AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR features numerous tear-jerking moments, but there’s one that caused moviegoers across the world to collectively weep: the death of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. What made the scene so tragic was how much longer it played than the other deaths in the movie, with Parker (Tom Holland) lingering long enough to show the fear in his eyes. Turns out that bit was meant to be much shorter, and we can thank Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/Tony Stark) for helping the scene get to its gripping, emotional level.
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Now that the movie is out on digital you can listen to the commentary track by directors Joe and Anthony Russo, during which they reveal how the scene played on the page (via The Hollywood Reporter). "If I remember correctly, it was [in the script] 'I don't feel too good.,”' Joe said. “Tony looked down at him. He said, 'I'm sorry' and disappeared.”
"It wasn't as drawn out as this," Anthony added.
However, Anthony credits Downey for pushing Holland to go further, resulting in the most emotional scene in the movie, sporting two excellent performances from the actors.
At the end of the day, he kept driving: put more and more emotion into it, and just went up to Tom and said, 'You don't want to go because you're a child. And you're using your strength as Spider-Man to fight this.' And then that was the performance that came out. It was a pretty spectacular performance for a 21-year-old actor.
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Hearing this story reminds me of RDJ's scene in TROPIC THUNDER with Ben Stiller, wherein their two characters, who are actors playing roles in a war movie, are trying to work on the "emotionality" of the scene. Of course, that was hysterical, but here I can sense it was a very open and honest communication between actors. Stark and Parker have a close bond in these movies, and Parker's death (a.k.a. turning into ash) needed that extra kick. The movie is much better with that scene as it ended up, ensuring millions of people would all cry in unison.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is on digital now and on Blu-ray August 14.