Disney slammed by fans over Avengers Blu-ray 'censorship'

Disney has denied cutting a violent sequence from the UK Blu-ray release of 'Avengers Assemble' after being slated by fans online.

It's among a number of issues fans of the film are angry about, including the loss of some extras included on the US version of the DVD that won't feature on the UK release.

*Spoilers ahead!*

[Related story: Avengers Assemble blooper reel]

The studio has been accused of censoring the death of Agent Coulson, who is speared in the back when confronting Tom Hiddleston's villain Loki in the film.

In the US version, the blade appears through the chest of Coulson, but in the UK version, the blade is missing.

A spokesperson for Disney UK Home Entertainment has said that there's 'no censorship, no foul play' on the release.

“The version of Marvel’s 'Avengers Assemble' on Blu-ray disc in the UK is the same as the version shown theatrically. It really is,” Lydia Rodrigues told Home Cinema Choice.

“The simple fact is for a 12 certificate film in the UK, that scene was deemed inappropriate. So Marvel Studios chose to remove the spear tip digitally.”

But the description of the scene from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) website contradicts Disney's side of the story, reading: “A slightly stronger moment occurs when a man is stabbed through the back by the chief villain's spear. The detail of the impact is not shown, only the tip of the spear protruding from the man's chest with a small amount of blood on it. The image is not dwelt upon and serves an important narrative purpose.”

There have even been suggestions that the scene was edited to add the possibility of Coulson returning to future films, but this seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, fans are also angry that a commentary track from director Joss Whedon is also not going to feature on the UK release.

One Amazon user wrote: “So us lucky UK residents get half the extras stripped from the Blu-ray including the Directors Commentary AND an extra bit of censorship applied to one of the key scenes in the film?

“Thanks a lot Disney, just shows what you think of us. And they wonder why piracy is still rife, perhaps if you gave everyone the same product at the same time, you might not lose out? I've cancelled my pre-order in protest. Vote with your wallets people!”

Disney says that it could not include the commentary on the UK Blu-ray because it had to deliver the final version of the DVD for release earlier than in US, so missed out on including Whedon's remarks.

It does not plan to release another version of the DVD with the commentary included, but says that 'hardcore fans' may well end up buying the region-free US Blu-ray instead, which does feature the Whedon commentary.