Even more than Iron Man 2 or Thor: The Dark World, The Incredible Hulk is the runt of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s litter. To date, the only solo MCU movie centered on Bruce Banner, the production got hampered by delays, creative differences and a final film that didn’t seem to understand its task. It prompted a major rethink, including casting Mark Ruffalo as Banner, but since then, the Hulk has played a much different role in the MCU. Yet despite that, The Incredible Hulk remains a part of the shared universe, which the MCU has noted by bringing back several of its supporting players. William Hurt’s Thunderbolt Ross is the most prominent example -- and the announced Thunderbolts feature film suggests the character’s impact is more than incidental.
Another prominent figure from the movie has yet to cross over, however. The Leader, whom the films set up as a major future villain, got dropped when The Incredible Hulk performed below expectations. But if the Thunderbolts movie needs another team member -- especially the brainy type -- he might make a perfect fit.
What Happened to The Incredible Hulk’s The Leader?
The Leader first appeared in 1964’s Tales to Astonish #62, which featured Hulk stories at the time. Like the Hulk, he gained his powers through gamma radiation, though it affected his mind instead of his body. It granted him superhuman intelligence and an array of mind-based abilities such as telekinesis and telepathy. He also served as one of the Hulk’s primary antagonists for many years, providing a decidedly different threat than either authority figures like Thunderbolt Ross or bruisers like The Abomination.
The Incredible Hulk clearly had plans for The Leader, casting Tim Blake Nelson as biologist Sam Sterns. Initially dedicated to helping Banner cure his condition, Emil Blonsky forced Sterns to inject Banner’s blood into him, turning him into The Abomination. But Sterns also got exposed to the same blood after Blonsky attacked him. That’s where the movie left him, though the canon comic book series, Fury’s Big Week, fills in a few more details. In fact, after The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow found Sterns and remanded him to SHIELD custody, where his brain has continued to expand.
Why The Leader Is the Perfect Villain for the Thunderbolts Movie
Marvel’s plans for The Leader may have gotten thrown for a loop by The Incredible Hulk’s lack of box office punch, but there was clearly a good deal of material there. Sterns’ whereabouts and plans are potentially limitless since he went into SHIELD custody before the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and could have readily escaped during the organization's subsequent schism. That makes bringing him back to the MCU a comparative snap, and with material already developed for him, he could become a central figure in the franchise with surprising speed.
Furthermore, The Thunderbolts, as they stand, are likely in need of a thinker. The list of potential members includes a lot of big bruisers but comparatively few characters capable of analyzing and mentally overcoming their obstacles. The Leader, with his initial benevolence and presumed good intentions, can fill that position while still providing apt justification for his presence on the team. And if The Abomination is there, the shared past between the two creates instant drama simply by putting them in the same room together.