Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans looking in Endgame
Movies - TV
Avengers: Endgame Used The Writers’ ‘Stupidest’ Plot Idea
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
Illustration of the Avengers cast
"Avengers: Endgame" was the grand conclusion to a long superhero narrative that began with "Iron Man" and ended with a mix of time travel, magical stones, and surprising twists.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man holding up hand
The film’s writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely came up with a time travel plot that they deemed dumb but necessary to get around the ending of the last Marvel film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp staring
The idea stemmed from the "Ant-Man" movies, where Paul Rudd’s character shrinks and distorts time. The Avengers use Ant-Man’s technology to create a time machine.
The final battle in Endgame
Markus noted that time travel was an obvious, uncreative story choice and admitted on the commentary track for "Endgame" that it "was the stupidest idea you could possibly have."
Joe and Anthony Russo direct Chris Evans in Endgame
"Endgame" co-director Joe Russo agreed but saw time travel’s emotional potential. He felt the human component underlying the sci-fi architecture made it worthwhile to investigate.
Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr in Endgame
"[W]e realized the emotional scenes that could take place between two characters and people that they loved who are no longer with them," said Russo.
Money falls from the sky onto the Avengers
Despite their reservations, "Endgame" captivated viewers worldwide. The flick made almost $2.8 billion globally, and is, at last measure, the second-highest grossing of all time.