After 22 films across 11 years, Marvel fans know to wait until the end of the credits to catch the traditional post-credits sequences, which either tease what’s coming in a future MCU movie or provide a fun extra joke or easter egg. It was a big surprise, then, when Avengers: Endgame only featured a small stinger over the Marvel Studios logo that closed the film – a metal, clanking sound.
The Russo brothers have since explained that this was a sound effect taken from when Tony Stark builds his first Iron Man armor in his 2008 origins movie, a way to bring the franchise full circle and also act as a final salute to the hero who perished over the course of the film we’d just watched. But Marvel lovers know to analyze these post-credits stingers for extra meaning, so could the sound suggest something more?
In a new interview with Sirius XM, the Russos were faced with the theory that the noise isn’t just reflecting on the death of Iron Man but hinting that another Iron Man suit is being built, a promise that the mantle will continue. Joe Russo didn’t seem to think that was an option, but his brother Anthony was more open-minded to the idea.
“It’s just literally wrapping the story up at the end, it’s just that sound,” commented Joe.
“At least, for now that’s what that was a reference to,” added Anthony, opening the door for someone else to takeover where Tony Stark left off.
This is something that was already teased in the second trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home, in which folks talk about Peter Parker being “the new Iron Man.” We’ve also theorized about how the Iron Man legacy could be continued if Marvel does a Young Avengers movie as rumored, as the team typically features Iron Lad.
For now, we’ll take the Russos’ comments at face value. But it seems the end tag of Avengers: Endgame might just gain more meaning in time.
