A new set photo from the yet-to-be-titled Avengers 4 film has emerged online featuring Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) sharing an emotional hug. Dubbed as the science bros by the Marvel fandom, the two have a special bond outside of their bigger Avengers team with their common love (and knowledge) for all things science and technology. Across two films, they have had isolated interactions with each other including Hulk saving a free falling Iron Man from space in the first Avengers film, while Iron Man returned the favor as he tried to subdue the hypnotized green raging monster in their second trip to Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
In terms of narrative, not much is known with regard to Avengers 4. Marvel Studios is keeping their cards close to the chest in their Phase 3 capper film especially with its direct prequel, Avengers: Infinity War first due next year. That only makes sense given that the movie is still almost two years away, but the ongoing principal photography for the film continues to provide fans with small nuggets of information about the project via set photos. The recent batch includes a snap of the science bros sharing an emotional hug with each other.
Related: Avengers 4 Set Photos Show Pepper Potts’ Return
The photo has come courtesy of Page Six taken from the set of Avengers 4 in Fayetteville, Georgia. In the snap, a distraught Banner hugs Tony with an anguished look on his face while the returning Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) looks at them with a similar expression on the background. Due to the perspective, however, we don't see Tony's facial profile, but earlier photos from the same batch show him with a serious face while talking to his fiancée.
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Without context, it is difficult to gauge what exactly is happening in the scene. But whatever it is, it does not look like good news to everyone involved. It is possible that Tony is up to something that could potentially save (or at least help the cause of) humanity from total doom, but it will come with risks that could ultimately end with him dead, which is why both Pepper and Bruce look so distraught in what may be their final goodbyes to each other.
Over the years, Tony has learned to take things seriously, especially after his vision in Age of Ultron, which is now slowly turning into reality with the imminent arrival of Thanos (Josh Brolin). And while fans were happy to see Pepper back in the fold after her break-up and eventual engagement to the "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist," it appears that the celebration will be cut short due to the big threat that is the mad Titan and his minions, the Black Order.
Major deaths have been time and time again teased for Infinity War, but if the D23 and SDCC exclusive sizzle reel for the film proves anything it's that Thanos is not playing around and the confirmation that he will be back in 2019 to continue terrorizing the MCU makes him a lot scarier. Those characters who will survive next year's epic blockbuster will still have to keep their guard up because a second round is waiting for them in Avengers 4, and this time, some of them may not be as lucky as they were during Infinity War.
Next: Avengers: Infinity War Feels Like The Biggest Movie Ever Made
Source: Page Six
