Thor: Ragnarok is now available to buy on digital download, and that includes all of the special features that come with it. Besides the new Team Darryl short film featuring The Grandmaster coming to Earth and moving in with Thor’s old roommate, fans have taken notice of a certain deleted scene that brings back a Marvel Cinematic Universe character from beyond the grave.
In order to effectively discuss this Thor Ragnarok deleted scene, we’ll have to dive into spoiler territory for another Marvel Studios movie, so if you’re not caught up on the MCU, then you may not want to read any further. You’ve been warned!
Before Thor: Ragnarok hit theaters last fall, blockbuster summer was kicked off by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The film gave a touching farewell to Michael Rooker as Yondu, who sacrificed his life in order to save his adoptive son Peter Jason Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt). He’s given a colorful funeral complete with a tribute from the Ravagers he was loyal to for most of his life.
Therefore, it’s surprising to hear that a deleted scene from the Thor: Ragnarok home video release features a cameo by Michael Rooker as Yondu. Here’s a screenshot of the Thor Ragnarok deleted scene in question:
What is This Thor Ragnarok Deleted Scene with Yondu?
We can’t post the video of the deleted scene featuring Yondu here since it’s not officially available online. But the scene has Yondu appearing on Asgard during the scene when Hela (Cate Blanchett) has instructed Skurge (Karl Urban) to kill an Asgardian woman after she refuses to tell her where Heimdall and the rest of Asgard’s people are hiding.
In the movie, another Asgard citizen steps up to give Hela the information she wants so Skurge doesn’t kill anyone. But the deleted scene has Yondu stepping up as the one who interrupts the execution. He says, “Hold on a minute, Haus.” Then he looks disoriented for a moment and asks if anyone can tell him where Kevin and Lou’s offices are. Someone off-screen points him in another direction and Yondu goes about his business.
It’s Yondu’s line that keys us into the fact that this was never meant to be a real scene in Thor: Ragnarok, because the two names he mentions are a reference to Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito, two of Marvel’s producers. However, doesn’t it seem weird that Michael Rooker would get into full make-up and wardrobe as Yondu for a joke scene that was never meant to be in Thor: Ragnarok? Why take the time and spend the money to do that? Well, we have an explanation for that.
How and When Did Michael Rooker Shoot This Scene?
Originally fans might just think that there was production overlap between Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, especially most of the Marvel movies now shoot in Atlanta Georgia and have overlapped with each other before. But Thor: Ragnarok shot mostly down in Australia while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 remained in Atlanta. In addition, the reshoots for Thor: Ragnarok that happened last summer took place two months after the Guardians sequel was already in theaters.
So what was Michael Rooker doing as Yondu while Thor: Ragnarok was still shooting? James Gunn explains:
For those of you asking me how a Yondu deleted scene is on the Thor Ragnarok extras – I believe Rooker was at the lot shooting his bit for the Guardians Mission Breakout ride/Halloweeen version, and he stopped by the Thor set to goof around. Rooker, correct me if I’m wrong.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 22, 2018
Yondu isn’t part of the normal version of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout ride that is now in place at Disneyland, but his ghost makes an appearance in the Monsters After Dark Halloween makeover the ride received last fall. So if Gunn is correct, Rooker was shooting footage for that at the same time Thor: Ragnarok was doing reshoots and they decided to have a little fun on set.
This all makes perfect sense, and it would explain why Michael Rooker was also seen last August in an extensive Instagram live feed of his own giving a tour of the Marvel Studios offices while in full Yondo make-up and wardrobe:
Notice that he’s wearing the same sunglasses that he is in the still from the deleted scene in question. So it’s likely that this all took place on the same day and Rooker made the most out of being in full costume. We’re certainly not mad about it.
As for anyone who tries to spin this Thor: Ragnarok deleted scene as a way to convince you that Yondu will make some kind of comeback, they don’t have your best interests at heart. James Gunn has already confirmed that Yondu is dead and he won’t be coming back. Still, it was cool to see the blue guy pop up in another Marvel movie, albeit in an unconventional way.
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