When the Russo brothers killed Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in Avengers: Endgame, the tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not everyone was enthusiastic about Tony Stark taking a dirt nap after helping to defeat Thanos once and for all, including Iron Man director Jon Favreau. Favreau couldn’t believe what the Russo brothers were about to do, and he feared the worst for fans of the character.
During a talk with Vanity Fair, Joe and Anthony Russo told the outlet that, at one point, Favreau pleaded with them not to kill Tony Stark. The duo says Favreau called them after reading the script, asking them to reconsider. “Are you really going to kill Iron Man,” Favreau asked.
Joe added, “I remember pacing on the corner of a stage on the phone with Favreau trying to talk him off a ledge. Because he’s like, ‘You can’t do this. It’s gonna devastate people, and you don’t want them, you know, walking out of the theater and into traffic.’ We did it anyways.”
That’s cold-blooded, Joe. However, it’s fitting the Infinity Saga would end with the death of Tony Start seeing as he was there at the beginning. At the same time, Stark’s sacrificial play destroyed a section of fans but made for one of the most heroic moments in MCU history. I’ll never forget the crowd reaction to that moment when I saw Avengers: Endgame in my local theater. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. People exited the theater in tears, simultaneously cursing the film for being tremendous and devastating.
Thankfully, we know that no one was hurt due to Tony Stark’s death. Could you imagine the headlines if that was not the case? Press would have had a field day with Marvel, and the Russos might have been canceled.
How did you react to Tony Stark’s death when you saw Avengers: Endgame for the first time, as well as Jon Favreau’s initial reaction to it? Do you think the character will find a way to return down the line? Let us know in the comments below.