‘Avengers: Endgame‘ co-director Joe Russo recently shared a surprising revelation about one of the film’s most iconic moments: the emotional “Portals” scene. This sequence was a defining moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, Russo revealed that the version fans saw on screen almost didn’t happen. Moreover, with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on the horizon, fans can expect the Russos to deliver.
The First “Portals” Scene Focused On Steve Rogers Instead Of The Revived Heroes
‘Avengers: Endgame’ delivered several unforgettable moments, but few resonate as powerfully as the moment Steve Rogers saw all the recently revived heroes emerging from Doctor Strange’s portals brought audiences to their feet in theaters around the world.
Related: Russo Brothers Reveal Why They Chose To Return For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ And ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’
In a recent interview with Empire, Joe Russo disclosed that the scene was originally conceived quite differently. “There was probably some debate regarding the most famous moment, I think, of all the Marvel films, which is the portals opening at the end of Avengers: Endgame.”
Instead of the sweeping cinematic reveal of the heroes assembling through the portals, the original plan had the camera focusing on Steve Rogers as it rotated to show the heroes gathered behind him. “I remember fighting that one for months in the edit room,” Russo admitted. “I’m not going to say who was on what side, but that was a grinder.”
Additionally, it turns out that even screenwriter Stephen McFeely was initially in favor of the earlier version, believing “the first cut worked pretty well.” However, the team ultimately realized that what the audience craved was an emotional payoff that only the portal sequence could deliver.
Why Russo Brothers Chose To Return For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ And ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’
The Russo brothers are not done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The news that Joe and Anthony Russo would return to direct ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ had fans very excited. However, their return wasn’t immediate. According to Anthony Russo, stepping back into the MCU took some time and consideration.
In case you missed it: ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Undergoes Massive Overhaul As Russo Brothers Scrap Michael Waldron’s Script
“Endgame was the end, and it took a little time for us to begin to think about it as something other than an end,” Anthony explained. “We’re very close with Kevin Feige, and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas.”
Additionally, the turning point came when they began exploring the idea of adapting the Secret Wars storyline for the MCU. “Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon an idea that activated all of us,” Anthony said. “You couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came, it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.’”
