Avengers: Endgame writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely reveal why Captain America (Chris Evans) was not killed off in the film.
After nearly 11 years, Avengers: Endgame marked the end of The Infinity Saga storyline that featured both Steve Rogers/Captain America and Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) as two of the core Avengers at the center of the story. Both Captain America and Iron Man, despite being friends during their time as Avengers had significant tensions that eventually reached its peak during Captain America: Civil War. Their respective conflict was thankfully resolved in Avengers: Endgame given the scope of the threat that Thanos (Josh Brolin) unleashed upon the entire universe.
Avengers: Endgame sent off both heroes, with Captain America traveling back in time to start a life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) while Iron Man sacrificed his life to defeat Thanos and his army. Both McFeely and Markus explained to Vanity Fair why keeping Captain America alive was necessary for his arc to be fulfilled:
Stephen McFeely: We realized over the course of the movies that Cap and Tony were on crossing arcs. Cap, who had started as completely selfless and was jumping on grenades willy-nilly, was becoming more self-interested. Not to say selfish, but if you watch Civil War, particularly, he’s making decisions based on what he wants, even if it breaks up the Avengers. And Tony started as the brash billionaire playboy, and the stakes are growing for him, the responsibility’s growing for him. We realized at one point, late in 2015, that for Steve to be his best self, he was going to have to get a life, and for Tony to be his best self, he might have to lose his.
Christopher Markus: And that’s why [Captain America] can’t die in this movie. Because he was willing to die in the first one. That’s not a journey.
If Captain America died in Avengers: Endgame, not only would he have not traveled back in time to live a life with Peggy Carter, but would not have been able to pass on his shield and mantle to Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie). In retrospect, it makes sense that although he didn’t die, Captain America was sent off in a way that satisfied the character’s arc after nearly eight years on the big screen.
What do you think of the writers’ decision? Do you think it was the right call to keep Captain America alive? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on Captain America, Avengers: Endgame and the rest of the MCU.
Chris Evans last appeared as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame. Here is the synopsis:
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.
Avengers: Endgame is now available on Digital HD, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.
Source: Vanity Fair
