Avengers: Infinity War Cut 2 Major Star Cameos, but Endgame Brought Them Back

Avengers: Infinity War may have packed the big screen with superheroes, but the film ultimately left two major names out of its theatrical cut. In a recent interview, Robert Downey Jr. and Joe Russo opened up about the cameos they had to cut from the third Avengers movie, wherein they named two actors who missed out on an appearance, only to make a comeback in Endgame.

Robert Downey Jr. and Joe Russo reveal deleted cameos from Avengers: Infinity War

While speaking with Comic Book Resources, RDJ and Avengers: Doomsday co-director Joe Russo shed light on the connection between Infinity War and their upcoming ensemble. During the conversation, Downey Jr. revealed that the team had originally intended to include Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan in the 2018 film.

“We had a Happy Hogan cameo in this scene that we reshot, then we 86’d it,” the Academy Award winner confirmed. With the Avengers: Infinity War makers eventually deciding to leave Favreau’s cameo on the cutting room floor, the Iron Man director had to sit out the movie entirely.

Another notable cameo that did not make it to the final cut of Avengers: Infinity War was that of co-director Joe Russo himself. The acclaimed filmmaker revealed that the initial script had him play the role of a paparazzi in the opening act.

Russo was to share the screen with Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), in which he would chase the couple for content in Central Park prior to the arrival of Thanos’ lieutenants on Earth.

Nevertheless, Favreau and Russo’s cameos were ultimately cut from Avengers: Infinity War. Fortunately for both stars, they ended up returning for Avengers: Endgame. While Favreau reprised his role of Happy Hogan during the gut-wrenching funeral of Tony Stark, Joe Russo portrayed a member of a Blip support group in the film, where his character bonded with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) over the events of Infinity War.