From Schwarzenegger’s True Lies to the Hulk: did you notice the reused prop?

It’s no secret that many Hollywood productions reuse props from past movies, whether to save costs and time or simply because they fit perfectly into a scene. While these practices are sometimes obvious, they can often go unnoticed. This is the case with a fighter jet that was used in True Lies, the 1994 blockbuster directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then, 18 years later, it found itself caught in the crossfire of a battle between Thor and Hulk in Joss Whedon’s Avengers. Yes, it’s actually the same prop in both productions.

Schwarzenegger’s fighter jet smashed by Hulk

As fans of the Schwarzenegger movie may recall, True Lies ends with the former politician in real life at the controls of a U.S. Army AV-8B Harrier II jet, which he uses to save his daughter and quite literally send the film’s villain flying at high speed while attached to a missile. Almost two decades later, the jet returned in the 2012 superhero film The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon.

Marvel Studios’ memorable scene came in The Avengers (2012), directed by Joss Whedon. In this scene, Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo, with special effects doing some heavy lifting) engage in a spectacular showdown. The battle is so intense that the Hulk ends up crashing into the very same jet, nearly splitting it in half. He even rips off one of its wings and hurls it violently at Thor, leaving the aircraft in a wrecked state.

Director Joss Whedon himself confirmed at the time that the fighter jet used in The Avengers was indeed the same one from True Lies, adapted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on the side. Not long after, this replica jet was restored by a group of collectors and is now used as a tourist attraction. One side of the jet displays the True Lies branding, while the other side features the Avengers logo, keeping fans of both films content.