Deleted scene from Avengers: Infinity War would have put Thanos on trial

Avengers: Endgame hit theaters back in April, but fans still aren’t done processing. It’s only natural that the Avengers had a big presence at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, as Marvel marked the end of one phase of its Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many fans were excited to hear Avengers writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely discuss their thoughts on the past few films during a panel.

According to a number of panel attendees, the writers dove into a scene they cut from Avengers: Infinity War. It would have taken place on Titan, around the time Mantis puts Thanos in a trance and the other heroes are attempting to remove the Infinity Gauntlet from his arm. Apparently, Doctor Strange would have knocked Thanos into a mindscape, much like the one the Ancient One sent Doctor Strange spiraling into during his own film.

While in this mindscape, Thanos would have come face to face with The Living Tribunal, a Marvel comics character who, ironically, is tasked with maintaining balance across the various dimensions and realities in the universe — exactly what Thanos claims to be doing, just on a much larger scale. According to the writers, The Tribunal would have judged Thanos and his mission, finding him guilty of attempting to upset the cosmic balance.

It’s an interesting concept — and a cameo that plenty of Marvel comic fans would have appreciated — but you have to wonder how much of an effect this ancient being’s opinion would have had on a man who was willing to kill his own daughter to achieve his ends. Guilt and shame already plagued Thanos at this point; he just believed in his cause so much that he thought it was worth it.

That isn’t why Markus and McFeely cut the scene, though. In the end, they felt the back and forth between Thanos and the Tribunal would have slowed the pace of the battle on Titan — a fair point, especially since the battle in Wakanda happens around the same time time. And while the inclusion of the mindscape might have expanded the MCU even further, it also might have hinted a bit too overtly at the major plot points of Avengers: Endgame.

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With all that to consider, we’re glad they cut the scene. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get a look at the Tribunal during Phase Four instead.

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h/t The A.V. Club