The extended cut of Avengers: Endgame introduces four significant sequences, each carefully crafted to deepen the narrative leading into Doomsday, slated for a December 16 release. Far from mere deleted scenes, these additions serve as vital narrative stepping stones.
Loki's Unexpected Return
The first new scene revisits Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter's idyllic life in the past. Just as their story seems perfectly concluded, a knock at the door reveals none other than Loki, offering his assistance. This twist immediately raises questions about the timeline and Loki's role. Joe Russo clarified the chronology, stating, "Loki's appearance is certainly meaningful... this scene, the moment he crosses that threshold, is set between Season 1 and Season 2 of his series." Anthony Russo emphasized this re-release is a special event, not a permanent alteration to Endgame's original ending, calling it "a handshake between Endgame and Doomsday."
Hulk's Mysterious Abduction
A second post-credits scene focuses on Bruce Banner, who has retreated to an impenetrable bunker after an unspecified "incident" (likely referencing events from Spider-Man: No Way Home). He's working to mitigate gamma radiation effects when a mysterious, accented voice declares, "I come to collect you." Runic symbols are left in the figure's wake, strongly implying the arrival of Doomsday's central antagonist, Doctor Doom. While Joe Russo playfully skirted confirming Mark Ruffalo's involvement in Doomsday, he admitted, "he is involved in the story surrounding the film." The term "collect" suggests Doom's intentions mirror Thanos's quest for Infinity Stones, a parallel Anthony Russo found "a very intelligent observation."
Multiverse Under Siege at the TVA
The third bonus sequence plunges viewers into the Time Variance Authority (TVA), familiar from the Loki series and glimpses in Deadpool & Wolverine. Mobius, Ouroboros, and Casey witness a catastrophic cascade of incursions – collisions between distinct universes – leading to the destruction of thousands of worlds. This escalating crisis, where "the multiverse is collapsing," hints at the far-reaching consequences of Loki abandoning his post and the Avengers' time-traveling actions. Notably, screens within the TVA show the annihilation of specific Earths, including Earth-400083 (Eric Bana's Hulk), Earth-15886 (Miles Teller's Fantastic Four), Earth-82111 (Captain Carter's world from What If...?), and Earth-10005 (the Fox X-Men universe), confirming the broad scope of the multiversal threat.
Doom's Shadow Over Stark's Legacy
Finally, the very last bonus scene echoes the original Endgame ending's sound of hammering metal, a poignant tribute to Tony Stark. However, this time, the camera reveals a hand holding a mask – Doctor Doom's mask. This visual connection has fueled fan theories about Doom potentially being a variant of Tony Stark, especially with reports of Robert Downey Jr.'s involvement in Doomsday. The Russo brothers, however, firmly stated their commitment to Doom as an original character. Anthony Russo affirmed, "Victor von Doom is Victor von Doom, and Tony Stark is Tony Stark," despite acknowledging the "symmetry" of Downey Jr. portraying both.
These added scenes not only provide crucial context but also ramp up anticipation for Doomsday. The directors also revealed they've just completed the final trailer for Doomsday, promising its release "between today and the release of Doomsday" – a tease that will undoubtedly keep fans on the edge of their seats.
