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Joss Whedon skillfully established the Marvel superhero team in his well-written script forThe Avengers. While each character had their time and space to shine, not everything from Whedon’s script made it into the final product. One particular deleted scene fromThe Avengerspotentially hints at Ant-Man, a character not introduced until three years later.
The reference in the deleted scene about“a big guy that gets all little”can be interpreted as a possible Ant-Man reference. The scene is made more awesome by the extended presence of Harry Dean Stanton, who only had a quick cameo in the final cut.
Also Read:“I’ve always believed it was way ahead of its time”: Christopher Nolan Wanted Zack Snyder to Release His Darkest DC Movie After ‘The Avengers’ to Get its True Recognition
The AvengersDeleted Scene May Have Teased Ant-Man Years Before Paul Rudd’s Debut
The theatrical version ofThe Avengerswas 143 minutes long, but the film had more footage than that. The deleted scenes of the film were released in the Blu-Ray/DVD version, and fans got to see many extra bits that deepened the character arc of each superhero. Interestingly, there were some (possible) references that hinted at what was coming next after the film.
In the final cut of the film, fans got to seeMark Ruffalo’s Hulk causing chaos and falling to the Earth from the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. After Bruce Banner emerges from the rubble, he meets with the security guard character played by the lateHarry Dean Stanton. Although the character doesn’t have much to say in the final cut, the deleted scene adds a new dimension to his character. In his conversation with Banner in thedeleted scene, the experienced guard asks Banner:
“So which one is it? Are you a big guy that gets all little or a little guy that sometimes blows up large?”
Many interpret this as a reference to Bruce Banner’s identity issue – whether he’s the Hulk or the human. However, the possibility of that theory is weak considering the further films in the MCU didn’t explore such a theme for the Hulk. One other possibility, a bit of a stretch, is that it might be a nod to theAnt-Manmovie that had entered the development phase back then underEdgar Wright.
Paul Rudd’s movie took three more years to hit theaters afterThe Avengers, during which Wright left the project due to issues with Marvel.Peyton Reedreplaced him, and the film became a surprise hit, grossing $519 million at the box office.
Also Read:“It could’ve been such a disaster”: Chris Evans Was Worried The Avengers Won’t Work After His Captain America Role for One Reason
How Did Harry Dean Stanton’s Character Know About Ant-Man?
He didn’t. At least, the security guard character didn’t know aboutPaul Rudd’s character. However, Scott Lang is not the only Ant-Man in the MCU’s world. Scott Lang inherited the suit from Hank Pym, who used to be Ant-Man. It is very much possible that Stanton’s character may have heard aboutMichael Douglas’s character’s stint as Ant-Man.
The Ant-Man reference is not the only scene cut from the film. A potential love interest for Steve Rogers, a character arc for Maria Hill, Loki’s internal conflicts, and many more possibly interesting subplots were removed at the editing table. While there’s disappointment among fans about missing some of these scenes, the final cut did justice to the story and the characters.
Also Read:2 Actors Who Almost Became MCU’s Hawkeye Before Jeremy Renner Stole the Show in The Avengers
The Avengersis now available for streaming on Disney+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3020
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
