“We’re in the endgame now.”
That we are, Doctor Strange…that we are. With Avengers: Infinity War now playing all across the globe – save for Russia (May 4th) and China (May 11th) – we’ve officially reached the beginning of the end of what is fast becoming an endless superhero franchise.
Nevertheless, in the eyes of Joe and Anthony Russo, both Infinity War and its untitled sequel (Avengers: Endgame?) herald the end of the MCU’s first cycle. And similar to how a TV series retains most character deaths for its unmissable finale, the Russo Brothers sought about ramping up the stakes in time for Avengers: Infinity War, resulting in one of the most haunting, yet deeply satisfying finales ever to grace the MCU.
It’s one that the creative duo reflected on during a recent chat with Washington’s Top News (h/t Screen Rant), beginning with a history lesson from Anthony Russo:
We love what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been able to do since the very first film in ‘Iron Man’ and we’ve been following these stories now for 10 years. The intention of these movies is to be a climax or a culmination of everything that’s happened in the MCU up to this point, so we knew that a story of that scope and scale was a big swing.
His brother Joe goes on to stress that an unstoppable villain like Thanos demands “very high” stakes, as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their cosmic allies throw everything on the line in a last-ditch attempt to save the universe.
It’s part of the reason why Avengers: Infinity War is so emotional, as viewers have undoubtedly grown attached to the likes of Iron Man, Thor, Cap, Hulk and Black Widow after 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“We have a really strong commitment to very real stakes” said Anthony. “Without stakes, it takes away your level of emotional investment and engagement. We love these characters as much as anybody, but all things have to come to an end. There’s a cycle to everything and these movies represent the end of the first cycle of Marvel Studios.”
And make no mistake, Avengers: Infinity War was fluent in edge-of-your-seat spectacle. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though, as the interplay between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their newfound allies (“I am Steve Rogers”) brought a sense of levity to the apocalyptic action. And it’s that deft balance of heart and humor that has helped propel Infinity War toward box office stardom.
