Infinity War Gag Reel Reveals Deleted Hulk Scene

CBR

By Nicole Sobon

Published Aug 1, 2018

A new image from the gag reel for Avengers: Infinity War suggests the Incredible Hulk was originally present in a key scene after all.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War, available now on digital HD.

Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War arrived this week on digital HD, bringing with it a slew of bonus features. In addition to commentary by directors Joe and Anthony Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, there are deleted scenes, and an entertaining gag reel. And it's the latter that brings one of the film's more interesting reveals.

Trailers and TV spots for the blockbuster depicted the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, among the Avengers and their Wakandan allies on Earth, and a veritable cottage industry sprang up around plot theories based on the film's toy tie-ins: Bruce Banner was piloting the Hulkbuster armor, and would of course "Hulk out" at a key moment during the Battle of Wakanda. There was even an action figure set called "Hulk Out Hulkbuster." However, when Infinity War arrived in theaters, audiences discovered there was no such scene; the Hulk appears only in the film's opening sequence, and then does emerge again. And that shot of the Hulk running into battle with his allies? It was a conscious act of misdirection by the filmmakers.

However, a fleeting shot in the Infinity War gag reel may suggest the "Hulk out" scene was indeed shot. Standing alongside Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Ruffalo wars not only a pair of giant foam torso, but also CGI gear, indicating he filmed a sequence as the strongest Avenger on the Wakanda set.

The packaging for Hasbro's Hulk Out Hulkbuster figure depicts the Green Goliath bursting out of the armor, suggesting that Banner finally regained control over his other half. Of course, what we actually see in the film is a Banner who initially could barely operate the Hulkbuster as he tried to help the other heroes -- all while the Hulk fought back against his pleas for help.

The Russo brothers admitted they purposely shot scenes for the trailers that didn't make the final cut, to help maintain a veil of secrecy around the plot. It's a safe bet there's still plenty of footage that hasn't been revealed -- and more than likely won't be. Given that the Hulk and Thor have minimal screen time after Banner is teleported by Heimdall back to Earth, it seems all the more likely there's unfinished footage of the Green Goliath in the Battle for Wakanda.

However, it's worth noting that Hemsworth's costume in this discarded sequence matches the one he wears early on in Infinity War; if you look closely, you'll note the god of thunder appears to be missing his sleeves from his iconic entrance into Wakanda. With so many actors and so many different sets, it's possible that Ruffalo and Hemsworth simply took time to goof off between takes.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Infinity War stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Tom Hiddleston and Josh Brolin. The film arrives Aug. 14 on DVD and Blu-ray.