Avengers 4

WARNING: If you haven’t seen ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ yet, events from the movie will be discussed, so head over to a theater and watch it already then come back to read how it will relate to ‘Avengers 4.’  

So, some big things happened in ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘, not least of which being some major character deaths and what may well be the gutsiest ending in the history of superhero blockbusters. Or is it? After all, the movie included some major character deaths, and without getting into spoilers? Well, let’s just say it’ll be surprising if at least a few of those aren’t somehow reversed by the end of ‘Avengers 4’. But while that might be the obvious expectation,  ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers 4’ co-writer Christopher Markus wants to make it clear – to borrow a line from that other Disney-owned mega blockbuster franchise –  that “this is not going to go the way you think.”:

“[‘Avengers 4’] doesn’t do what you think it does. It is a different movie than you think it is. Also… [the deaths are] real. I just want to tell you it’s real, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you will be able to move on to the next stage of grief.”

While it would be easy to approach this cynically and just assume any character who met their maker in ‘Infinity War’ will be right as rain by this time next year, the fact remains that Markus, along with co-writer Stephen McFeely and co-directors Joe and Anthony Russo, are clearly committed to the creative choices they’ve made. It’s also clear that whatever form ‘Avengers 4’ ultimately takes, it will be as much defined by ‘Infinity War’ in ways that go beyond the relationship between, say ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Age of Ultron’. McFeely sums it up by saying that the two are “clearly connected,” but still different movies. Markus, meanwhile contrasts the two films, saying that:

“We broke your heart. Now we’re going to blow your mind!”

Directed by the Russo brothers from a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ marks the culmination of a decade-long effort by Marvel Studios and sees the Avengers team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take on Thanos. The film counts Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olson, Sebastian Stan, and three gentlemen named “Chris” among its gargantuan cast. The long-awaited movie is in theaters now, while ‘Avengers 4’ is set to arrive on May 3, 2019.