AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Co-Writer On Injecting Humor Around Thanos' Imminent Threat

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Co-Writer On Injecting Humor Around Thanos' Imminent Threat

The MCU has previously featured villains threatening to destroy the Earth or the galaxy but Thanos is being touted as the first one that genuinely has favorable odds to actually carry out the threat.

By MarkJulian - Apr 23, 2018 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers: Infinity War
Source: CS
With a threat like Thanos knocking on your doorstep, would anyone in their right mind crack jokes while facing a virtually unstoppable foe bent on wiping out half of all life in the universe? 

If you've seen any of the trailers or TV spots for Avengers: Infinity War, then you'll already know that the answer is a resounding yes.  However, Infinity War co-writer Christopher Markus explained that there's one, perfectly acceptable reason for snark and quips.

"Thanos helps, right? I’d have to chart the movie, but in general people with more investment maybe are a little less quippy. If you remember in “Civil War,” the people who stole the airport fight were Spider-Man and Ant-Man. That’s because they had a little less invested in that family brawl."

"As the movie starts it might be a little funnier because the full weight of what’s happening hasn’t dawned on people, but as characters come together, as stakes become clear… It’s a really intense movie. It’s fun, it’s epic, but it’s intense. My hope is that you get the full range of human emotions and 
less quips. It’s suffering and delight."

In short, don't expect any jokes or snarkiness from those characters who are actually familiar with who and what Thanos is capable of.  And based on Markus' comments, the Earth-based characters will likely be grim-faced and dour by the time the credits roll. 

Will Infinity War actually end with Thanos' victory?  We're just 4 days from finding out when the film hits theaters this Friday.
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Menks123
Menks123 - 4/23/2018, 11:20 AM
Jesus, I love massive Marvel news. Nerding out a bit at all these interviews and shit lol.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/23/2018, 11:22 AM
...and to me, this is common sense that some commenters simply haven't grasped yet. Sorry if I'm being condescending and I understand if a few of those that "don't get it" are young, or possibly DC-rideordies. They're excluded. But for those that saw a small clip from Infinity War and complained about humor, read what this quote says over again and again please lol

I really admire the sense that the Russos have. It's like they have loads of confidence and GET their characters. I work in a position where I have to be confident about the ideas I have. A quiet mouth doesn't get fed. If I don't speak up, usually someone else does before me and I regret not saying something. Or if I don't speak, something goes missing during implementation and issue/risk-finding (I'm a project manager). I can take lessons from Russos. They're sane, I'm sane. That means that our ideas exist on the plane of being rational. So never be afraid to express thoughts even if you think it's a silly thing. The quote here shows that they have rational thought and know how to balance humor with stakes.

Sorry for the rant. I just really like these guys and recognize them as models when it comes to being in a commanding position where people have to respect what you say and the decisions you make. When you're a rational human being and you're batting 1000, don't hesitate to take control
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/23/2018, 11:46 AM
@Vigor -
Let's analyse the Sanctum scene from what we've seen in the trailers;

Hulk crash lands on Earth as Bruce Banner and is seemingly terrified, Doctor Strange brings Tony to him and Tony seems worried. Upon seeing Bruce, Bruce explains what has happened with Thor and the rest of the Asgardians and that Thanos has two Infinity Stones already giving him enough power to destroy planets and teleport all over the universe.

Tony deflects naturally, but then we see Doctor Strange making quips also and the two eventually fall into a conversation about Ice Cream - despite seconds ago the news being relayed that Thanos has potentially killed Loki, Thor, Valkyrie and every Asgardian in a genocide & Doctor Strange even being incredibly serious about the situation less than a second or two prior.

According to the Russo's, this kind of humor and tone shift to utter ridiculousness is perfectly fine because it's early in the movie - but prior to this scene we've probably had Xandar destroyed and the Asgardians genocided - an aspect that Doctor Strange, Bruce and Tony would know thanks to Bruce relaying it.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/23/2018, 11:51 AM
@Scarilian - The scene I saw had Dr. Strange's cape slap Iron Man's leg when Iron man was making quips. Strange didn't seem jokey, but maybe I didn't see the full scene.

I completely expect that during world ending times, people will find ways to use humor to maintain their sanity. SOme people use humor nervously to provide light ness to a situation. I get that it wont work with everyone however.

I hear that when Iron Man meets Cull/Ebony outside the sanctum, he says "hey no parking on my planet". Tony has always been witty. Remember when he first met Thor and made the shakespearen joke? I think Tony will do that til the last day he lives. He's witty. Spider-Man ESPECIALLY! Spidey actually uses it as a distraction
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/23/2018, 12:06 PM
@Vigor -
I was fine with the cape slap, it was something done by a 'character' who does not have any real investment in the events that are happening and that has already been shown to act somewhat immature via the 'kiss' in Doctor Strange. The reaction from Tony also felt somewhat natural.

The full scene included a discussion about Ice Cream, including name dropping Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream with Doctor Strange mentioning he was not a fan of the Ice Cream named after Tony.

The whitty remarks relevant to the scene and characters work well, it also tends to anger the villains so could be used as a tactic by Tony Stark. Spider-man uses it in a similar sense - so both of these attempts at humor are fine for me - as long as the characters get a bit more serious when needed (such as if they are injured - they could still quip but would need to be handled well)
Kman
Kman - 4/23/2018, 11:22 AM
The Russos seemed to handle it fine in Civil War. I'm sure it'll be no different for this movie.
KWilly
KWilly - 4/23/2018, 11:22 AM
Balance... Is all I ask for. Leave the unlimited quips for Guardians and Spidey movies.
JacuzziJoe
JacuzziJoe - 4/23/2018, 11:23 AM
Just like Community, Russo's will work a perfect balance.
KWilly
KWilly - 4/23/2018, 11:25 AM
@JacuzziJoe -
JacuzziJoe
JacuzziJoe - 4/23/2018, 12:05 PM
@KWilly - I included Community on my rewatch list with the MCU in prep for IW.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/23/2018, 11:25 AM
"It’s suffering and delight."



Matador
Matador - 4/23/2018, 11:49 AM
@BlackBeltJones - Well yeah anyone eating a salad would be suffering too.
GoldGuy
GoldGuy - 4/23/2018, 11:27 AM
Man, so much Marvel articles lately. I guess we really don't need a phase 4 announcement yet.
xHollywoodx
xHollywoodx - 4/23/2018, 3:11 PM
@GoldGuy - It would be nice though. Maybe in a couple of weeks.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 4/23/2018, 11:27 AM
Again - my only worry right now is the Guardians of the Galaxy. I’ll be happy to eat crow and I have no problem with them making jokes - those movies rely more on comedy than most CBMs. But from what I’ve seen - none of their stuff has landed for me.

Hope they don’t take me out of the movie too much.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/23/2018, 11:29 AM
@regularmovieguy - When see them on screen just put fingers in your ears and block em out lol
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 4/23/2018, 11:33 AM
@Vigor

Haha not a chance, bruh.

Maybe if they absolutely bother me...I’ll block em out for my second screening on Sunday.
CaptainBing
CaptainBing - 4/23/2018, 11:31 AM
This makes complete sense. I'm not sure why people are so concerned with the humor, Markus and McFeely have a great track record in the MCU and I'm not at all worried. With characters like The Guardians, Spidey, Falcon...you're going to have humor, that's been built in with their characterizations, which is fine. I'm not scared that jokes are going to ruin dramatic moments at all. Markus, McFeely, and the Russos know what film this is...they're going to make sure it's as perfect as it can be.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/23/2018, 11:37 AM
No issue with humor when it is done right, but what they have shown so far the humor feels forced and a lot of it has not hit.

- Tony Stark and Doctor Strange suddenly going into a conversation about Ice Cream after realising Thanos is coming and about to wipe out the universe?
- Shuri seemingly logically conflicting with the events of Age Of Ultron to make an insult towards Bruce Banner, who seems to be getting relegated to comedic relief?

They have not ruined the dramatic moments, but they have definitely weakened the sense of tension - and i'm curious how this is going to work when characters and injured or die in scenes prior. Vision seemed pretty injured when he went to Wakanda, yet they joke above him instead. A character could possibly kick the bucket on Titan, yet we see characters joking in scenes afterwards.
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