Jeremy Renner, star of Hawkeye, recently shared new insights into the filming of the emotional death scene of Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame, shedding light on a version of the sequence that was much different from what appeared in theaters. The revelations came during the Space Con 2025 event, where Renner described a complex and action-heavy alternate take involving a 2014 Thanos variant, which was eventually replaced by a simpler yet more emotionally impactful scene. This behind-the-scenes look adds depth to the understanding of how Marvel Studios shaped one of the most pivotal moments in its cinematic universe.
The Original Scene Featuring a Thanos Variant Attack
In the movie, Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff travel to Vormir to acquire the Soul Stone, a crucial element to defeating Thanos that demands a soul sacrifice. Renner explained that the initial version they shot was far more elaborate, featuring a galactic battle against a small army sent by Thanos from 2014.
“We shot the scene, but that scene is not in the movie,”
Renner said.
“It’s a very different scene. There’s much more galactic and more aliens and there’s a lot more stuff going on. And then we reshot it to make it much simpler to the scene that’s in the movie now.”
The reshoot focused on a pared-down encounter that emphasized the emotional gravity between the duo rather than large-scale action.
The Emotional Weight Behind the Final Cut
Renner described the final scene as deeply moving and more heartbreaking than the original version:
“There’s much more emotional, much more impactful, I think. It’s more heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to do that scene.”
He elaborated on the significance of the moment as a farewell to long-standing characters:
“It was a celebration also. It’s like saying goodbye to somebody. There was 22 films before this that made this scene happen.”
Reflecting on working alongside Scarlett Johansson, Renner noted the emotional intensity behind the scene.
“I think it’s one of Scarlett’s last scenes anyway. It was a pretty emotional time, a lot of years had gone by, and shared stories, and life shared. It was real enough for us to feel it.”
Insights from Marvel’s Writers on the Scene Changes
The alternate take Renner referenced is available on Disney+ as a deleted scene, allowing fans to witness the original concept. Marvel’s co-writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have also discussed why the change was necessary. McFeely called the final version
“much better than what we had,”
citing that the original was “a little more complicated.” He explained,
“It was Thanos sending a small army to pretend to try and stop them. It was sort of awkward. It was overthinking.”
Markus added that the complexity diminished character agency, saying,
“While it lit a fire under them to do the act, it also took a little bit of the agency away, and we lost the characters.”
These insights highlight how simplifying the scene helped focus on character emotions over spectacle.
Anticipation for Upcoming Marvel Projects
Looking ahead, Marvel Studios is known for extensive reshoots on its major projects, and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars films are no exception. The Russo Brothers have been given ample time to polish these entries, aiming to meet or perhaps match the benchmark set by Avengers: Endgame. While fans wait to see if that will happen, Renner’s comments underscore how careful decisions behind the scenes shape the impact of epic moments.
Additional Reflections on Endgame’s Opening Scene
Renner also reflected on the emotional opening of Avengers: Endgame, where Clint Barton witnesses his family disappear during the Blip. Interestingly, he revealed this scene was originally intended for the end of Infinity War. He recounted,
“That scene was supposed to be at the end of Infinity War, and then it goes into Ronin land. But then it didn’t work. So, let’s just bookend this whole thing. A lot of things happen in Endgame, guys. A lot of things. So, Ronin comes into play because of what happens to his family, and the blip and all that stuff.”
His insight adds perspective to how Marvel adjusted narrative flows across its interconnected movies.
Avengers: Endgame is currently available to stream on Disney+.
