Joe Russo has revealed that Spider-Man’s death scene in Avengers: Infinity War was rewritten on the day it was filmed, trading a scripted farewell for the improvised “I don’t want to go” that broke audiences in 2018.
Speaking to CBR for a retrospective interview alongside Robert Downey Jr., the co-director said the script originally had Peter Parker tell Tony Stark he did not feel so good, then apologise. Russo decided that was not going to hurt enough. The exchange was reported by IGN.
What changed on the day
“I don’t mind a good cry in a movie theater, so I was like, how do we get them to really, really cry at this scene? I brought [Tom Holland] over, and I said, ‘You don’t want to go. You’re 16 years old; it’s the last thing you want, is to die.’”
The direction produced the pleading that followed: a panicking Peter begging his mentor to save him as he crumbled in Stark’s arms. Russo said the relationship between the two was built backwards so the moment would land, and that Peter’s death was deliberately drawn out the longest of any in the film.
“We milked the s**t out of it; it takes the longest of any [of the deaths]. But also the relationship for the movie, writing backwards, is we know if we’re going to break your heart, then we should have a fun relationship that’s sort of mentor/mentee, but the mentee is a pain in the butt. And you didn’t want him to come all along, and you’re trying to protect him, and exactly what you didn’t want to happen, happens.”
Why Spider-Man’s death in Avengers: Infinity War still lands
The reveal lands eight years after the film, timed to the pair’s Marvel return: Joe Russo, his brother Anthony and Downey are back together for Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in UAE cinemas on 17 December and worldwide the day after. Its early ticket sales are already tracking ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the sequel was, per Sebastian Stan, filmed without a full script — a franchise that evidently does not mind making it up as it goes along.
Was Spider-Man’s death scene in Avengers: Infinity War improvised?
Partly. Joe Russo rewrote the moment on the day of filming, telling Tom Holland that Peter Parker did not want to die. Holland improvised the pleading “I don’t want to go” as his character faded in Tony Stark’s arms.
What was Spider-Man originally supposed to say before he died?
The script had Peter Parker tell Tony Stark “I don’t feel so good” and then apologise. The on-set rewrite turned that into the more desperate plea that made it into the film.
What are the Russo brothers doing next?
Joe and Anthony Russo reunite with Robert Downey Jr for Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in UAE cinemas on 17 December 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars to follow.
