Hawkeye: Deleted End-Credits Scene, Explained (2024)

End-credit scenes first emerged after the concluding moments of The Silencers in 1966 and have since birthed a trend in filmmaking. They became more popularly practiced throughout the 1980s in films such as Airplane!, Masters of the Universe, The Producers, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The concept of the mid-credit scene served a variety of purposes, from setting up an additional cinematic project to presenting the characters in a self-aware comedic moment. They found their beginnings in comedies before transitioning across other genres, almost standing as an expectation for franchise-based films to act as a launching pad for future installations. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has, in fact, established itself as an unbudging entity in the film industry. Since its inception, MCU movies have thrilled fans and earned a reputation for its buzz-worthy end-credit scenes that have promoted a wide range of fan engagements. Indeed, Marvel fans have dedicated themselves to waiting out the extent of a film’s runtime with hopes that their patience is rewarded by a glimpse of new characters or an introduction to a new story arc yet to be explored.

One of Disney+'s more recent series Hawkeye is no exception to the MCU's end-credits treatment. Based on the graphic novel My Life as a Weapon, published by Marvel Comics in 2013, Hawkeye paired Clint “Hawkeye” Barton (Jeremy Renner) with protégée Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) as they confront enemies from Clint's past, all the while trying to make it home for Christmas. Hawkeye tied in elements of the comic book, the ongoing timeline of Marvel’s live-action work, and the former Netflix series that have now been accepted as a part of the official franchise’s canon. Upon the conclusion of season 1, the end-credit scene of choice disappointed those who had envisioned a more climatic teaser — even Hawkeye's own composer expressed bittersweet feelings towards it. Marvel Studios later released a substitutionary stinger that was deemed as a more suitable end. In comparison, there was a stronger preference for the deleted scene.

Related: Will MCU's Hawkeye Appear on Every Team Like He Does in the Comics?

What is Hawkeye's Current End-Credits Scene?

Hawkeye kept up with Marvel Studio's typical brand of humor and other elements that anchored the series to the MCU. The series' end-credit scenes were a direct callback to one of the show's earliest moments and feature an extended clip from the satirical Rogers: The Musical. The Broadway parody was briefly touched upon in the show's pilot episode, where it played both a comedic role and a more dramatic one: Clint exits the theater after an Avengers-themed musical number causes an emotional reaction. The scene is the first that truly features his deafness after he adjusts his hearing aide. The current end-credit scene shows the entire performance that was quickly avoided by Clint in the first episode, which was just as poorly received by fans then. There was great exhaustion expressed from those who had hoped that the stinger following Hawkeye would offer further insight into potential upcoming projects or heavily hint at the future of new and re-introduced characters.

What Was the Deleted End-Credits Scene?

The discarded end-credits scene that could have wrapped up the series would have satisfied a pressing question that lingered as the show concluded its first season. In the deleted scene, according to Screen Rant, The Tracksuit Mafia would have been the target of a shrinking arrow — one of the various trick arrows featured by the pair of archers in the show — and then carried off by the owl who resided in the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree. The bird briefly seen in the series was inspired by true-to-life events after owls had taken to the tree for refuge. They were eventually retrieved from their hiding spot in the heart of New York City by wildlife rehabilitation and later released outside the metropolitan abyss. This alternate end-credits scene was simple and effective, while keeping up with the studio's tradition of providing a conclusion that didn't take itself too seriously.

Related: Kevin Feige Explains Why He Brought Kingpin Back in Hawkeye

Why Marvel Should Have Used the Deleted End-Credits Scene

The alternative post-credits scene provided more depth to the end of Hawkeye while being able to effectively tie back into an unanswered question that was never truly addressed by the series' finale. MCU films have been given the responsibility of properly ushering in the next important series of events and contributing context to major events before they are fully fleshed out. The television series that have now proclaimed themselves to be just as valuable are given more self-leniency and creativity when approaching how an end-credits scene is portrayed. The alternative version would have given an answer to a question not featured in the series while permitting itself to be a little more lighthearted. The stinger that was overlooked by Marvel Studios would have elaborated on the fleeting glimpse at an obscure New York City fact and could have locked in a better conclusion to one of the series' most present antagonists. It still remains unconfirmed if Hawkeye will earn a sophom*ore season, meaning that the fate of the Tracksuit Mafia remains to be at the mercy of rumors and speculations. There would be the opportunity for the creative team behind Hawkeye to meet expectations and uphold the anticipation around end-credit scenes while efficiently supplementing the show altogether. The entire performance of Save the City should have been released elsewhere without having to carve into the run time of season 1, allowing the end credits to connect to the entirety of the series without accosting its reputation.