Why 'Avengers: Endgame' does the end credits differently (spoiler-free!)
There was a time when audiences didn't stay for the closing credits of movies — and then the Marvel Cinematic Universe happened. While the Marvel movies didn't invent the closing-credits stinger, they were the first franchise to use it strategically, embedding at least one teaser for a future film into every single superhero installment, beginning with 2008's Iron Man. (In fact, there were end-credits scenes in 2003's Daredevil and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, but those Marvel movies were pre-MCU.) So what kind of post-credits scene does the extra-long epic Avengers: Endgame have in store for fans?
The answer is: none at all. Rather than giving audiences a preview of an upcoming Disney-Marvel movie (like the Black Panther sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 or Black Widow), or teasing one of the live-action Avengers shows in development for Disney+ (including Loki, WandaVision, Falcon & Winter Soldier, and a Hawkeye series), Endgame does away with the end-credits scene entirely. It's a dramatic way of announcing that the current phase of Marvel movies has really, truly come to an end.The uneventful closing credits will be a bittersweet moment for fans — or perhaps a gift for anyone who drank a full-sized soda during the film's three-hour run.
Audiences who stay for the credits do get one thing: a mysterious hammering noise over the Marvel Studios logo at the very end. Some fans are speculating that this audio stinger is the sound of Tony Stark building his very first Iron Man suit, and thus bringing the MCU into being.
As a lead-up to the Endgame premiere, Marvel Studios tweeted out most of the previous end- and mid-credits scenes from Marvel's first decade, beginning with Nick Fury approaching Tony Stark to talk about "the Avenger Initiative." Enjoy the flashback below, shawarma and all.
“You’ve become a part of bigger universe, you just don’t know it yet.” pic.twitter.com/eOmLZO5l1d
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“What if I told you we were putting a team together...” pic.twitter.com/6fvpAvd9kL
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Sir, we found it.” 🔨 pic.twitter.com/Dv4pURzD1z
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Well I guess that’s worth a look.” pic.twitter.com/iPZOnhBZzA
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“You here with a mission sir?” pic.twitter.com/aynOatBSL6
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
Shwarma break. pic.twitter.com/Bf7Si7UEPk
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“You with me?” pic.twitter.com/V4FNKC9ia1
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“One down, five to go.” pic.twitter.com/hY7PgVzhw4
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Sooner or later they will meet the twins.” pic.twitter.com/u2Ec5sUZYk
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Fine. I’ll do it myself.” pic.twitter.com/eOXelWUHXh
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“We’re on our own.” pic.twitter.com/bxRU1h1C8o
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“You know if they find out he’s here, they’ll come for him.”
“Let them try.” pic.twitter.com/UmFJzH15Ou— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Allow me to help you.” pic.twitter.com/PkAExIy7Qb
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“And now I know how Yondu felt." pic.twitter.com/YeSEcKfiFv
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“I wouldn’t worry, brother. I feel like everything is going to work out fine.” pic.twitter.com/4CvS1u0OEP
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Come. Much more for you to learn.” pic.twitter.com/SrmIA6wdc7
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Guys?!” pic.twitter.com/Yrt6MREuTt
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
“Where’s Fury?” pic.twitter.com/NxJ4sQeqDc
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 22, 2019
Avengers: Endgame opens in theaters on Friday.
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