Following William Hurt’s death last year, Marvel Studios has tapped Harrison Ford to replace him as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. After its introduction in The Incredible HulkRoss has returned to the MCU Captain America Civil Warand has since made small appearances on Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers ending AND Black Widow. It says something that Marvel chose to recast Ross rather than replace him with a new character, and now we have a better understanding of why that’s happening. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige shared this when we first saw Ford play Ross Captain America: New World Orderthe character will be conveniently installed in the White House.
After watching Thunderbolt Ross become US Secretary of State, Kevin Feige revealed that he would be President of the United States when the events of Captain America: New World Order to distribute. This will lead to an interesting “dynamic” between him and Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who is now Captain America after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Feige explained to uh:
We started shooting relatively early. I’m sure everyone you’ve talked to about Harrison Ford says so, but it’s great that we meet him and talk to him and he takes on this role. He is tireless with the amount of work he does. This is certainly an important part of Thaddeus Ross. He is the president of the United States in the film. And with Harrison, you think about Air Force One, and you think about some of his run-ins with the president in Clear and Present Danger. There is a dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson. They have a history together, but in this movie we’re going to see the dynamic between Captain America and the President of the United States in a way that’s just amazing.
Thunderbolt Ross will be the second president of the United States that we see in the MCU, the first was Matthew Ellis, played by William Sadler in Iron Man 3 and some episodes of shield agents Season 3. Although She-Hulk: Lawyer revealed that the Sokovia accords, of which Ross was a big supporter, have been overturned, of course this did no harm to Ross’s political standing, as the public elected him to head the US executive. But as Kevin Feige has pointed out, he doesn’t just remember when Harrison Ford played President James Marshall Air Force Onebut the executive couldn’t help but think of the moment Ford’s Jack Ryan clashed with Donald Moffat’s chairman Bennett in Clear and present danger.
Though Kevin Feige hasn’t outright said Thunderbolt Ross and Sam Wilson would disagree Captain America: New World Ordergiven that Ross is often portrayed as an antagonistic figure, plus the fact that Sam sided with the Sokovia Accords in Captain America Civil War, it’s probably fair to say that these two aren’t exactly best friends. As such, it remains to be seen whether these two will be seen putting their differences aside for the greater good, or if Ross is in any way connected to the nefarious plan hatching Tim Blake Nelson’s return Samuel Sterns aka The Leader. Another question also comes to mind: Since Ross is so busy with his presidential duties, does that affect his chances of becoming the Red Hulk?
The other castmates of Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie in Captain America: New World Order include Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Shira Haas and Xosha Roquemore, while behind the scenes Julius Onah is directing the film, and Malcolm Spellman and Dallas Musson are writing the screenplay. New world order is scheduled in the next Marvel Movies schedule for May 3, 2024, so Ford will take Thunderbolt Ross for Goodness of God July 26 of the same year.
Source: Cinemablend
