Imagine a Marvel movie without Kevin Feige’s guiding hand not only existing but also shaping the emotional core of Avengers: Endgame. Bold, right? Yet, that’s exactly what happened, and it’s a detail most fans overlook. Six years after Endgame shattered box office records and hearts alike, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) still hasn’t matched its monumental impact. The film wasn’t just a blockbuster—it was the culmination of a decade’s worth of storytelling, weaving together time travel, a colossal battle, and deeply satisfying character arcs. But here’s where it gets controversial: Endgame’s success wasn’t just about scale; it was about closure, something the MCU had rarely dared to attempt before. And this is the part most people miss: the blueprint for Tony Stark’s poignant farewell wasn’t born within Marvel’s walls—it came from Logan, a film Feige had no hand in creating.
Let’s break it down. Superhero stories rarely end. They evolve, reboot, or simply fade into the background. When the MCU began, the idea of a definitive conclusion for a character like Iron Man seemed almost taboo. Sure, Christopher Nolan retired his Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, but that trilogy was always finite. The MCU, however, was built to expand endlessly. So, when Endgame dared to say goodbye to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, it wasn’t just a narrative choice—it was a cultural shift. But what inspired this bold move? Enter Logan, a film that treated its superhero with the gravitas of a Shakespearean tragedy.
In a revealing moment from the Assembled: The Making of Deadpool and Wolverine documentary, Kevin Feige admitted, ‘I had always been very vocal with Hugh [Jackman] that he had one of the best endings of any fictional character ever.’ Feige saw in Logan what he wanted for Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark: an ending that felt earned, emotional, and unforgettable. Logan wasn’t just a sequel; it was a standalone story that carried the weight of nearly two decades of X-Men history. It was bleak, sentimental, and unapologetically sincere—qualities that made Logan’s death resonate as one of the most powerful moments in superhero cinema.
Endgame took this lesson to heart, crafting a conclusion that honored its characters while leaving room for the MCU to continue. Tony Stark’s sacrifice wasn’t just a plot point; it was a testament to the power of storytelling. But here’s the question: as the MCU prepares for another major reset, will Feige remember the lessons of Logan? Or will the franchise lose sight of what made Endgame so special? What do you think? Is the MCU better off embracing definitive endings, or should it stick to its infinite storytelling model? Let’s debate in the comments—because this is one conversation that’s far from over.
