Two different deleted scenes from summer blockbuster "The Avengers" hit the web this week.
The first featured a deleted opening scene with S.H.I.E.L.D. actress Cobie Smulders ("How I Met Your Mother"), while the latter gave a larger glimpse at Captain America's singular story.
If you're wondering why neither made the cut, "Avengers" writer and director Joss Whedon sat down with Vulture to discuss the future of the Marvel franchise, his upcoming ABC S.H.I.E.L.D project, and the story behind the deleted scenes.
Here's why the alternate beginning swapped out of the film:
"Two factors. One: The movie was three hours long. Two: Audiences didn’t respond to it as well in the movie as I think they would as a DVD extra. Most of them didn’t know who this character was or what the context was, and they were like, Uhhh, I don’t know why I’m supposed to be personally involved in this character I don’t know."
Whedon gives less of an explanation for cutting the Captain America scene; however, does point out scenes with actress Ashley Johnson (who plays the waitress seen in the three-minute take), frequently get left out of final edits.
"I hated cutting the Captain America stuff with the waitress. At least I was able to call Ashley Johnson and tell her that all her stuff was still in Much Ado About Nothing, since she had been cut out of Dollhouse, she had been cut out of The Avengers: “I swear you’re still in the Shakespeare movie!” You know, those bits had seemed very personal to me."
You can read Vulture's full interview with Whedon here.
"The Avengers" DVD hits shelves September 25.
SEE ALSO: The deleted "Avengers" scene featuring Stan Lee >
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