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The Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn't quite so organized in its early years. There were many ideas on the table and many years of planning before the MCU turned into the massive franchise it is today. It was even the plan for the first Avengers film to feature the Incredible Hulk as the antagonist, much like he was in the 1963 Marvel comic. But one early MCU deleted scene offers another hint at a different direction the franchise might have taken.
The scene can be found in Marvel Studios' second film, 2008's The Incredible Hulk. While many fans may forget the movie, it introduced some of the longest-running concepts in the MCU. Not only did it mark the first time Tony Stark made a cameo in a film, strengthening the bonds of the shared universe, but it also hinted at the origin of Captain America, three years before The First Avenger. However, the scene was poised to give a full tease of the Star-Spangled Man before it was ultimately cut.
Captain America's Shield Appears at Bruce Banner's Lowest Moment
In the comics, Bruce Banner is a victim of multiple personalities and mental disorders. While Hulk is a physical manifestation of one of his personalities, its presence has caused him considerable depression. This has led to multiple suicide attempts that Hulk continuously thwarted by arriving to save Banner's life.
In the deleted scene, Bruce takes a truck to the Northern Regions and continues to travel the icy landscape until he is as far north as he can humanly go. Plagued with the decisions of his past, he decides that it is best to end his life. He takes a revolver out and pulls the hammer back. However, before he can finish what he set out to do, Hulk emerges and destroys the firearm. And among the icy rubble that surrounds Hulk is a brief glimpse of Captain America's shield. The moment is discussed in the Avengers film but never mentioned again.
The scene was incredibly paced and continued the story of a man on the run. However, the studio felt it was far too dark in tone, so it ended up on the proverbial cutting-room floor. But for a few years, the deleted scene became something of an urban legend. However, it was later included on a Blu-ray release, confirming its existence.
The decision was ultimately for the best because Captain America: The First Avenger premiered three years later. At that point, the game plan for Phase One of the MCU was already in place. Captain America was placed on ice and found in a very different manner. However, it's nevertheless fun to try and find him in the deleted scene, as it's nearly impossible to do without going frame-by-frame.
It's difficult to imagine an MCU in which that deleted scene is still used, and Captain America is found in a different way. It's unclear whether that version would have been for better or worse. But the MCU feels more definitive now than it ever has. And all of that is thanks to movies like The Incredible Hulk and the scenes that made it to the screen.