Tony Stark’s self-sacrifice during the big battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame meant that the Marvel Cinematic Universe had to bid farewell to one of its most popular heroes. Initially, Jon Favreau, who’d directed Robert Downey Jr. in his first two Iron Man outings—and co-starred with him across the MCU as Happy Hogan—didn’t think that was the right choice. But once he actually saw how the movie handled Stark’s death, he realized that pushback was misguided.
On a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! (via the Hollywood Reporter) to promote his latest big-screen project, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Favreau remembered back to his feelings at the time. He felt protective of the character and especially the character’s fans and shared his concerns with Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo.
“I talked to the Russos; I said, ‘I don’t know if people are gonna like … I don’t know, it’s really going to impact people because they were kids that grew up with that character,” Favreau recalled. However, he soon realized he didn’t need to worry.
“But I have to tell you, it was handled so well by them. And Gwyneth [Paltrow] and Robert did such a wonderful job acting, and I think it added a poignancy to it. I think they did a wonderful job. I was wrong.”
He also said he got “choked up” watching the emotional scenes—and that he’s excited for Downey’s return to the MCU, albeit this time in the form of the villainous Doctor Doom, in December’s Avengers: Doomsday.
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