“I was wrong”: Jon Favreau wanted to prevent Tony Stark’s death in Endgame

The actor who plays Happy Hogan looks back on the death of the legendary hero of the Marvel cinematic universe at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

Seven years after the release ofAvengers: Endgameproducer Jon Favreau (who also plays Happy Hogan) told Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he had was wrong to want to change the minds of directors Joe and Anthony Russo, when they decided to kill Tony Stark (aka Iron Man).

“I called the Russos and said, ‘I don’t know! I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I think it’s going to really impact the audience because a lot of fans were kids when the saga started and they grew up with this character.’

Played for more than ten years by Robert Downey Jr., Tony Stark bowed out in this 4th part. The producer praised the actor’s performance: “And Gwyneth (Paltrow) and Robert (Downey Jr.) delivered an incredible performance, and I think that added depth. (…) I was wrong. I was wrong. I was in shock! Even though it’s fiction, these characters have been part of my life for so long.”

Downey is however back in the Marvel universe, but this time in the role of Victor von Doom aka Doctor Doom in the next installment, Avengers: Doomsday.

The interpreter of Sherlock Holmes also donned the Iron Man costume in the saga Spider-Man by Jon Watts, the three opuses ofIron Man And Captain America: Civil War.

In an interview given to Vanity Fair Three years ago, Joe and Anthony Russo revealed that Favreau strongly opposed their decision to kill Iron Man:

“I remember walking to a corner of the set with Favreau on the phone trying as best he could to change his mind because he insisted, ‘You can’t do that. It’s going to devastate people, and you don’t want to see them fleeing theaters and ending up in traffic.’ We did it anyway.’”

Avengers: Doomsday, also directed by the Russo brothers, will be released on December 16, 2026 in French theaters.