and fatal error messages
Crash Bandicoot PS1
Former Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida says the PlayStation marketing team had to completely redesign Crash Bandicoot in PS1 commercials because he was too ugly for the Japanese market
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
The Russo Brothers say Robert Downey Jr. "tried to talk us into" doing another Avengers movie but they "said no" until they heard the pitch for Doomsday: "That story has to be told"
American Truck Simulator
3,348 days later, American Truck Simulator is finally delivering the DLC I've been waiting for longer than Hollow Knight fans have been anticipating Silksong