Avengers: Endgame is, to put it simply, one of the most important and successful cinematic adventures of the last decade. As the conclusion of many of the stories set out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it brings the action to a satisfying (though in some ways almost tragic) conclusion, seeing the deaths of some important characters while also setting the stage for further adventures in this shared universe.
Learning about the film’s production history allows for a richer appreciation of just how much creative labor and ingenuity went into the making of this masterpiece of epic superhero cinema.
Runtime: 3 Hours 2 Minutes
In recent years, there seems to have been a meeting where it was decided that almost every film should be over two hours long. While this causes some amount of narrative bloat in many different kinds of films, here it actually works to the advantage of the story that this film is trying to tell.
This conclusion to the stories that have come become is, in many ways, similar to the biblical epics of a prior period of Hollywood history, and its vast ambitions require a similarly expanded running time.
It Was Originally Announced As Avengers: Infinity War- Part 2
Unsurprisingly, when the final two films for this saga were announced, the second had the rather pedestrian title of Avengers Infinity War-Part 2.
While this was perfectly workable as far as it went (and one could even imagine them simply using this title), one can’t help but be very grateful that they chose “Endgame” as the final title. It has a certain majesty and power to it that makes it fit with the film’s rather sombre and grandiose narrative.
It Was Filmed Back To Back With Infinity War
One of the challenges of having a two-part finale is making sure that they work well with one another. As can be seen with numerous other examples, it really is best for viewer enjoyment if one film flows naturally and seamlessly into the other.
Fortunately, filmmakers and studios have recognized this and almost without exception film two-part finales back-to-back. That is what happened with the final two films in this series, and the two films really do work well together (though one might wish that they’d been released closer together).
Joss Whedon Was Asked To Write And Direct, And Turned Both Offers Down
For better or worse, Joss Whedon has been an important voice in this saga, so it makes sense that he would be approached to write and direct both of these films. Depending on one’s perspective, it was either a good thing or a bad thing that he ended up turning both offers down.
Whedon, justifiably, felt that he wouldn’t be able to give the two films the attention they deserved, particularly given how tremendously complicated they were going to be.
They Almost Brought In Marvel Television Characters Like Jessica Jones
At one point in the development of the film, the possibility of including characters such as Jessica Jones (as well as others from the various television series Marvel had developed) was bandied around. However, it was ultimately scrapped.
This was most definitely a good thing for these two films, given the fact that they already involved a truly staggering number of characters. The addition of any more, particularly those not involved in the films already, would have only made the narrative even harder to follow.
Unlike Infinity War, It’s Mostly Original And Not Based On Pre-existing Comics
One of the most noteworthy things about this film is that, unlike almost all of the other films in the franchise (including its own immediate predecessor), this film doesn’t rely on existing comics.
This proves to be mostly a blessing, since it allows the film to take some interesting storytelling risks, including killing off two of the most beloved characters in the MCU (Iron Man and Black Widow). At the same time, it does also mean that the story can sometimes veer off in too many directions as it tries to keep track of its various character.s
Robert Downey Jr Was The First Actor Officially Cast, Followed By Josh Brolin
It’s probably not surprising that Robert Downey Jr, who had already done such a masterful job of playing Iron Man, would be the first to be cast. In fact, he’d signed up to star in it way back in 2013.
If there was ever any doubt that Iron Man was intended to be seen as the centerpiece of this franchise, this casting chronology put those debts to rest. Brolin was the second to be officially cast, which is fitting, considering that Thanos is the most important villain.
Along With Infinity War, It Was Shot Entirely With IMAX Digital Cameras
There’s no question that the last ten years have seen some pretty significant advances in terms of the technology used to bring films to life. As it turns out, the last two Avengers films share an important milestone, since they both use IMAX digital cameras.
Anyone who has seen these two films knows that, in this case, the technology really does enhance the story, immersing the viewer in all of the excitement and adrenaline of this great story.
Black Widow’s Death Was An Originally Entirely Different Scene
This final film in this cycle of the MCU is known for having two wrenching deaths, one of which is that of Black Widow, who sacrifices herself. It’s a truly beautiful and heartbreaking moment, a reminder of the heart that beats at the heart of this franchise.
However, this wasn’t how her death originally played out, and in fact she was originally supposed to die fighting against Thanos and his forces. This is one change that definitely worked out for the best.
Including The “I Am Iron Man” Line Was A Big Reason For One Set Of Reshoots
It’s always inevitable that a film as vast and complicated as this one would require some reshoots, and there are usually some very good reasons for them (though not always, alas).
Without this particular set of reshoots, viewers would have been denied the chance to see Iron Man pronounce the immortal line “I am Iron Man,” which is one of those moments that will surely become iconic in the history of cinema.