I finally understand why Iron Man's MCU ending is so good: Kevin Feige was trying to repeat Logan's Wolverine ending. The poignant finale of Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame resonated with audiences as a perfect culmination of Tony Stark’s journey. Feige shed light on how Logan, the critically acclaimed send-off for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, served as a blueprint for crafting an equally iconic conclusion for the MCU timeline’s original hero.
The MCU’s Avengers: Endgame was a cultural phenomenon, serving as both a climax to over a decade of interconnected storytelling and a heartfelt goodbye to several iconic heroes. Among them, Tony Stark’s sacrifice to save the universe stood out as a defining moment. However, before the MCU, Fox’s Logan redefined how a superhero story could end, providing closure for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine after nearly two decades in the role. That film’s critical acclaim and emotional depth set a new benchmark for superhero farewells, making it a natural touchstone for Endgame’s creators when shaping Tony Stark's final bow.
Kevin Feige Reveals How Logan Inspired Iron Man's MCU Ending
In Assembled: The Making of Deadpool & Wolverine, Kevin Feige spoke candidly about how Logan influenced Iron Man’s conclusion in Avengers: Endgame. Feige notes:
“I had always been very vocal with Hugh that he had one of the best endings of any fictional character ever. And I told him that is so amazing, what he was able to accomplish in Logan , that's what we were striving for with Robert Downey Jr. in Endgame , to give this incredible iconic fictional character an amazing ending.”
This insight sheds light on the meticulous planning behind Tony Stark’s emotional send-off in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel didn’t just want a memorable death - they wanted closure that honored his legacy, much like Wolverine's farewell in Logan. Both films balance personal sacrifice with a celebration of the hero’s journey, elevating the superhero genre by focusing on character-driven storytelling.
Why Logan Is Such An Amazing Ending for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine
Logan provided a masterclass in crafting a perfect character ending. Set in a bleak future where mutants are nearly extinct, the film follows a weary, aging Wolverine who is losing his healing powers and reluctantly protects a young girl, Laura, revealed to be his daughter-like clone. This personal, intimate storyline allowed Wolverine to confront his long history of violence and self-loathing, ultimately giving his life to ensure Laura’s survival.
The Logan ending resonated because it wasn’t just about Wolverine’s death - it was about his redemption. For decades, Wolverine struggled with his identity, often seeing himself as a weapon rather than a person. By sacrificing himself for Laura, he proved to himself and others that he was more than his past. The final scene, where Laura marks his grave with an "X," signifying his place among the X-Men, provides emotional closure that feels earned and profound. It was a deeply human story that transcended its superhero trappings, making it a standout in the genre.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man Ending in Endgame Is Just as Good as Logan
While Avengers: Endgame is a vastly different film from Logan in tone and scale, Iron Man’s ending achieves a similarly powerful resonance. Tony Stark began his MCU journey as a self-centered billionaire whose world was transformed after being kidnapped and building his first suit. Over the years, he evolved into a hero who prioritized the greater good, often at great personal cost.
In Avengers: Endgame, Tony’s arc comes full circle as he sacrifices himself to wield the Infinity Stones and defeat Thanos, saving the universe. His final words, "I am Iron Man," recall the moment that began his heroic journey in Iron Man (2008), emphasizing the growth and self-awareness he gained along the way. Much like Wolverine’s death in Logan, Iron Man’s death was dozens of movies in the making, concluding a multi-movie character arc. What makes this ending so powerful is the blend of heroism and personal legacy.
Tony’s MCU sacrifice ensures a better future not just for the universe but for his daughter, Morgan. The film’s quieter moments, such as his holographic goodbye to Morgan, offer emotional depth that rivals Wolverine’s farewell in Logan. While the context of Endgame is cosmic and grand, the personal stakes and character-driven storytelling give Tony Stark’s finale a comparable weight and poignancy to Logan’s. Both endings celebrate their characters’ growth while acknowledging the sacrifices they’ve made, solidifying their legacies as two of the most iconic and well-rounded superheroes in cinematic history.
Logan & Iron Man's Endings Are Set To Only Improve With Time
With seven years having passed since Logan's debut - and five since Avengers: Endgame - it seems the legacies of both respective movies are only going to improve further with time, cementing the significance of the two heroes that sacrificed themselves within these releases too. Even Deadpool & Wolverine's decision to dig up Wolverine's bones and use them in an extensive fight scene didn't manage to dampen the somber emotional nature of Logan's passing, and indeed managed to reinforce the weight of this death in the overarching franchise by revealing it began the dissolving of the Fox Marvel universe.
Similarly, Avengers: Endgame's impact on the MCU is all-encompassing, and the consistent reveals of more details linked to the movie - be that Tony leaving Spider-Man the destructive EDITH as per Spider-Man: Far From Home, or the revelations about what happened to the remaining Avengers after the Battle of Earth - maintain how crucial it is to the timeline years later. Even some way into the Multiverse Saga, it's clear the film and the events within it will remain an integral part of what makes the franchise special, which is something that arguably becomes more impressive with time.
Hugh Jackman and Robert Downey Jr's roles in defining the superhero genre as we know are almost impossible to overstate, and the fact that Logan and its ending for Wolverine can be seen to have inspired the MCU and its emotional Iron Man sendoff make things feel all the more special. Hopefully, the legacies of both stories will only be reinforced as time passes, underlining two key cornerstones of Marvel's movie landscape.
