MCU Deleted Scene Makes Secret Invasion"s Biggest Skrull Twist Even Worse
Summary
While The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was well-received throughout its 2021 release, other MCU-set Disney+ shows haven't been so lucky. 2023's Secret Invasion became one of Marvel Studios' lowest-rated projects during its release in the MCU's Phase 5, but one major reveal in the Samuel L. Jackson-led series could have been made far more impactful had a deleted scene from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier been kept in the Phase 4 series. Deleted scenes have often provided fun, but unnecessary, moments in MCU projects, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's could have set up Secret Invasion perfectly.
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Related The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Season 2 Might Be More Possible Now 3 Years After Season 1 Premiered The Falcon and The Winter Soldier season 2 could possibly be happening after all, as news about the show hints a potential extended future on Disney+.
MCU's Deleted Scene Removed Crucial Secret Invasion Skrull Twist Setup![]()
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's revelatory deleted scene was released by IGN on April 30, 2024, and provided a lengthier conversation between Sam Wilson and Don Cheadle's James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the series' premiere episode, "New World Order." Originally, Wilson and Rhodey spoke after the former donated Captain America's shield to the United States government for museum display, but this scene was only brief. While it was great to see Rhodey make a cameo appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, keeping this deleted scene in would have provided excellent set up for Rhodey's reveal in Secret Invasion.
In the deleted scene from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Wilson and Rhodey bicker about who is the better pilot and superhero, before Wilson notes that Rhodey looks like he's "moving around pretty good now." In Captain America: Civil War, Wilson's duck-and-roll caused Rhodey's War Machine suit to be damaged by Vision's beam, sending him crashing to the Earth and leaving him paralyzed. Tony Stark gifted Rhodey leg braces that enabled him to walk, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene suggests he had an "upgraded procedure," hinting at him already having been replaced by a Skrull.
The Falcon & The Winter Soldier's Deleted Scene Prevented A Link Between The Two Shows Close One of the biggest criticisms of the MCU's recent projects has been the apparent level of disconnection between storylines. There was a clear throughline during the MCU's Infinity Saga, perhaps aided by an intense focus on only a few superheroes, but the Multiverse Saga has been exploring several storylines at the same time, and not all of them interweave with each other. Marvel Studios could have assuaged these concerns early on in Phase 4, had The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene been kept in, as this would have actively set up Rhodey's major Skrull reveal in Secret Invasion.
Both Everett K. Ross and James "Rhodey" Rhodes were revealed to be Skrulls in Secret Invasion, but it's unclear when either of them were replaced.
Of course, this wouldn't have been paid off until Secret Invasion's release in 2023, but keeping The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene intact would have created a strong connection between these two grounded stories. Secret Invasion had much larger problems than just its connection to other stories in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, but the magnitude of the Secret Invasion storyline perhaps constituted seeds being planted very early on. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could have started this with its deleted scene, with subsequent projects perhaps laying more foundations, making the Skrulls' actions in Phase 5 more meaningful.
Why The MCU Needs To Make The Falcon & The Winter Soldier's Deleted Scene Canon![]()
After Rhodey was revealed to have been replaced in Secret Invasion, there was confusion about when this swap took place. There has been speculation that Rhodey sporting a hospital gown in Secret Invasion's finale suggests he was replaced during his stay in hospital in Captain America: Civil War. However, Rhodey mentioning his "upgraded procedure" in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier implies the Skrull Raava didn't wear the leg braces while masquerading as Rhodey, but the Avenger sported these accessories during Avengers: Endgame, implying Rhodey was swapped after the Battle of Earth, but before The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
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Related Every Character Confirmed To Be A Skrull In The MCU's Secret Invasion Marvel"s Secret Invasion is here, a paranoia-filled MCU series where Skrulls have infiltrated Earth and longstanding characters aren"t who they seem.
Making The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene canon to the MCU may clear up confusion surrounding Rhodey's Secret Invasion storyline. However, aside from its darker undertones of Rhodey being switched with a Skrull, this deleted scene is simply a brilliant moment of banter, bickering and tenderness between two powerful Avengers. These moments of humanity help to make the MCU more believable and accessible, and while there were several of these interactions between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it would have been great to see Rhodey's friendships with his fellow heroes develop.
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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier DramaActionSuperhero
Release Date March 19, 2021 Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Showrunner Kari Skogland Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney+![]()
Secret Invasion AdventureDramaActionSuperhero
Release Date June 21, 2023 Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Showrunner Kyle Bradstreet Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Upcoming MCU Movies
Release Date
Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26, 2024
Captain America: Brave New World
February 14, 2025
Thunderbolts*
May 5, 2025
The Fantastic Four
July 25, 2025
Blade
November 7, 2025
Avengers 5
May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars
May 7, 2027
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene shows Sam Wilson and James "Rhodey" Rhodes speaking after the former gives up Captain America's shield.
- This deleted scene may have teased Rhodey being replaced by a Skrull, so keeping it in would have been great set up for Secret Invasion's reveal.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene was also a brilliant moment of humanity between two powerful Avengers, so should be made canon.
While The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was well-received throughout its 2021 release, other MCU-set Disney+ shows haven't been so lucky. 2023's Secret Invasion became one of Marvel Studios' lowest-rated projects during its release in the MCU's Phase 5, but one major reveal in the Samuel L. Jackson-led series could have been made far more impactful had a deleted scene from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier been kept in the Phase 4 series. Deleted scenes have often provided fun, but unnecessary, moments in MCU projects, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's could have set up Secret Invasion perfectly.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Related The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Season 2 Might Be More Possible Now 3 Years After Season 1 Premiered The Falcon and The Winter Soldier season 2 could possibly be happening after all, as news about the show hints a potential extended future on Disney+.MCU's Deleted Scene Removed Crucial Secret Invasion Skrull Twist Setup
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's revelatory deleted scene was released by IGN on April 30, 2024, and provided a lengthier conversation between Sam Wilson and Don Cheadle's James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the series' premiere episode, "New World Order." Originally, Wilson and Rhodey spoke after the former donated Captain America's shield to the United States government for museum display, but this scene was only brief. While it was great to see Rhodey make a cameo appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, keeping this deleted scene in would have provided excellent set up for Rhodey's reveal in Secret Invasion. In the deleted scene from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Wilson and Rhodey bicker about who is the better pilot and superhero, before Wilson notes that Rhodey looks like he's "moving around pretty good now." In Captain America: Civil War, Wilson's duck-and-roll caused Rhodey's War Machine suit to be damaged by Vision's beam, sending him crashing to the Earth and leaving him paralyzed. Tony Stark gifted Rhodey leg braces that enabled him to walk, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene suggests he had an "upgraded procedure," hinting at him already having been replaced by a Skrull.
The Falcon & The Winter Soldier's Deleted Scene Prevented A Link Between The Two Shows Close One of the biggest criticisms of the MCU's recent projects has been the apparent level of disconnection between storylines. There was a clear throughline during the MCU's Infinity Saga, perhaps aided by an intense focus on only a few superheroes, but the Multiverse Saga has been exploring several storylines at the same time, and not all of them interweave with each other. Marvel Studios could have assuaged these concerns early on in Phase 4, had The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene been kept in, as this would have actively set up Rhodey's major Skrull reveal in Secret Invasion.
Both Everett K. Ross and James "Rhodey" Rhodes were revealed to be Skrulls in Secret Invasion, but it's unclear when either of them were replaced.
Of course, this wouldn't have been paid off until Secret Invasion's release in 2023, but keeping The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene intact would have created a strong connection between these two grounded stories. Secret Invasion had much larger problems than just its connection to other stories in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, but the magnitude of the Secret Invasion storyline perhaps constituted seeds being planted very early on. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could have started this with its deleted scene, with subsequent projects perhaps laying more foundations, making the Skrulls' actions in Phase 5 more meaningful.
Why The MCU Needs To Make The Falcon & The Winter Soldier's Deleted Scene Canon
After Rhodey was revealed to have been replaced in Secret Invasion, there was confusion about when this swap took place. There has been speculation that Rhodey sporting a hospital gown in Secret Invasion's finale suggests he was replaced during his stay in hospital in Captain America: Civil War. However, Rhodey mentioning his "upgraded procedure" in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier implies the Skrull Raava didn't wear the leg braces while masquerading as Rhodey, but the Avenger sported these accessories during Avengers: Endgame, implying Rhodey was swapped after the Battle of Earth, but before The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 
Related Every Character Confirmed To Be A Skrull In The MCU's Secret Invasion Marvel"s Secret Invasion is here, a paranoia-filled MCU series where Skrulls have infiltrated Earth and longstanding characters aren"t who they seem.Making The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's deleted scene canon to the MCU may clear up confusion surrounding Rhodey's Secret Invasion storyline. However, aside from its darker undertones of Rhodey being switched with a Skrull, this deleted scene is simply a brilliant moment of banter, bickering and tenderness between two powerful Avengers. These moments of humanity help to make the MCU more believable and accessible, and while there were several of these interactions between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it would have been great to see Rhodey's friendships with his fellow heroes develop.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier DramaActionSuperhero Release Date March 19, 2021 Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Showrunner Kari Skogland Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney+
Secret Invasion AdventureDramaActionSuperhero Release Date June 21, 2023 Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe Showrunner Kyle Bradstreet Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Upcoming MCU Movies
Release Date
Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26, 2024
Captain America: Brave New World
February 14, 2025
Thunderbolts*
May 5, 2025
The Fantastic Four
July 25, 2025
Blade
November 7, 2025
Avengers 5
May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars
May 7, 2027
