Endgame Creators Explain the Heartbreaking Reason for Tony Stark's Death
Why did Tony have to die?
Avengers: Endgame became Marvel's biggest hit and broke the hearts of many fans. Audiences loved it, but came out of the theaters in tears. The title was symbolic. The arcs of three beloved original Avengers were wrapped up in one movie.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking ending was that of beloved tech genius Tony Stark. Many fans knew that Robert Downey Jr. would end his Marvel contract with Endgame. However, it was uncertain how his character's story would end, or if he would have an ending at all. Though tragic and sad, Iron Man's arc ended on the best possible note, as both fans and the writers of Endgame agree.
Tony Stark died sacrificing himself for the greater good. While wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, he snapped his fingers, causing Thanos and his army to disintegrate before they could destroy the universe. As he did so, Tony knew full well that he couldn't survive such a burst of energy and would disintegrate as well. But he did it anyway.
Giving Tony this arc allowed Robert Downey Jr. to deliver some of his strongest acting in the MCU. Joe Russo even said it deserved an Oscar. But letting Downey Jr. do his best work was not the only reason for Iron Man's tragic ending.
Endgame screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely revealed to Vanity Fair that they wanted to end Tony Stark's arc in a meaningful way that would help highlight his entire life and evolution as a character.
"To have the opportunity to very deliberately tie all those threads together and have it add up to something and have it end, that's what stories are about," Christopher Markus explained.
Stephen McFeely added that the sacrifice was a fitting end for Tony, who began as an arrogant billionaire playboy in 2008's Iron Man, but has gradually evolved over the course of his MCU storyline, facing numerous challenges and responsibilities.
"We realized at one point, late in 2015, that [...] for Tony to be his best self, he might have to lose his [life]," the writer said.
This is very sad, but feels right to many fans. Tony Stark has learned to be selfless, and seeing him grow as a hero and make the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe in the end was both emotional and satisfying.