Tony's Dying Thought in Endgame is Gut-Wrenching, But Perfectly in Character

Tony Stark, the first and widely-loved hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, met his glorious end in Avengers: Endgame, causing grief to millions of fans. His last moment was tragic and has become iconic thanks to Robert Downey Jr. 's unforgettable performance. Co-director Joe Russo even suggested that the actor deserved an Oscar for this scene, and the MCU fans couldn't agree more.

Though not reflecting everything that was going on on-screen, the script for Endgame, published by Disney to be considered for the best adapted screenplay award, has one particularly emotional line that makes Tony's death even more tragic and heartbreaking. It is part of a scene following Tony's snap.

Tony Stark's iconic line, "I am Iron Man," was not originally in the script. It was editor Jeffrey Ford who came up with the idea to use the line as a way to tie the entire 11-year history of the MCU together.

However, Tony's final unspoken thought was included in the script.

It happens after Peter Parker delivers his emotional speech, reassuring Tony with his "Mr. Stark, we won. You did it, sir." line. On-screen, Tom Holland 's character then adds "I'm sorry, Tony," and leaves having realized that the dying hero needs to say goodbye to his wife. Pepper kneels and says "Hey." Tony's last spoken words on-screen are "Hey, Pep." Pepper gets the update that Tony's condition is critical, but she smiles and reassures him "Tony, look at me. We're going to be okay..."

According to the script, this is Tony's reaction:

"He stares at her, tears welling. I'm sorry."

She gently caresses his face and leans in for a kiss, whispering "You can rest now." The script notes that as she looks at him, she sees that his eyes are "fixed and glassy." The silence in the room becomes palpable as the heroes come together, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Tony Stark is gone."

This scene gives chills. Tony's last thought, "I am sorry," carries a heavy weight. It is clear he deeply regrets leaving his wife Pepper and daughter Morgan. He did want to retire from being a superhero and live a simple life with his family, but his story ultimately concluded with a heroic sacrifice, solidifying his status as one of the most well-crafted characters in cinematography.