WARNING: Major spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.
The final line from Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame was actually a last minute addition to the movie. As the one who kicked off the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is once again given a major role in his latest - and final - appearance. Avengers: Endgame has long been expected to serve as the swan song for the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and his sendoff is incredibly epic and emotional.
Iron Man's death comes during the final fight against Thanos, and he's ultimately the one to secure a victory for the heroes and their entire reality. Right before he does this though, Thanos says "I am inevitable" as he thinks he's about to win, but doesn't. Tony reveals that he's actually taken the Infinity Stones for himself and utters "I am Iron Man" for one last time. The line in combination with his snap eliminating Thanos and his entire army makes for an incredible moment - but this wasn't added until late in the process.
Co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo attended a Q&A about Avengers: Endgame recently in Washington DC and Slash Film obtained a copy of the audio. During the Q&A, it was shockingly revealed that the "I am Iron Man" line was not originally part of the film. They revealed that he originally didn't say anything at all, but added this was the very last scene that was filmed for Avengers: Endgame.
"Tony used to not say anything in that moment. And we were in the editing room going, ‘He has to say something. This a character who has lived and died by quips.’ And we just couldn’t, we tried a million different last lines. Thanos was saying “I am inevitable.” And our editor Jeff Ford, who’s been with us all four movies and is an amazing storyteller, said ‘Why don’t we just go full circle with it and say I am Iron Man.’ And we’re like, ‘Get the cameras! We have to shoot this tomorrow.'"
Considering how many callbacks the Russos and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely worked into Avengers: Endgame, this not being one of them is incredibly surprising. The line is noticeably his final one in Iron Man before the Nick Fury stinger, and is also said in both Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3, and this change makes it one of his final lines in the entire movie. Other than a quick acknowledgement to Pepper Potts, this is the final line that Tony says before he dies - while a recording of him then plays at his funeral.
It is difficult to imagine Iron Man saying anything else besides "I am Iron Man" at the very end, but it would be even stranger if he didn't say anything at all. It truly brings Iron Man's story full circle in the MCU, and the fact that it's the final scene the Russos may direct in the MCU and that Downey shot is nothing short of remarkable. Thankfully, editor Jeff Ford was around so that one of the most memorable moments in the history of the shared universe and Avengers: Endgame could exist.
Source: Slash Film
