The press conference for Avengers: Endgame was held a few weeks ago. While there wasn’t much in the way of news or updates about the actual movie itself (since the cast was under lock and key from those famous “Marvel snipers” and press hadn’t screened it yet), that gave the stars of the movie plenty of time to goof around and reminisce. In fact, the best moments from the press conference were when it went a little off the rails and journalists were privy to the closeness and camaraderie that has made the extended MCU cast such a tight-knit family over the last decade.

To celebrate the release of Endgame this weekend, here are the 11 best moments from the press conference.

1. When Brie Larson Fangirled Out A Little Over RDJ

Robert Downey, Jr. fielded the first question by Jon Favreau, and as he spoke, he became aware of Brie Larson hanging over the back of her chair, gazing at him in adoration. Mid-sentence, he stopped: “Hi, Brie!”

“Hi!”

“God bless you,” he grinned. “What a fun spring you’re having.”

This, of course, in reference to her movie Captain Marvel, which recently crossed the billion-dollar threshold at the global box office. RDJ then went on to talk about passing the torch to the new generation of actors and superheroes, like Bre, calling it “the coolest relay race in the history of entertainment.”

2. Joe And Anthony Russo Talking About Seeing ‘Iron Man’ For The First Time

It’s hard to imagine a time when the Russo Bros. weren’t a part of the MCU in some way, but there was a time in which they had never even set foot in a Marvel Studios building. In fact, the brothers watched the movie that kickstarted it all, Iron Man, in a theater and were as amazed as the rest of us fans, revealed Anthony Russo:

And we both remember that moment that we sat in the theater and watched that first Iron Man for the first time. I remember that feeling of like, I wish we were a part of this. We had no idea that years later we actually would be. So that was an epic moment in a movie theater.

Kind of awesome to know that somewhere out there, there’s a future Marvel director or star about to watch Endgame and having no idea they’ll be in the MCU one day. Speaking of which…

3. Chris Hemsworth Had A Similar Dream About One Day Playing Thor

Echoing the sentiment of the Russos from earlier, Chris Hemsworth had the same feeling the first time he watched Iron Man in Australia:

[A]bout the first time that the Marvel Universe came into my universe back in Australia, I was sitting there. And I would have been just straight out of high school and watching Iron Man and thinking the same thing. Thinking oh my God, imagine, I wish I could be a part of that world. And then a few years on, getting cast in it, as Thor and having the opportunity to embark on this thing, and at the time I thought, was this film even going to make it past DVD? Or make to the cinemas? Or was I going to be recast and all those sort of questions.

4. Jeremy Renner Being Tongue-In-Cheek

Hawkeye being absent from the events of Infinity War launched a #WheresHawkeye hashtag and endless memes on social media about where the Avengers’ lethal archer could possibly be, house arrest or not. When asked what it was like to be back in the fold, the always-deadpan Renner had a tongue-in-cheek answer about coming off the bench: “I feel good. I feel rested. I stretched out. Had some coffee. Ready to rock.”

5. When RDJ Trolled Chris Evans For Missing Paul Rudd’s Birthday

Poor Chris Evans. First he tried to give his answer and RDJ kept buzzing him because he was on the verge of giving away spoilers, then he got called out for missing Paul Rudd’s birthday party. When talking about the friendships he’s made and how they’ve become a family, Downey, Jr. interrupted him: “But you couldn’t make it to Rudd’s birthday last night?”

A guilty Evans groaned, “Well, okay. Yeah. I didn’t make it. I was exhausted. It was a long day yesterday. I’m sorry, Paul.”

“It’s alright,” said the ever jovial Rudd. “I’m just one of the newer guys.”

“Wait, did you go??” Evans demanded of RDJ. “Yeah, because I said I would,” said the Marvel patriarch, piling on.

“Hemmy, did you go?” said a desperate Evans, turning to Hemsworth.

At which point RDJ trolled him again and a defeated Evans gave up. Poor Cap, always on the receiving end of Tony Stark’s ribbing.

6. Scarlett Johansson Giving A Shout-Out To The Powerful Women Of The MCU

Let’s be honest. The early days of the MCU were testosterone-driven, with Black Widow holding it down as the only female Avenger, with an occasional assist by Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill. Otherwise, it was up to Scarlett Johansson to balance out the team. Johansson reflected on just how big and diverse the MCU ha become, with a particular nod to the amazing women who are now superheroes with her:

I was talking with Danai about this yesterday…I remember when Lizzie signed on. Cobie was there. We were all clinging to each other just to, I felt like I had been in this testosterone fest for such a long time. It was so nice to see other female cast members. And then with Brie coming on and Karen and Danai. And you know, it’s really, I feel like I’m in just this, I’m amongst so many wonderful actors, so many strong actors, and such a… it’s just grown beyond my wildest dreams.

7. Don Cheadle Making A Coded And Hilarious Reference To Replacing Terrence Howard

Longtime fans of the Marvel movies will know Don Cheadle wasn’t always Iron Man’s bff, Rhodey. Cheadle replaced Terrence Howard as War Machine in Iron Man 2, after some, well, issues with Howard. And the dryly hilarious Cheadle had no qualms poking fun at that switch in a coded recounting of Rhodey’s journey: “Rhodey obviously started, I think it’s fair to say, as a lighter tone. In a visual, sort of bigger than life than I am in real life,” he deadpanned. “But as the character sort of…darkened…and things became more compact, the narrative, I think we’ve seen a real growth of this character.”

The journalists in the audience knew exactly what he was doing and were there for it.

8. When They Erupted Into An Argument About Boggle

At one point, the conversation completely derailed as they started arguing about who the best Boggle player is and we learned a few things:

  • Brie Larson is pretty sure she crushed everyone at Boggle
  • Don Cheadle is unbeatable in Boggle, according to Chris Evans…
  • …but Paul Rudd is definitely a sleeper champ, according to Scarlett Johansson
  • Evans says Ruffalo can barely find “cat” in Boggle when they play, but one day he randomly found “asbestos” and it continues to be the most impressive word any of them have found
  • Don Cheadle once found “Avengers” on a plane flying to a press event
  • Mark Ruffalo: “What would you rate me as a Boggle player?” Chris Evans: “It’s not good.” RDJ: “We’d rate you as tic-tac-toe.”

Brutal. Nothing brings the Avengers together like Coulson’s death and nothing tears them apart like Boggle.

9. When Cap Threatened To Go HAM On Some Kids

The first audience question was…okay, it was pretty bungled and confusing. The journalist made a joke and asked Chris Evans what it was like to be so famous and if he had to hire extra security to fend off all the kids. But Evans was quick on his feet with the answer. “Oh, I don’t mind punching a kid,” he joked. “I don’t need security.”

Later on, he continued the joke when one of the cast members ragged on him, joking, “All this from the guy who said he punches kids.”

“Well, kids are the problem,” Evans deadpanned. “Let’s be real. Some kids, they’ve got to get punched.”

There’s something kind of hilarious in the complete absurdity of even picturing that, knowing the kind-hearted Evans is the last person on Earth who would do it.

10. The Cast Is Split Over Bearded Cap Or Clean-Shaven Cap

A journalist asked the cast to give them a show of hands regarding if they like bearded Cap or clean-shaven Cap better. Turns out, it’s pretty evenly split down the middle.

As for Steve Rogers himself? “I prefer bearded Cap,” confirmed Evans.

11. When Brie Larson Walked The Walk

In the lead-up to Captain Marvel, Brie Larson drew some heat from internet trolls for being such a fierce advocate of inclusion and fair representation for women and people of color at the press events for her movie. At the Endgame press conference, the mic had been handed to about four or five male journalists to one lone female journalist. A visibly frustrated Brie Larson finally broke in: “Can we give the mic to a girl?” she asked, pointing to a young girl in the audience.

Thanks, Brie, for holding it down for the girls and women in attendance. It’s awesome to see a superhero who doesn’t just talk, but walks the walk, too.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters this weekend. Get your tickets here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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