“If they don’t know the whole story, they can’t slip up in an interview.”Joe Russo, Co-Director, Avengers: Endgame
That’s what Joe Russo told us while he was in Mumbai to publicise the latest offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Avengers: Endgame. The filmmaker was talking about how they had to take steps to keep the plot and ending of their latest film a total secret. Here’s how the team did it:
Only One Full Draft of the Script Exists
For starters, Russo said that none of the actors on Avengers: Endgame got the complete script of the film. The only script of the film existed on a single iPad, which only a handful of people could read the original draft. “There’s only one draft of the full script and that’s on an iPad that could be wiped with the press of a button,” Avengers: Endgame co-director Joe Russo told news.com.au. “And it’s in a secure room and they have to come to the set to read it while someone is guarding the door.”
That’s how closely the Marvel Cinematic Universe is guarded.
Only This Actor Got to Read the Full Script
The only special one among the actors who actually got to read the full script is apparently - IronMan. “Robert Downey Jr was probably the only one to actually read the entire script,” Joe Russo told Rotten Tomatoes. The rest of the cast got parts of the script on a need to know basis, i.e. the portions only they were involved in.
Actor Tom Holland (SpiderMan), who is infamous for letting out spoilers during interviews definitely did not get the script. Russo confirmed that Holland only got his lines. "Tom Holland does not get the script. Tom Holland gets his lines and that's it," said Russo. "He doesn't even know who he's acting opposite of … we use, like, very vague terms to describe to him what is happening in the scene, because he has a very difficult time keeping his mouth shut."
Ouch!
Psst, There Were Fake Scripts
The makers also issued fake scripts or dummy scripts to keep the real script under wraps. Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner and his alter-ego, The Hulk, went on record recently to say that the directors Joe and Anthony Russo gave him a script with fake scenes to avoid spoilers and leaks.
While speaking to the press in Mumbai, Joe Russo also confirmed that apart from the single original script that existed on an iPad, every other script that existed was fake.
Actors Didn’t Know Who They Were Acting With
Sometimes, for a scene, the actors had to say lines to a green screen, so they had no clue who else was in the scene with them. A few fight sequences too were shot under high secrecy. Actors would have to throw punches in the air and fight an imaginary rival, and their opponent would be added in post-production via VFX, so one wouldn’t know who he or she was fighting with!
Joe Russo explains that they explained to the actors their scenes in detail so that the missing elements would not take away from their performance. “So we have very thoughtful conversations with the actors about what their motivations are and what they are doing in specific scenes. If we are trying to hide something then we elicit a performance from them using different tactics,” said Russo.
5 Different Endings Were Shot to Keep It a Secret
So how does Avengers: Endgame end? That’s the big question everyone’s looking answers for. To make sure that the ending of the film is not accidentally leaked or revealed, the makers actually shot 5 different endings without telling their actors which one of them, if at all, would finally make it to the final film. While speaking to E! News, Mark Ruffalo said that he had know idea how Avengers: Endgame would end. "I don't know what's gonna happen. I shot, like, five different endings to this movie," Ruffalo said. "I didn't even get a whole script to this movie. And I don't know why."
And finally, the Russo brothers also took to social media to request fans to not spoil it for other fans. We’re sure after all the hard work that went into keeping Avengers: Endgame under wraps, this request will be honoured.
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