“Why the f**k would they cut this?!”: Deleted Mark Ruffalo Scene from Avengers: Endgame Could’ve Given us Some Level of Closure on the Smart Hulk Disaster

SUMMARY

• Fans have long criticized the introduction of Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, feeling that the character's comedic tone ruined Hulk’s menacing presence.
• A deleted scene from the film featured Bruce Banner meeting Hulk in the Soul World, potentially explaining the transition to Smart Hulk more clearly, but it was cut from the final release.
• Fans are expressing outrage, believing this scene could have salvaged some of their issues with Smart Hulk’s portrayal, while hoping it will one day be released.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a huge cinematic franchise with countless characters spread across many timelines and universes. Marvel Studios, since its inception, has pretty much nailed every comic book character, but there have also been quite a few misses. One of the franchises’ greatest fails, at least according to fans, has been Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk.

Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/ Hulk | Credits: Marvel Studios

Debuting in Avengers: Endgame, the character has received a lot of flak since the start, for it ruined the Hulk image and persona that fans have come to love. However, Marvel fans might have gotten some closure on the Smart Hulk mishap had Marvel Studios not deleted one scene featuring Ruffalo, which most fans are just finding out about now.

Marvel Ruffalo’s Deleted Scene From Endgame That Could Have Saved Us From Smart-Hulk Fiasco

Mark Ruffalo as Hulk in the MCU | Credit: Marvel Studios

When Mark Ruffalo was cast as Hulk in the Marvel Studios, there was quite a bit of fan backlash over the decision. But soon, fans were satisfied to see the duality between Bruce Banner and Hulk, and the chemistry they had up until Avengers: Endgame. After failing to control the Jade giant after Thanos brutally destroyed him, Banner ended up becoming Smart Hulk.

The live-action equivalent of Professor Hulk from the Marvel comics, this version not only lacked the charm that his comic-book counterpart has but also turned out to be more of a goofy, just-for-laughs character. As a result, not only have fans hated Smart Hulk but wished Banner would revert back to his human form and let Hulk Smash as he did in his initial MCU appearance.

While that is yet to happen, there was one scene in Avengers: Endgame that could have somewhat made this character disaster easier to deal with. In the film, we see how Thanos snaps his finger he sees a vision of the soul world. Similarly, Ruffalo’s Banner was supposed to see Hulk in the soul world, however, the scene never ended up making it to the complete film (see ScreenRant).

Marvel Fans React to Mark Ruffalo’s Deleted Scene from Avengers: Endgame

Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame | Credit: Marvel Studios

Part of Hulk’s appeal is not his brute strength or uncontrollable rage, but also his dynamic with Bruce Banner and his desire to protect his human counterpart from harm’s way. However, Avengers: Endgame, ended up destroying the character by transforming into a less fierce and more goofy Jade Jaws.

So, when fans learned that the film was originally slated to feature a scene between Bruce Banner and Hulk in the soul world, many felt cheated. Reacting on social media, many stated the scene would have helped them deal with the creation of Smart Hulk.

While it is possible that such a scene might have been deleted due to the runtime and it not fitting the pacing of the film, there is no denying it would have helped explain better the conflict between Banner and the Green Goliath since Avengers: Infinity War. Not only would it have made sense but this scene could have helped make sense of why Banner needed to adopt the Smart-Hulk persona.

As fans continue to rage war against the creation of Smart Hulk, we hope fans will get to see the deleted scene and the real ‘Hulk’ soon in the MCU.

Avengers: Endgame is available to be streamed on Disney+

Written by Maria Sultan

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