Avengers: Endgame's Final Scene Was Changed By Sebastian Stan & Anthony Mackie

The next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally begun, and one storyline has wrapped up in the form of WandaVision. The next project on the ambitious Phase 4 slate of the franchise is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the cast and crew are now gearing up for its arrival on Disney+. 

Serving as a showcase for Sam Wilson's transition into the MCU's Captain America, the series is poised to give an overview of the character's backstory uniquely while also exploring his dynamic with Bucky Barnes. Of course, this core story element can be traced back to the emotional handoff that transpired during the tail-end of Avengers: Endgame, where Chris Evans' Steve Rogers passed the mantle of Captain America to Sam.  

As expected, the final scene in the 2019 blockbuster earned the admiration of fans everywhere, and an interesting tidbit about it has now surfaced from a latest interview. 

KEVIN FEIGE SHARES INTRIGUING DETAILS ABOUT AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently spoke with Variety to talk about the upcoming debut of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, and one of the topics that was discussed was the passing-of-the-shield moment between Chris Evans' Steve Rogers and Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson during the final scene of Avengers: Endgame.

When asked about the decision to give Captain America's shield to Sam, Feige admitted that “it seemed right” that Steve would hand it to his friend during Endgame: 

"The day we decided, we were in the conference room — the one that feels like we spend half of our lives in Atlanta — cracking the story. The shield had gone to a few people in the comic books in the past, but four years ago, it did seem like some of the great potential of those storylines and the journey Sam and Steve Rogers had gone on over the course of the films, it seemed right that he would hand it to Sam."

The Marvel chief then revealed that “it was actually [Anthony] Mackie and Sebastian [Stan] that came up with the blocking for the scene” at the end of Endgame while also pointing out that Sam's line saying, “it feels like it belongs to somebody else” came from Mackie: 

“When we shot it — everything about those scenes were surprisingly poignant and emotional on the day. We’d done Tony Stark’s funeral, or his “wedding,” which was our code name for it. It was actually Mackie and Sebastian that came up with the blocking for the scene by the bench at the end of “Endgame.” They walk up to Steve Rogers together. As it was scripted, only Sam noticed this older gentleman sitting on a bench. They came up with this notion that they start to walk together, and then Sam steps forward. Even the notion of him holding the shield and saying, “it feels like it belongs to somebody else.”

On a final note, Feige bared that the introduction of Disney+ “suddenly opened up our potential” to tell the heroic journey of Sam becoming Captain America in the MCU: 

“It really was a wonderful convergence as we were creating the end of the Infinity Saga, Bob Iger told us what Disney Plus would become. What had been a classic passing of the torch from one hero to another at the end of “Endgame” suddenly opened up our potential to tell a whole story about that. What does it really mean for somebody to step into those shoes? And not just somebody, but a Black man in the present day. That’s what Mackie and our head writer Malcom Spellman and all of us didn’t want to shy away from.”

SAM IS THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF CAPTAIN AMERICA'S SHIELD

It's always fascinating to hear behind-the-scenes stories from the MCU, and the fact that it came from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige makes it even more special.

Feige's reveal that Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan provided input on the blocking of their characters in the final scene from Endgame goes to show how the pair knows their on-screen counterparts very well, and this should bode well when they return in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 

The emotional scene between the trio at the final stretch of Endgame is no doubt a memorable one, and it will be interesting to witness the aftermath of this moment in the upcoming Disney+ series. Based on the trailers and promo spots, it has already been confirmed that the show will tackle the legacy of Captain America, and the handoff that transpired during the 2019 MCU flick will likely serve as the starting point of discussion between Sam and Bucky. 

Back then, many would agree that Bucky would be the premier choice to take over the responsibility of becoming Captain America, but it was evident that Sam is the appropriate option throughout the Infinity Saga. This was further cemented by Steve's decision in Endgame, and it will further make sense in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

WandaVision already gave a taste of the MCU's long-form storytelling, and it will be interesting to find out how The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will utilize this approach, especially considering that the show will only have six episodes instead of WandaVision's nine. Regardless, Feige's tease should boost more anticipation for the series.