Marvel releases new 'Avengers: Endgame' poster after getting slammed for not including Danai Gurira's name

Danai Gurira as Okoye in <em>Black Panther</em>. (Photo: Marvel/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Danai Gurira as Okoye in Black Panther. (Photo: Marvel/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection)

The Avengers assembled one last time earlier this morning when Marvel Studios released an all-new trailer and poster for their resident super-group’s fourth — and maybe final — movie, Avengers: Endgame. But one hero was noticeably absent from the above-the-title roll call: Black Panther breakout star, Danai Gurira. Unlike the titular Wakandan champion, Gurira’s ace warrior Okoye survived the Snapture that brought the preceding Infinity War to a decisive end.

Even though Okoye’s face was prominently displayed alongside the other still-standing Avengers — including Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and Captains America and Marvel — Gurira’s name wasn’t listed alongside their real-world alter egos, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Brie Larson. Instead, viewers had to look at the bottom of the poster to find The Walking Dead star’s credit, a discrepancy that Twitter noticed right away.

As some on social media pointed out, contractual obligations were the most likely culprit behind Gurira’s poster placement. MCU veterans and established movie stars like Downey, Johansson and Evans are able to make top billing a stipulation if their likeness is also on the poster.

At the same time, excluding Gurira from their company sends the exact wrong message at a time when Marvel is working to be more inclusive in front of and behind the camera. Even though the actress herself didn’t publicly comment in the wake of the poster’s release, Marvel zombies all over the world spoke up on her behalf. And by the late afternoon, the studio responded by releasing a new version of the poster, with Gurira’s name alongside the rest of the Avengers. “She should have been up there this whole time,” Marvel wrote in a Tweet.

The original <em>Endgame</em> poster released this morning. (Photo: Disney/Marvel Studios)
The original Endgame poster released this morning. (Photo: Disney/Marvel Studios)
The revised poster with Danai Gurira’s name above the title. (Photo: Disney/Marvel Studios)
The revised poster with Danai Gurira’s name above the title. (Photo: Disney/Marvel Studios)

Many online applauded Marvel’s swift correction… while also reminding the studio who was responsible for calling their attention to the omission in the first place.

Fans won this battle; now we can’t wait to see Okoye help win Round 2 of the Infinity War.


Avengers: Endgame opens in theaters on April 26.

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