Iron Man’s Death was Supposed to be Much More Gruesome in Avengers: Endgame

Credit: Marvel Entertainment

Credit: Marvel Entertainment


Tony Stark's death was one of the most heartbreaking scenes in Avengers: Endgame. After using the Infinity Gauntlet to defeat Thanos, the hero was severely injured and could barely speak. The fans couldn't even handle this sight alone, but it could have been way worse.

In a recent interview with Insider, the Endgame Visual Effects team revealed that there were other versions of Iron Man's demise that could have been too much to handle. "We gave the filmmaker a full range [of looks] to choose from," Weta Digital Supervisor Matt Aiken says. "And one of those was where the energy from the stones had acted right up into his face and popped one of his eyeballs out and it was hanging out on his cheek." And of course, they didn't go for that one.

"With any development item, you want to be able to give the filmmakers a full gamut," Marvel VFX producer Jen Underdahl added. "From sort of a light touch all the way to horror, and this will never be in it." However, she pointed out that doing this exercise and letting them see "every stage," would let them be able to "pinpoint" the looks that they are going for.

Underdahl revealed that they did several rounds. From making it "grisly to not so grisly to more light of a touch," then going back to a spot where the audience wouldn't get "too freaked out" on. But at the same time, making the viewers understand that Iron Man "has reached the point of no return."

The other versions of Tony's death were interesting but I think it's safe to say that the one they went with was way less disturbing and even less traumatic, especially since there are kids who weren't able to handle their hero's death, let alone a gruesome one.

What do you think of the VFX team's initial plans for Tony Stark's death? Tell us in the comments below!

Also Read: Avengers: Infinity War Almost Didn't Give Thor a New Eye

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