Avengers: Endgame released its latest, and probably last, trailer today (April 2) to the delight of fans worldwide. The new trailer is the most coherent so far and comes alongside the tickets presale release date. Though major cinema chains’ websites are struggling to keep up with fan fervour, one thing some may be apprehensive about is the exceptionally long runtime of Avengers: Endgame.
But a recent interview with Box Office Pro revealed the inevitability of that enormous runtime.
Co-director Joe Russo spoke with journalist Shawn Robbins ahead of the Endgame press tour.
Russo said even with editing, the runtime is still looking at approximately three hours.
Russo said: “It really hasn’t changed since we executed the first cut of the film.
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“Even though we’ve shot a lot of footage between now and then, we’ve swapped things out and the water keeps rising to the same level because the story’s so dense.
“We have so many characters that we’re working with again that require that kind of run time.
“My brother and I are really committed to emotional stakes, and emotion requires story real estate.
“When you have a sprawling plot with a lot of characters and emotional stakes, it requires time to breathe emotionally.
“On the scale, you’re just going to wind up at a certain run time. We’ve been really hard on the film.
“We don’t like excessive run times; it’s just very difficult wrapping up ten years of storytelling.”
Those ten years of storytelling have contributed to global pop culture in a way only seen previously by the likes of Star Wars.
Other franchises, like the DC Comics adaptations from Waner Bros, have failed to catch up to Marvel until more recently.
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Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman and Aquaman have proven differently, and the upcoming Shazam is likely to bode well for WB’s future.
But even with competition, Marvel has reached an unparalleled level of success in its superhero storytelling.
As for Avengers: Endgame, the movie is the final chapter in the long enduring saga known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Three.
Endgame will user in the new era of a generation of superheroes loved by many.
But it may also see the end of those stalwart-favourites like Iron Man and Captain America.
Marvel is known for shocking, delighting, and devastating its fans.
What the studio will do with Endgame, and after it, remains to be seen.
Avengers: Endgame is out in UK cinemas on Thursday, April 25, 2019.