Avengers: Endgame was home to several jaw-dropping moments but it also caused quite the controversy thanks to a particular sequence that puts together the franchise's female heroes — from Captain Marvel to Scarlet Witch — in one single frame. Obviously, the "A-Force" scene was created to convey a message of women empowerment but a lot of fans thought that it was unnecessary, not to mention forced. Apparently, Marvel Studios was also aware that the scene would actually backfire.
In the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (via The Direct), Avengers: Endgame producer Trinh Tran walked fans through the making of the said scene. Turns out, they've always had the desire of including the A-Force sequence to "showcase" and "empower" the women of the billion-dollar franchise.
Tran explains: "One of the most memorable moments from the climax of Endgame underlined Marvel Studios’ to showing heroic acts performed by all people. The teaming up of Captain Marvel, Wanda Maximoff, Valkyrie, Okoye, Pepper Potts, Mantis, Shuri, The Wasp, Gamora, and Nebula was in the script for Endgame since day one. ‘We’ve always wanted a moment to really showcase and empower the women [in the MCU].’"
Admittedly, when the scene was first screen-tested, Tran said that there were concerns over it coming across as "pandering" and the fear of the scene not having a significant story to tell. She added: "However, when Endgame went into postproduction, the sheer joy for the sequence shifted to a more pensive place. In earlier cuts, Tran admits, ’When we started screen-testing it, there was a little concern for ‘Does it come off [as]pandering?’ Are we going to get people saying, ‘Oh you’re just putting that scene in there just to put the scene in there. Does it actually have a story to tell with the rest of the narrative?’ That was always a concern in the back of our heads.'"
Also Read: MCU Fans Slam Tom Holland's Spider-Man for Running Away from Doctor Octopus
Personally, I didn't mind the inclusion of the A-Force scene in Endgame nor did I find it to be "forced" but it's not that surprising how it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Apart from it trying to convey a strong message of women empowerment, Marvel Studios was probably testing the waters for a potential A-Force project down the line and the mixed reception it got was a sign that they need to go back to the drawing board before actually pulling the trigger.
Avengers: Endgame is streaming on Disney+.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!