Remember the time when the anticipation for Avengers Endgame overshadowed all other upcoming MCU movies? This cinematic masterpiece marked the pinnacle of a decade-long effort for the Infinity Saga, creating an exceptional and memorable experience. Nevertheless, one crucial scene in this superhero blockbuster nearly took a different and less favorable turn.
Since the release of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in 2008, the MCU has made significant strides. If you were to watch the Marvel movies in sequence today, it would demand a great amount of your time, taking you on interplanetary journeys through the intricacies of the multiverse, and unfortunately witnessing the demise of numerous beloved Marvel characters throughout the odyssey.
Chris Evans’ Avengers Assemble Scene Was Almost Cut
The combined impact of Infinity War and Endgame is largely responsible for that profound sense of sorrow. Nevertheless, these two films stand out as the pinnacle of the franchise, brimming with breathtaking scenes that aid in temporarily easing the anguish. However, Endgame nearly compromised its most pivotal moment entirely.
During an interview with ComicBook.com, Dan Deleeuw, the director of Loki season 2, reminisced about his experience serving as the second unit director for Avengers Endgame. He also revealed intricate insights into an alternative proposal for the renowned portals scene.
Dan Deleeuw told ComicBook.com:
“It was interesting because there was a lot of different ideas. There was a version of the cut, the day that we had all the actors together, and it was like this long panning shot across all the actors… but it just didn’t play as well as we wanted.”
Fortunately, that notion was set aside, and the portals concept emerged victorious.
Deleeuw added:
“And so it was so interesting in terms of like, ‘OK, who comes from Titan first? Okay, you get the Guardians and then Star-Lord’s going to show up.’ And then just being in the theater that day, it’s like starting, okay, we got to do Spider-Man last because Spider-Man! So it was very much crafted to be emotional, and I think it was amazing for all of us that opening weekend, how well the fans responded to it.”
The panning shot effectively set the stage in the initial Avengers movie, highlighting the convergence of the core six heroes. However, utilizing it for this monumental scene in Endgame would have significantly undermined its impact.
Robert Downey Jr. Improvised a Scene With Chris Evans
In Avengers: Endgame, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) makes his return to Earth. After the defeat on Titan and enduring being stranded in space, Iron Man is both physically and emotionally drained. Yet, upon his arrival, he discovers his fellow Avengers persistently pursuing Thanos, determined to reverse the devastating effects of The Decimation.
During the exchange when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) probes for details about Thanos, Stark lashes out at the super soldier, confronting him directly. He recalls the earlier cautionary words about the looming danger and their shared commitment to fight and endure defeat together. Stark emphasizes that Rogers wasn’t there during his battle with the supervillain on Titan, where he fought and suffered loss alone.
The speech concludes with him directly accusing Steve Rogers of being a “liar.” Undoubtedly, this scene stands out as one of the finest moments for the Iron Man actor in the MCU, with Robert Downey Jr. spontaneously crafting most of the dialogue, including the impactful word “liar.”
