Unless you’ve been living under a rock in outer space, you’re probably aware that Avengers: Endgame, the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War, is coming out this week. This movie is going to be huge! It’s been called the biggest movie of the decade, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Since the first Ironman in 2008, we’ve seen 11 years of a giant story that’s about to come to an end. Eleven years. I’m 22 now, so 11 years ago, I was also 11. I have literally grown into an adult during those years. And every year, I had at least on Marvel movie to watch.
Now, of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU for short) will continue after Avengers: Endgame. We have tons of exciting new characters to explore, like Black Panther and Captain Marvel. And don’t get me wrong, I am super excited to watch their adventures in the years to come! But, it just won’t be the same. Marvel fans are pretty sure this is the last time we’re going to see the entire cast of the original six. I grew up with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo. Those are my Avengers. This amazing cast has proven to be talented, caring, and entertaining. But more than that, they have proven their potential for growth.
Right now, I am in a season of life in which I am focusing on growth. I am about to graduate and start a career. I am about to move out completely from any parental or familial supervision. I may even be moving to a completely different continent (if all goes well with my application)! In other words, I am in such a season of forward motion and improvement. That is why it is so important to me, now more than ever, that the people I look up to, the people that I give permission to take up my time and inspire my attitude and my thoughts, are growth-oriented people. And, like I said, the original MCU has proven to me that they are. I can truly say that I have learned so many precious lessons from them.
Just look at RDJ! When Ironman first came out, he was still living in the shadow of his days of substance abuses. He was even still banned in some of the countries he was supposed to visit for the first Avengers press tour! But now, he is respected, loved, and more than that, trusted. He is the helm, the godfather, if you will, of the entire MCU and he always will be.
Chris Evans has charmed us for years at the plucky kid from Brooklyn turned larger-than-life super soldier, but now he’s retiring from acting and turning to directing. It can’t be easy to go from doing something you know you’re (really) good at to doing something you love but don’t know you’re as good at. But he made the choice and I admire him so much because of it (though I’ll miss him like hell).
I don’t have time to go into each and every one of the rest of the cast, but I encourage you to look them up yourself. They are honestly such a sweet, inspiring bunch, and I will greatly miss seeing them all together, both on movie screens and during promotions. It seems as if I am saying goodbye to not just an era, but to a group of good friends.
I will miss them all so much. But I am so thankful for the memories we have made. Godspeed, my Avengers!