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The Russo Brothers Reveal Which Cameo In 'Endgame' Gave Them A ‘Panic Attack’

Today we're going to talk about Avengers: Endgame. We're really approaching a place in time where we can talk about it without having to say spoilers, mostly because almost everyone in the world has seen it.

Spoilers Ahead.

Giphy

These are Avengers: Endgame spoilers people, so toss your phone into a ball launcher, stand at the plate and what that thing out of the park if you don't want the movie ruined.

Now that they're gone.

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We can talk Avengers.

Boy, that movie was awesome. Three glorious hours of heart-pounding action, heartbreaking drama and... uh... heart tickling comedy? Yeah, let's go with that one.

However, great lengths were taken to avoid spoiling.

From misinforming the cast to not giving blabbermouth Tom Holland any context whatsoever, directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo didn't want this movie ruined.

One scene, in particular, was kept under heavy wraps.

Reddit

And you can probably guess which scene that was.

What? No, it wasn't the scene with Professor Hulk!

Even as pivotal and important as that scene was to the Internet at large.

Marvel

That particular chestnut was spoiled for me the moment I made the mistake of visiting r/4chan the day before the movie came out. I did not see this as an absolute win.

No, it was the scene at the end.

Youtube | Express Movie Clips

You know, the funeral scene? Tony Stark's funeral? Because Tony Stark is totally dead and apparently, according to the new Spiderman trailer, Peter Parker wants to be him? Or at least the next Iron Man.

That scene was the most secret of all.

YouTube | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Sebastian Stan, the man who plays the Winter Soldier and/or Bucky Barns, Captain America's pal and the whole reason Captain America: Civil War happened, went on The Tonight Show to discuss how secretive the Russo Bros were being.

He said:

YouTube | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

"I was told there was a wedding that we were filming, I was like, 'Who's getting married?" He goes on to say: "Everybody was dressed very formally."

"I was looking around and two people weren't there."

YouTube | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

"And I guessed that was the bride and the groom," he said. Sure, that makes sense. You'd think by now these actors would be second guessing everything the directors told them, but alas.

Then, he finishes with:

YouTube | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

"That's what it was. It was a wedding. You saw the movie, right? It was a wedding." Yeah, sure it was Sebastian. I admire your attempt to hide Endgame secrets boy-o, but this is a spoiler-full article! No one could possibly beat me up for saying the truth!

He wasn't the only one who was told it was a wedding scene either.

YouTube | Jimmy Kimmel Live

Notorious spoilsport Tom Holland revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he was also told it was a wedding, much to the delight and amusement of his Spiderman: Far From Home co-stars.

"I showed up to the 'wedding,' and was like, 'Where's Robert?'" Tom recalled.

YouTube | Jimmy Kimmel Live

"I thought it was a wedding! I was so excited!" he also exclaims. A wedding would've been a much happier scene, I'll admit it, but it probably wouldn't have packed the same emotional punch.

So how did the directors feel?

YouTube | Nerdist

About the death, I mean. Well, they say that they're fine, even happy with it. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter they said: "It’s a good death."

"It doesn’t feel like a tragedy. It feels like a heroic, finished life."

It was a satisfying wrap-up to Tony's character arc, and a lot of fans saw it coming, especially since Robert Downey Jr.'s contract was expiring as well.

Robert Downey Jr was definitely NOT told it was a wedding scene.

Instagram | @robertdowneyjr

The directors said they pitched the storyline to RDJ to make sure he was on board.

"We did pitch Robert his arc, because he kicked off the entire MCU. [...] Once we decided we wanted this kind of ending for the character, we certainly wanted to make sure Robert was comfortable with it, just because of his enormous contribution to the MCU."

However, we should keep talking about the funeral.

Youtube | Express Movie Clips

Because there was an unexpected cameo during the thing that almost gave the Russo Brothers a "panic attack".

Why? Who? How? Well, keep reading pals and I'll tell you.

Remember that teenager?

Pinterest

That random teenager standing alone at the funeral you probably thought was Peter Parker until you remember he was standing with Aunt May?

Well, that was a young actor by the name of Ty Simpkins, and he was playing...

The kid from "Iron Man 3".

IMDb

That's right, remember Harley Keener?

The kid who found Tony Stark in his garage one morning, and the two bonded over inventing? The kid you haven't thought about in 6 years? Yeah, that kid.

The Russo brothers were worried you wouldn't remember

YouTube | Producers Guild of America

In a conversation with ReelBlend podcast, they had this to say:

Joe Russo: "Every time we screened it, people would ask us [who that kid was]."

"Literally, every time."

YouTube | Producers Guild of America

"I don’t know if there has ever been a single person who has recognized him!" Anthony Russo laughed.

I know I didn't recognize him, and I was scouring every face in that scene to try to identify who everyone was.

Joe goes on to say:

"He’s three times taller than he was. So I think he has grown up so much that, you know, it’s a deep Easter egg."

"But I feel like that's what's compelling about the Marvel universe."

Instagram | @therussobrothers

He also added, "By the way, there are quite a few Easter eggs in the movie people still haven’t identified." It looks like no matter how many Easter Eggs we find, there will always be more to search.

What else could there be?

IMDb

Maybe they swap out Mark Ruffalo's face for Lou Ferrigno's in one scene? Maybe Joss Whedon directed one scene in secret as a callback to the first two? Who knows, guess I'll just have to watch it ten more times!