As the end of an over decade-long saga Avengers: Endgame is filled with moments that conclude character arcs and provide emotional closure for long-time fans. One of these instances that is not being heavily discussed is the appearance and actions of the character Happy Hogan, played by Jon Favreau.
Casual viewers will see the actor's appearance as emotional solely because Happy Hogan was a prominent character that appeared throughout of the MCU. They may be unaware of Favreau's bigger contributions to Marvel as the director of Iron Man 1 & 2, played a major role in constructing and setting up the entire cinematic universe.
There are two scenes involving Happy Hogan that strike an emotional chord: Tony Stark's funeral and Hogan comforting Cassie, Tony's daughter. Over the course of these scenes Favreau symbolically puts the character he brought to prominence and made a household icon, his baby, to rest. Moments later he consoles Cassie, Favreau's symbolic granddaughter, ensuring her that he will keep Tony's memory alive and ensure that he will look after her in his place. Though the old guard is gone, their are those that will still embody their values and pass them on to future generations.
As the MCU enters its fourth phase viewers may be wary of what comes post-Endgame, but Favreau's presence is meant to comfort and ensure the audience that everything will be alright. Though we have lost beloved characters, their creators and champions still exist and will make sure that this new journey succeeds. Jon Favreau helped forge the birth of this universe, saw his creation (MCU's Tony Stark) sacrifice himself, and is going to continue to pave the way for future heroes.
If a man who has the deepest ties to this beloved version of Iron Man is unwavering in his dedication to the future, then the fanbase should feel inspired to show the same level of faith and courage it what lies ahead.