AVENGERS: ENDGAME's Decisive Thanos Battle Would Have Ended With This Quip If Left Up To Robert Downey Jr.

Interviews for Avengers: Endgame revealed that the decisive moment where Iron Man got his hands on the Infinity Gauntlet originally ended with Tony Stark not saying anything before a last-minute change.

By MarkJulian - Nov 11, 2019 10:11 AM EST

Filed Under: Avengers: Endgame

It was previously revealed that Tony Stark's now iconic last words to Thanos in Avengers: Endgame were a last-minute decision made during the editing portion of production and that a number of lines were recorded before settling on "And I am...I am Iron Man."

In an interview earlier this year, co-director Joe Russo stated, "Tony used to not say anything in that moment. And we were in the editing room going, ‘He has to say something. This a character who has lived and died by quips.' And we just couldn’t, we tried a million different last lines. Thanos was saying, ‘I am inevitable.’ And our editor Jeff Ford, who’s been with us all four movies and is an amazing storyteller, said, ‘Why don’t we just go full circle with it and say I am Iron Man?’ And we’re like, ‘Get the cameras! We have to shoot this tomorrow."

While opening for the 2019 People's Choice Awards, actor Robert Downey Jr. stated that he wanted Tony's last words to be a little more humorous.

"Oh, snap! That's what I wanted Tony to say to Thanos after he nabbed the gauntlet. I wanted him to say, 'Oh snap!' But I guess, "I am Iron Man' was a fitting final statement for the now, late Mr. Stark."

Below, you can check out a video of Downey Jr.'s acceptance speech for Male Movie Star of the Year, where he dedicates the award to the late Stan Lee.

Iron Man's final words wasn't the only "fluid" moment in the two-part Infinity Saga finale. Hit the Next button below for a rundown of all the characters that NEARLY appeared in the film including The Living Tribunal, Red Hulk and more.

Richard Rider Nova

Marvels-nova-movie-explained-is-richard-rider-joining-the-mc_5jna

Early on in Infinity War, the Hulk crash lands in Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum but to warn of Thanos' imminent attack. However, the film making team has confirmed post-release, that the script originally called for Nova (Richard Rider) to fulfill this function. When Thanos attacks the Asgardian refugee ship, he's already in possession of the Power Stone and has reportedly wiped out every single member of the Nova Corps. Rider was originally going to be the only surviving member, who just happened to escape with precious cargo.

Xandarian Worldmind voiced by Glenn Close

As previously mentioned, Richard Rider was originally slated to replace Hulk the superhero that crash landed through Doctor Strange's roof with dire warning of Thanos' war march. Interestingly enough, Rider was going to have escaped with the Xandarian Worldmind in tow, a hint of a potential power-up to come. In the comics, the Worldmind is a supercomputer that contains the experience, history and personalities of previously deceased Nova Corps members. In times of great need, Nova Corps members have been shown to merge with the Worldmind to greatly augment their powers.

The Dark Elves

Matt Aitken, the visual effects supervisor for Weta Digita revealed in an interview that Thanos' army of conquered worlds consisting of Sakaarans, Outriders, and Chitauri were originally going to include Thor: The Dark World's Dark Elves. "The dark elves were mentioned, but we never got as far as rigging them or making them for the battle."

The Living Tribunal

Doctor Strange's battle with Thanos on a decimated Titan nearly saw the Sorcerer Supreme present the Mad Titan before The Living Tribunal for judgement.

Screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Chrisopher Markus explained, "So as Thanos and Doctor Strange came to blows, Doctor Strange blew Thanos’ mind and sent him through the mindscape. And at the end he gets dumped in front of the Living Tribunal who judges him guilty. It was great, it was really... when you introduce the idea of the Living Tribunal, it does open up a whole new era. I don’t know if my grandmother would understand that."

However, they ultimately decided that the cosmc entity was simply too strong for the MCU at this point as The Living Tribunal could easily wipe the floor with Thanos, regardless of how many Infinity Stones he had.

Grown-up Morgan Stark played by Katherine Langford

Avengers-infinity-war-thanos-soul-stone-scene-darker-1129363-1280x0

A lot of buzz swirled around the casting of Katherine Langford in Avengers: Endgame, partly because the film had so few casting additions. Rumors swirled that Langford was playing everyone from Cassie Land to Kate Bishop.

However, the filmmakers eventually revealed (after Langford's role had been cut) that she was going to play a grown up verson of Tony Stark's daughter and was going to appear in the Soul Stone realm. The filmmakers envisioned a parallel to Thanos' visit for Iron Man after he wished the Mad Titan's army away.

Just as Thanos had to sacrifice his past love for Gamora, Tony was going to have to sacrifice his future with Morgan.

Red Hulk

Endgame co-writer Christopher Markus told Backstory Magazine that he considered adding Red Hulk back in August. But it wasn't going to be Thuderbolt Ross making the change, it would've been Bruce Banner. However, he only toyed with the idea for about a day before moving on.

"Red Hulk is a completely different thing in the comics. It wound up being, well, really we’re just saying he changes color. That’s not a character change. If there’s a future for William Hurt as a superhero, he can turn into Red Hulk."

The Original Wasp

While a de-aged Michael Douglas appeared in Endgame, it was reported that McFeely and Markus also considered adding the current version of the character to the final Endgame battle, along with is wife, Janet van Dyne, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Ultimately, the two were nixed as there wasn't much for an elderly Hank Pym to do and the writers weren't sure where to take Wasp's quantum realm powers.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Star Josh Brolin Suggests There Are Plans For Thanos To Return In The Multiverse Saga

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48 Comments

1 2

BrainySleep - 11/11/2019, 10:58 AM

What we got was snappy enough

GhostDog - 11/11/2019, 11:04 AM

Wish Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" played in the background when he said it

This syncs up so well

LeonNova - 11/11/2019, 11:14 AM

@BlackBeltJones - It’s cool to watch in the video, in terms of the actual movie, it would’ve felt contrived and taken the viewer out of the film, at least IMO.

GhostDog - 11/11/2019, 11:22 AM

@LeonNova - I agree, But part of me just loves how well it synchronizes so much and I miss that theme.

Also, I feel like Marvel, where they're at now, could've gotten away with it; maybe even a very subdued hint of the theme quietly playing very low for a few seconds whilst the stones move into the place. Then the theme cuts so Tony can speak.

Matador - 11/11/2019, 11:05 AM

AnthonyVonGeek - 11/11/2019, 11:08 AM

He should have said....

Nebula - 11/11/2019, 11:12 AM

@AnthonyVonGeek - Apparently, "[frick] you." was considered at one point, so.

write33 - 11/11/2019, 11:28 AM

@AnthonyVonGeek - and you just made me LOL for real.......now whenever I see "Endgame," I shall think of you & the crime of them missing the best possible line he could have had...

MCUKnight11 - 11/11/2019, 11:09 AM

I usually don't expect much out of award shows, but that opening gave me chills.

MasterMix - 11/11/2019, 11:12 AM

If there's any MCU scene I'm glad didn't have a joke in it, this would be #1.

soberchimera - 11/11/2019, 11:13 AM

Thanos: I am inevitable.
Tony: Suck my ass *snap*

Goldboink - 11/11/2019, 1:01 PM

@soberchimera -
"Kiss my ass" also would have worked.

SpideyPuffsMJ - 11/11/2019, 11:14 AM

Didn't they also consider "[frick] you." ?? lol

What we got was the best possible option.

Battabing - 11/11/2019, 11:15 AM

OT: Titans returns for Season 3

https://deadline.com/2019/11/titans-dc-universe-flagship-series-will-return-for-season-3-on-streaming-site-1202782967/

Antley - 11/11/2019, 11:28 AM

Hi inevitable, I'm Dad.

Reeds2Much - 11/11/2019, 11:41 AM

Sounds more like a story he's making up on the spot just for the giggles. Downey is a far better actor than the kind that would suggest "Oh snap" seriously.

That's what Ryan Reynolds is for.

regularmovieguy - 11/11/2019, 11:56 AM

@Reeds2Much

DannRamm113 - 11/11/2019, 12:00 PM

I was hoping for something to mirror the original fight between Tony and Thanos in Infinity War.

I think one of the strongest lines was "And I hope they remember you"

"I...am...inevitable"

"And I...hope they remember you."

1 2

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AVENGERS: ENDGAME's Decisive Thanos Battle Would Have Ended With This Quip If Left Up To Robert Downey Jr.

Interviews for Avengers: Endgame revealed that the decisive moment where Iron Man got his hands on the Infinity Gauntlet originally ended with Tony Stark not saying anything before a last-minute change.

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