Imagine a Marvel movie that didn’t just redefine superhero storytelling but also secretly shaped the emotional climax of Avengers: Endgame. Yes, you read that right. While Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is often credited with its success, one of the most pivotal influences on Endgame came from a film he had no hand in creating: Logan. And this is the part most people miss—how a standalone Wolverine film became the blueprint for Tony Stark’s heart-wrenching farewell. But here’s where it gets controversial: Logan wasn’t just a great ending; it was a masterclass in how to conclude a character’s arc with dignity, something the MCU had rarely attempted before. Could this be why Endgame remains unmatched in emotional payoff six years later? Let’s dive in.
Since its release, Avengers: Endgame has stood as the MCU’s crowning achievement, a cinematic juggernaut that capped off a decade of interconnected storytelling. Its record-breaking box office success (https://www.slashfilm.com/1571120/avengers-endgame-mcu-record-shattering-box-office-five-years-later/) was almost inevitable, but replicating its emotional depth and spectacle has proven elusive. How do you craft a time-travel narrative, orchestrate a battle involving dozens of characters (https://www.slashfilm.com/570137/avengers-endgame-final-battle-oral-history/), and provide satisfying conclusions for iconic heroes like Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.)? It’s a feat that remains unparalleled, even if Jon Favreau famously tried to prevent Tony Stark’s sacrifice (https://www.slashfilm.com/945654/jon-favreau-tried-to-stop-the-russo-brothers-from-killing-off-tony-stark-in-avengers-endgame/).
When the MCU began, the idea of superheroes retiring or dying was almost taboo. Sure, Christopher Nolan’s Batman concluded in The Dark Knight Rises, but that trilogy was always finite, unlike the ever-expanding MCU. So, when Endgame dared to end Tony Stark’s story, it drew inspiration from an unlikely source: Logan. In the Assembled: The Making of Deadpool and Wolverine documentary on Disney+, Kevin Feige revealed, “I had always been very vocal with Hugh [Jackman] that he had one of the best endings of any fictional character ever… That’s what we were striving for with Robert Downey Jr. in *Endgame—to give this incredible, iconic fictional character an amazing ending.”*
Logan wasn’t just a superhero film; it was a poignant, standalone epilogue to nearly two decades of X-Men stories. It treated its world with gravitas, sentimentality, and sincerity, even in its bleakness. Logan’s death became one of the most powerful moments in superhero cinema, proving that endings could carry emotional weight (https://www.slashfilm.com/958450/logan-ending-explained-the-x-men-must-end/). Endgame took this lesson to heart, giving Tony Stark a conclusion that resonated deeply while still leaving room for the MCU’s future.
But here’s the controversial question: Did Logan set a standard for superhero endings that the MCU can’t—or won’t—replicate again? As the MCU heads into another major reset, Feige might need to revisit what made Endgame so successful. After all, Logan showed that even in a genre dominated by sequels and reboots, a character’s story can end with dignity. What do you think? Did Logan influence Endgame in ways we’re still underestimating? Let’s discuss in the comments!
