The famous portals scene in Avengers: Endgame was almost completely different. Co-director Joe Russo shared that the original idea was to have a static camera spinning around Steve Rogers, with all the returning heroes positioned behind him already. That means no iconic scenes where they each appear.
This was very different from the final version, which showed each hero arriving through magical portals. Russo explained that there was a lot of debate and conflict about this alternate approach, lasting for months. He would not say who was against them, but he and his brother, Anthony Russo, eventually redid the scene to match their vision. This decision was different from what at least one other team member, believed to be writer Stephen McFeely, wanted, as he preferred the original idea.
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McFeely admitted he liked the first version more but recognized that the Russo brothers’ version had a greater emotional impact. He stressed that focusing on emotional resonance is more important than just following a strictly logical structure, as it makes the story connect better with the audience. The final scene with the portals has become one of the most beloved moments in the MCU.
Being honest, the first version would have been dogwater. The creative process for Avengers: Endgame involved a lot of discussions among the directors and writers. The Russo brothers and their regular collaborators, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, are known for having intense discussions to refine ideas. While these debates sometimes led to disagreements, they were crucial in shaping the final film.
The movie also underwent changes to other important scenes. For example, Steve Rogers passing the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson was adjusted based on feedback from actors Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, who wanted to show Sam’s initial hesitation to take on the role. There was also a scene with an all-female Avengers team that almost didn’t make it into the movie because of concerns it might seem forced. That’s pretty astute because it led to a modified version that stayed in the film and felt a little forced.
Source: Empire
