Avengers: Endgame Trailers Breakdown

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

We're in the endgame now. After a year of waiting, we're only a few weeks away from finally discovering the fallout from Avengers: Infinity War. Can The Avengers make a comeback from the devastating loss after Thanos snapped half the universe away? Since December 2018, Marvel Studios has been steadily releasing more footage. We've all been expecting our favorite characters to retrieve the ones they loved, but it's hard to tell if expectations will match reality. Let's take a look at the trailers so far and talk about what is going on. Once we go through the easter eggs, I don't know if we're going to be able to handle it.

Are you ready for Avengers: Endgame? Let me know in the comments!



In December 2018, this pretty little number initially sparked the excitement for Avengers: Endgame. After losing half of the universe to Thanos, the first look at the movie expectantly showed The Avengers grieving and not knowing what their next move was. Everyone was pretty much stranded: Tony in space, The Avengers at the compound. Even though I'm not the biggest Iron Man fan, that first minute is killer seeing him record a message to Pepper. We also got a taste of farmer Thanos relaxing on his paradise while the rest of us are in hell. And Thor looking like he was in a rap video. After all the doom and gloom, Scott Lang continues to have perfect timing to lift us out of our hopelessness by shockingly arriving at The Avengers compound. I couldn't call it an addictive-worthy trailer, the one where I want to watch it over and over again, but it was pretty solid.

While most of us having been waiting for this to be the end of the line for a few Avengers, namely  Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, the other trailers didn't signal any truth to fan theories until this version. The second version opens up with Tony talking about having to build his suit in order to survive captivity in his first film, and then explores more precious moments of Steve and Thors' journeys so far. The trailer quickly becomes more ominous by painting their memories in black and white with hints of red (signaling the past and the blood Thanos shed) and replaying the horror of so many beloved characters dying.

Focusing on Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor will become more obvious in the next teaser's clip, but this one truly starts to embody Peggy's words: All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over. We get a lot of bad-ass clips of characters going into warrior mode vowing they'll do whatever it takes to get back up again. Instead of playing trailers like a broken record like most franchise movies do, Avengers: Endgame goes a different route by building  our confidence that the end of the Infinity Saga is going to kick our butts.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Evans described being surprised about the previously released footage because it visually offered spoilers. I don't think the first two compare to the latest one released the morning of Avengers: Endgame Ticketgate. This is potentially the most spoilerish teaser in case you haven't seen it yet.

Not only does the clips give away potentially amazing cinematography but also what might be climatic moments fans have been waiting for from the biggest Marvel movie of all-time. The teaser is a minute and a half shorter, but this one is the most successful in making me curious as to what in the actual hell is going to happen in Endgame and forcing me to come up with all kinds of theories that won't come true. While I really liked the previous featurettes, the last one truly excited me, even though it's quite spoilerish, visually.

From this point on, the post contains possible spoilers. Here are the moments and easter eggs that stood out to me as well as my own theory about the story and Captain America's fate. If you want to miss all this, you can scroll to the comment section below.

TONY STARK WAS ABLE TO BUILD THIS IN A CAVE! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!

Marvel wasn't hinting this easter egg at all, but it's a great callback to his first film making his suit during captivity. Question is here, will he and Nebula be able to science the **** out of their situation or will he have some help from Avengers and Captain Marvel? #somanyquestions Also, Tony and Nebula are on the Guardians' ship too.

Hair Coloring and Time Travel

One of the biggest theories that have been proven true with on-set photos is time-travel playing a big part in the story. The other not-so-subtle hint is Black Widow's different hairstyles. The bleached blond look from Infinity War might indicate that the story might pick up relatively where we left off but then there's the older familiar scarlett locks that are similar to older parts of her journey. I'M REALLY IN LOVE WITH THAT STRAWBERRY BLONDE.

There's an Ant-Man and A Spider-Man?!

As the crew regroups at the compound, Bruce's reeling from the members he missed out on meeting. *crossing my fingers his character development is 1000% better here than it was in Infinity War*

You're leaving me alone with that fox?!

Nebula doesn't get along with anyone. She refused to be left alone with that fox Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. It's a great nod to show them grieving the rest of the gang they lost.

We lost a part of ourselves

The biggest question I have is a) why did they make Steve shave his beard and b) will the film have any sort of apocalyptic vibes to it? Because Hawkeye has become a ninja and is straight-up knifing people in the middle of the street. This is a complete turnaround as a character from the last time we saw him as his darker comic book Ronin emerges - an alter-ego he latched onto after being killed and then brought back to life. Is it possible that when Thanos's victims come back to life they're changed in some way? They're not the way that we remember or know them? I think that's just wishful thinking on my part, but I still never imagined Clint would turn into an assassin even if he lost his family.

This is Delicious! I'd Like Another!

Chris might be the baby of a pirate and angel, but Thor has given so much to this series outside of The Avengers - something that I don't think is focused on as much as Tony and Steve. As the team starts to put a scheme together to get back the guantlet, Thor sits motionless listening to everyone talk and not eating his food. It's a wonderful parallel to his first film in the diner and being excited to eat human food for the first time.

I Like This One

Anyone with a brain cell does....not really anything to say here. I just like Captain Marvel. Oh, and for some reason, this reminds me of Steve almost moving the Mjolnir in Age of Ultron.

Are they going to have a future?

Since their first movie together, Tony and Pepper have been struggling to have some kind of future. The last time we heard her voice, Tony was calling her as he was chasing Doctor Strange into space in Infinity War, and we see Tony briefly leaves a message to her after being stranded in space. We know Tony comes back to Earth at some point, but will he and Pepper have any kind of future? "I know I said no more surprises but I was hoping I could pull this last one off.

Ant Man and the Wasp

At the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp, one of the film's minor flaws is having to squeeze in its involvement with Infinity War. After everyone is happily reunited, Scott is trapped in the Quantum Realm as Hope, Jane, and Hank are dusted. Somehow he manages to escape, and drives his upbeat butt all the way to the compound....with the quantum tunnel.

Please Lord Jesus

You all know how much I love Captain America, so my soul was soaring like the eagle's nest when Cap pulled out his compass with Peggy's photo. Hopefully the Russos use the memories of their relationship better in this than Captain America: Civil War. #givemethestorkclubdance 

Support Meetings

The first of a few references to Captain America: Winter Soldier Steve is Steve attending some kind of support group after the Snap. Sam's guidance to veterans suffering with PTSD sticks out here: Some stuff we leave there, other stuff we bring back. It's our job to figure out how to carry it. Is it going to be in a big suitcase or a little man purse? It's up to you. Especially since Steve and Tony say in the trailers, "Some people move on, but not us". Which also leads me to Black Widow trying to tell him that their plan is going to work, and he says: I know it will....

Who is this soldier staring back at me?

Sorry, I had to make a Mulan reference. The last time we saw Steve looking all hot in a white tank he was reflecting about his trust issues with S.H.I.E.L.D. Natasha and Steve came to terms with becoming allies in Captain America: Winter Soldier. Steve seems to be looking for reflection again, probably around the same time Captain Marvel answers Fury's call and they need to trust her in order to move forward. Along with this scene, he's also wearing his steal suit from the sequel. We're getting a lot of Winter Soldier Steve in this one.

My father made that shield. You don't deserve it.

Last time we saw Cap carrying the shield, he dropped it after betraying Tony and siding with Bucky over killing his parents. Of course, Cap's gonna use it again, already reminding us Captain America: The First Avenger and all the other brilliant moments he's been knocked down but gets up again. Cap's gonna do whatever it takes. Of course, Steve shaving his face is pretty much indicative that he's ready to claim the shield again.

Two Parts of A Whole

It's not even a secret how much this movie is going to mend and deepen Steve and Tony's relationship. This tiny moment signaled a million easter eggs from the previous movies, especially how they departed at the end of The Avengers. After getting on each other's nerves about Fury's secrets, Tony's jealousy for Steve seeping in, and Steve's lack of Tony's flashy leadership, they finally led The Avengers to victory against Loki. Tony's asking for Steve's trust... As Steve says in Winter Soldier: Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army.

Avengers Flashback

Truly playing into the possible time traveling back to the first Avengers movie is another hint of Iron Man flying through old New York City, where their first battle took place.

The OGs and Newbies

Every installment has a classic shot of The Avengers. After Captain America: Civil War, this definitely reminds me of United We Stand, Divided We Stand as they try to restore order to the galaxy.

Holy Trinity

Marvel was gutsy to include Tony, Steve, and Thor approaching Thanos together. Are they signaling that this is the end of these three? Because the history they have throughout The Avengers films standing side-by-side in every battle makes his moment pretty freaking terrifying. I'm a little afraid they're going to go into this fight together, but only Tony is going to survive. There's also slight moments of seeing all the different characters fighting among the wreckage too. Which brings me to....

Tony's Vision

There's a half-a-second clip Tony walking around the wreckage before we got the one above of Tony, Steve, and Thor. It reminded me of Tony's vision from Age of Ultron reflecting the death of The Avengers. When the second Avengers movie came out, a lot of fans saw this as a prophecy of Captain America: Civil War - which still rings true. If The Avengers didn't split up at the behest of Tony siding with the United Nations over the Accords, they might've been together when Thanos arrived...but now the prediction for Civil War also fits Endgame.

BONUS: Fury, you son of a bitch.

Language, Rogers! From the only scene they're probably going to use for the press tour.

Cap's Farewell Theory

My biggest take is that this is going to be more about The Avengers reviving their loved ones by trying to get the stones back than it is about killing Thanos. From what we've seen so far, my idea for the plot is:

• Tony and Nebula will be rescued with The Avengers and Captain Marvel's help
• They bring them to Earth where he's reunited with Pepper and Nebula with Rocket
• They decide to track down Thanos by using the quantum realm (it's multi-dimensional) and gain control of the gauntlet
• If they kill Thanos, or the gauntlet has been destroyed but is still operable, the group will have to retrieve the stones that are damaged
• Instead of redoing the Guardians's adventures and Thanos's journey in Infinity War, they use the reality or time stone to go back to the first Avengers movie
• Tony and Scott will try to convince Steve why they need his help, retrieve the tesseract aka the space stone / not send it to Asgard
• They'll use the space stone to go to Voromir in order to get the soul stone. 
• Both Tony and Steve will be ready to sacrifice themselves, but it'll be Cap who ultimately dies. In his sacrifice, everyone else comes back to life
• (there's also the reality stone and time loops but my head will explode)

Any way the plot develops, recapturing the stones will be a key element, especially the soul stone since it's harboring everyone that was dusted. I think it will come down to Tony and Steve (or Thor??) having to make the ultimate decision of sacrifice. If this is how Steve goes out, it perfectly fits his arc since he jumped on the fake grenade in Captain America: The First Avenger. And if the biggest deaths come down to Tony and Steve, it also fits with Steve telling Tony in The Avengers: The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you. If it's Tony instead of Steve who dies, it finally shows Tony running away or trying to outsmart his problems and face them head-on.

I could be so wrong about all of this. It's usually why I don't post theories because I always feel so silly being way off track, but still...this is how I see a lot of the movie going down. If any of this is wrong, you'll hear me cackling wherever you are on opening night. lol 

My two biggest concerns is for T'Challa to be safe and sound (it pisses me off we don't see Okoye and King M'Baku because we lost EVERYONE in Wakanda), and for Cap's arc to be complete. I love Evans, who's saying there is an ending to his journey, but I've been burned so many times in other fandoms, I need his story to be good. I have a lot of high hopes and expectations for his fate. If Infinity War Cap dies, I'd be okay with The Avengers Cap being left alive because he'll live on in at least another reality. If by some miracle the Russos think ahead to give us a scene of Peggy and Steve dancing, I'd straight up pass out.

Honestly, this post could've gone on forever breaking down every tiny screencap, but that seemed a little extra. Some of these details might pop up again in my Endgame edition for the Captain America series. Hopefully we'll get some closure and I hope you enjoyed what I was able to point out so far. 

Avengers: Endgame hits theaters April 26th. Did you get your tickets?! I GOT ONES FOR OPENING NIGHT at a theater I loathe and other tickets for a week later at a theater I love. I SWEAR NOBODY BETTER TEXT OR TALK or I will snap harder than Thanos. It was a bloodbath, but we won.

 (All credit is given to gifs by clicking on them.)