Don Cheadle's Col. James Rhodes was exposed as a Skrull imposter in the 2023 Disney+ series Secret Invasion. However, a deleted scene from 2021's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier reveals that Marvel considered introducing this plot twist even sooner.

Shared by IGN on X and available as an extra on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 4K UHD and Blu-ray release, the clip titled "Flight Lesson" takes place early in Episode 1, after Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson gives a speech at a museum ceremony displaying Captain America's shield. The scene offers insight into the warm yet slightly awkward friendship between Sam and Rhodey, who were on opposing sides during 2016's Captain America: Civil War, where Sam inadvertently caused Rhodey's paralyzing accident.

Despite this, they have a friendly chat, and Rhodey shows no resentment toward Sam. He appears to have fully recovered and mentions a recent procedure that repaired his severely injured spine and enabled him to walk again. However, the plot of Secret Invasion revealed that the person Sam was talking to is really a Skrull impostor.

The Real Rhodey Is Still Unable To Walk

The real Rhodey was abducted by Gravik's Skrull faction along with several other political and military figures and replaced with sleeper agents. Rhodey is rescued during the Secret Invasion season finale and is still unable to walk without assistance. This indicated that he was taken sometime between the 2016 airport battle and the events of Avengers: Endgame in 2023.

Disney Home Entertainment will release The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: The Complete First Season on April 30, 2024, on 4K UHD and Blu-ray in collectible packaging. Extras include a gag reel, a featurette called "Cap's Shield," the documentary Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, along with deleted scenes titled "Flight Lesson" and "Still Not Funny."

Although the series was a fan-favorite, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier never secured a second season. The news disappointed Mackie, who was psyched to do more episodes. "The Falcon and [the] Winter Soldier, I really enjoyed doing that show," he said. "I was actually excited to do a second season, just so me and Sebastian [Stan] can get paid to hang out. Because it's like me, him and Daniel Brühl. It's kind of like the perfect storm of happiness."

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will all be released on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on April 30. The series is also available to stream on Disney+.

Source: IGN on X