Arguably the most iconic sequence in Avengers: Endgame, the portals scene is the return of the superheroes during the final battle. It’s a scene etched into fans’ memories, but this remarkable moment almost looked entirely different.
The first time the blipped characters return after Hulk uses the Infinity Gauntlet, the grandeur of the portals we now see is absent. Joe and Anthony Russo explained that this scene changed dramatically during post-production.
The Original Plan
According to Empire magazine, Joe Russo revealed that the original idea was for the camera to rotate around Steve Rogers while all the superheroes are standing behind him. Still, the directors didn’t think that the scene came out emotionally sufficient. “I can vividly recall debating it for months in the cutting room,” said Joe Russo. “I wouldn’t say who was on whom’s side of things, but that was one we had to wrestle back in. And I remember me and Anth walking in there like, ‘Well, f*** it, let’s just film it in reshoots.”. Screenwriter Christopher Markus said he was one of those who did not believe the change. “Yeah, I’ll go under the bus because I wasn’t alone. I thought the first cut worked pretty well. I thought it was cool,” Markus said. However, he later admitted to the vision of the Russos. “One of the lessons I’ve learned. is emotional-logic trumps logic-logic. It’s not a cop-out. It’s what the movie wants. It’s what your audience wants.”
Other Scenes in Endgame That Were Rewritten
The portals scene was not the only one in the movie to be heavily altered. Other notable ones were Steve Rogers passing his shield to Sam Wilson, who was averse to receiving it, and the all-female Avengers line-up during the final battle. Both were fought over or changed for during the edit to bring about the emotional impact the fans now cherish.
The relentless pursuit of perfection from the Russos resulted in the delivering of Endgame with cinematic impact unmatched in anything, ever: witness the portals scene.
