- Primary Subject: Jon Favreau
- Key Update: The director reveals he initially urged the Russo brothers not to kill Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: Jon Favreau initially objected to Iron Man's death to protect fans, but later admitted the Russo brothers' emotional execution of the scene was the right choice.
Original Iron Man director Jon Favreau recently admitted that he initially objected to the decision to kill off Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame.
To this day, the fan-favorite hero's death is still considered one of the highlights in MCU history. While Robert Downey Jr. is making his return to the franchise in a different role, his contribution to the role of Tony Stark is still being celebrated by many fans, and his death scene elicited an emotional response from audiences who watched it.
Why Jon Favreau Objected to Tony Stark's Death in Avengers: Endgame
In a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Favreau admitted that he expressed his objections to the Russo brothers when he heard that Tony Stark would be killed off at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
He eventually realized that his objection was "wrong" and the death scene was handled "well" by the filmmakers.
"I talked to the Russos, I said, ‘I don’t know if people are gonna like… I don’t know, it’s really going to impact people because they were kids that grew up with that character," he said.
"But I have to tell you, it was handled so well by them. And Gwyneth [Paltrow] and Robert did such a wonderful job acting, and I think it added a poignancy to it. I think they did a wonderful job. I was wrong."
Favreau also shared that he felt emotional when he watched Tony Stark's death scene. "I was choked up. Even though it’s a movie, those people, those characters, have been part of my life for so long," he added.
When Downey's return to the MCU as Doctor Doom was brought up, Favreau said he's "excited to see" him in the villainous role, and the "smartest thing I ever did" was cast himself as Happy Hogan in the first Iron Man movie since he eventually became a recurring cast member of the franchise.
What to Expect in the Upcoming Avengers Movies
The plot details regarding Avengers: Doomsday are still under wraps, but it is expected to feature a multiversal team-up between the heroes in Earth-616, the Fantastic Four from Earth-838, and the X-Men from the Fox universe against Doctor Doom.
The star-studded cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Simu Liu, Tom Hiddleston, Winston Duke, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Danny Ramirez, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Channing Tatum, and Chris Evans.
The film is slated for release in theaters on December 18. Four teaser trailers were already released, giving fans an early glimpse of what to expect.
As for Secret Wars, the details are still under wraps since production will begin this year. It is slated for release in theaters in December 2027.
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