Shang-Chi Mid-Credit Avengers Scene Was Only Filmed by Brie Larson and Mark Ruffalo

MovieWeb

Shang-Chi Mid-Credits Avengers Scene Was Only Filmed by Brie Larson and Mark Ruffalo

By Anthony Lund

Published Jan 25, 2022

Although there were others considered, the only Avengers actors to film Shang-Chi's mid-credit scene were Brie Larson and Mark Ruffalo.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrived last year as a seemingly unconnected introductory movie to a new MCU hero, and while that was mostly true, the film also saw the return of The Incredible Hulk’s Abomination and an appearance by Doctor Strange’s Wong. However, it was the mid-credits scene that really connected the film to the larger MCU universe with an appearance by Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Soon after, it was hinted that there were several possible Avenger combinations considered for this scene, but according to VFX supervisor Sean Walker, Larson and Ruffalo were the only ones who actually recorded footage for it.

The film’s final moments saw Danvers and Banner appearing via hologram in the Sanctum Sanctorum to try and work out the origin of the Ten Rings and to set up a future question of where the mystical item is sending a signal. The scene caused a stir for a couple of reasons, most notably for the appearance of Mark Ruffalo in Banner form rather than his Smart Hulk persona that seemed to be a permanent fixture after Avengers: Endgame. While speaking in an interview with ComicBook.com, Weta Digital’s Walker explained that despite there being other possible combinations, the two actors were the only ones to record lines for the scene, and both were filmed in different places at different times.

"Those were the only two. So they were shot in different locations, at different times. I think Mark was currently, I think he was in Atlanta, I believe. And then Brie came to the stages in LA. But yeah, they were shot in separate plates, but those are the only two we had. That was the plan."

Here's Why Bruce Banner Was No Longer Smart Hulk in Shang-Chi Post-Credit Scene

Following Avengers: Endgame, it seemed that we had seen the last of Bruce Banner in the MCU, considering the scientist has seemed to have permanently resolved his issues with Hulk and come to an arrangement to share their best attributes in the form of Smart Hulk. However, his Shang-Chi appearance has clearly suggested this is not as it first seemed. Walker previously explained that in the scene Banner is working in his laboratory, the same one that has been seen in the first footage from She-Hulk.

Mark Ruffalo has been seen in promotional images for the upcoming introduction of Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk in both Smart Hulk and Banner form, which is something that is clearly going to be addressed and explained in the series. There have been a number of rumors recently that Marvel Studios is gearing up to give Mark Ruffalo his own Hulk movie and that could be the biggest reason for returning Banner to human form, as while Smart Hulk has his uses, there is something missing when the conflict of the dual personality is removed from the occasion.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently streaming on Disney+, and She-Hulk arrives later this year.