Avengers: Infinity War Secretly Made Captain America: Brave New World's Story Way Sadder 7 Years Before The Movie Even Released With One Major Off-Screen Death

President Thaddeus Ross has a surprisingly different opinion of The Avengers in Captain America: Brave New World, compared to previous appearances, and this may be owed to an unseen moment in Avengers: Infinity War. Ross made his MCU debut in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, as one of the film’s antagonists, pursuing and striving to capture Bruce Banner. Thaddeus Ross returned in the MCU’s Phase 3, hoping to regulate the Avengers via the Sokovia Accords and later attempting to have Captain America’s contingent of former Avengers arrested.

By the events of Brave New World, however, Ross had a significant change in demeanor towards The Avengers. With the team having disbanded following the death of Tony Stark, Ross – now the US President -informs Sam Wilson of his plans to reestablish the team with Captain America as its leader once more. Ross’s new attitude might have been motivated by a tragic event that happened offscreen in Infinity War.

Betty Ross Died In The Snap

When Thanos acquired all six Infinity Stones in Infinity War, he used his now-omnipotent powers to eradicate half of all life in the universe. Naturally, countless MCU characters died in what became known as “the Snap,” and not all fatalities were shown in Infinity War. According to the Russo Brothers themselves in a 2018 interview with the Huffington Post, one of the characters who died in the Snap was Thaddeus Ross’s daughter – Betty Ross. While Betty being one of the Snap's victims hasn't been obliquely referenced in the franchise yet, it does shed new light on another character arc.

How Betty Ross Being One Of The Snap's Victims Changes What The Story Of Captain America: Brave New World Looks Like

As shown in Avengers: Endgame, The Avengers used time travel to reclaim the Infinity Stones, with The Hulk using them to resurrect everyone who Thanos disintegrated – including Betty Ross. Given how much he loves his daughter, Ross would certainly feel incredibly grateful for the team of heroes who brought her back. Ross’s gratitude takes on even greater meaning when considering one iteration of Endgame’s script.

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Ross himself was apparently also a victim of the Snap and thus one of the many people who The Avengers resurrected (with Ross’s life being owed to Bruce Banner, no less). Ross specifically notes The Avengers’ role in the defeat of Thanos and the resurrection of most of his victims when discussing his plans for the team in Captain America: Brave New World. While Ross is certainly grateful for all the good The Avengers did for the world, he was likely also referring to his and Betty’s lives.