The writers sitting in a room plotting out the time heist: "Guys, if you pick the right year, there are three stones in New York"

For Cap to be his best self he had to get a life. For Tony to be his best self he had to lose his. Wow that hit hard

Its guys like these, who get no credit besides their name in a long credit scene. But they're some of the most important people

They knew Tony was going to die back in 2015.... we were so naive

The fact that they are so passionate is the real reason all of this actually worked

Kevin Fiege and the Russo Brothers get a majority of the praise of Infinity War and Endgame, but people seem to forget how crucial Stephen and Christopher have been for both movies and Cap’s character development. They’ve done just as great a job as the Russo’s and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

Hawkeye cold open caught the audience off guard in the theater and was a great start to the movie.

"Google?" "NOOO we had actual physicists!"

Actually as a hobby writer, this video is teaching me so much about making a good story and to see the process of long term development of a story

Next up: Marvel writers explain how they wrote "FAKE" scripts to prevent spoiler leaks.

The fact that they are writers first, screenwriters second is probably central to their success. Some people aim to write blockbusters, but these people aim to tell stories. They’d never sacrifice character development and consistency for some cheap wow moment. That’s why the MCU is so much more than just superhero movies. They’re human stories too.

No matter how high your preferred place is in writing, this is highly useful advice.

Im no writer, but it's interesting to see how these writers come up with the twist and turns of story. They deserve views not only the directors and actors but these writers as well

Shoutout to Trin Tran for (even indirectly) suggesting Thanos’ pre title card death. Made the movie.

Ok but I kinda wish this was one of those hour long videos.

I’m tired of hearing people complain about a certain character not being in the movie that much. If people were truly paying attention they would know that regarding certain characters (Captain Marvel/ Black Panther), they would know that it’s not their story. The movie isn’t about them but about the end of the original 6 Avengers.

They make such a key statement towards the end of the video: we don’t necessarily react to the events as much as we do the characters’ reaction to them. I know people who weren’t impressed with the snap because they knew all the dusted people would return. We all knew they would, but those of us who were devastated were emulating the feelings of those who didn’t know that, primarily, the surviving characters. It’s like a weird hybrid of suspension of disbelief and empathy.

I'm just impressed at how diligently they worked on it. Each scene had been rewritten at least five times by the beginning of 2016, only to keep working on it till early 2019. Christ that is commitment. No wonder they nailed it.

I think I’m very much in the minority of this but act one of endgame might be my favourite. You want to talk radically different mcu... that first act was beautiful to me and I’ve never heard people react in a theatre to three small words and I probably never will as much as “five........years...later”

As an aspiring writer, I’m buying that Screenplay book

They really just gave us an Outline on how they made the MCU. This is Amazing!

Just goes to show: the audience isn't dumb. They always appreciate a good story no matter what.

Looper & Watchmojo will use this to come up with some very dumb clickbait Theories.

they did a good job, juggling so many characters and plotlines. Infinity War especially was impressive, start to finish.

I still cant believe how emotionally impactful they were able to make these 2 films..... Amazing job

this is what good writing is. not killing off characters for shock value or emotional manipulation, but building up characters until their death finally serves as a tribute to a historied journey

Such a bold move to write a movie with billions of dollars hanging on it to end in a tragedy, then have the audience wait a long time, then have the 1st half of the next movie be all depressing set up. but it worked so well. good job guys

I love how they came with an idea of a rat saving the whole universe. 😂

I love how they break this down, there is power in the process and it was perfectly well done

These guys wrote the four best movies in the MCU. They absolutely crushed it with IW & EG. The task was enormous but they delivered something truly special, I salute them and hope they return.

Think about it. All the way back to The Winter Soldier these guys were writing everything. That is fkn cool. These guys are my heroes.

I feel like the hardest part about being a writer to such a big franchise is knowing what’s going to happen in 2020 in 2015 and having to keep your mouth shut😂

I really enjoyed this talk of these two writers. I found out so much. Now it became clear to me how important Hulk was in Endgame. If he would just have been the smashing Hulk, he would not have cooperated during the scene, where he snaps to bring back the vanished lives. Being the only one, who won’t die of this immense amount of gamma radiation, the scene just felt even more powerful, where they gathered to say goodbye to Tony Stark. Tony died due to this immense power of the stones. You can see the Hulk, standing there, these wounds not having recovered, and thinking, what Tony did in order to save everyone. That gives Tony’s life full meaning, as the writers have said about his death. That’s a meaningful role for the Hulk, in my opinion.

I really doubt the validity of having test audiences when complaints like "The first part is slow" still come up. I loved that it started so slow. Marvel movies have been all so one dimensionally focused on the heroes journey to the next asskicking and success. It was the best thing that Endgame didn't do that and mused quite a lot about their defeat at first. It is what makes a decent movie into a great movie where the emotional payoff is the highest. And if the average test audience member can't see that.... then get rid of test audiences!

Scorsese: Marvel movies don't take risks, have no character development... aren't cinema. Markus & McFeely: ...

Dammit they knew what they were doing to us at the beginning of Endgame 😭 poor Clint suddenly losing his family without explanation

17:43 See this what people misunderstand, audiences were emotionally impacted at the end of Infinty War because of the implications it meant for the characters and the universe and seeing their favorite characters suffer for their failure not because people genuinely believed they're permanently dead (alteast not most people).

Just Stephen McFeely saying "on your left" makes me well up. What great writers, what amazing scene.

"Its not when people die that is sad for the audience. Its when the people that are left behind have to react to it." *Shows Cap crying* Why do that to me..

There was a collective tearing up of the audience in my screening of Endgame when the movie opened and Hawkeye lost his family..

It's amazing even at their level that made the biggest blockbuster of the decade used Syd Field's screenwriting book

I’m so glade they flat out said that captain marvel coming in and saving everyone is bad writing me and friends we’re wordy about that for almost a year

9:00 one of my favourite scenes in the movie

This really made up for the lackluster bonus features on the actual bluray

I’ve watched almost every interview with these guys, I love their writing. So glad you made this video! I want them to release the Infinity War and Endgame scripts.

The end of an era. What a ride it’s been

This is such a good and informative video for all fans, thank you

I just love how Steve and Tony's character arc has an interrelationship That's so cool and possibly a great full stop for their own story

These guys know how to end a series unlike those game of thrones writers.

That moment when they show Cap with tears in his eyes made me tear up again :(

Boy, I didn't expect it to be this insightful. Thanks for this interview.

This was awesome! Is there an unedited long cut? I-and I’m sure many others-would love to see it/hear it.

These two are THE REAL MVPS of the MCU.

These guys are epic. Thank you for telling such great stories

Man this entire video is captivating. Thanks for putting this together!

Thanks you guys for giving us so much! Forever grateful

This was extremely insightful and fascinating. Kinda wish it was longer.

Putting the Hawkeye's family disappearing scene in the beginning of Endgame was so smart. It put you right back when IW left while showing a new scene. It would've been really weird to just see Hawkeye at the end like this. These guys ara AMAZING !

I'VE WAITED FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE

I love seeing them break down how the script is able to land. Not everyone watches it and considers how much planning needed to be made in order for the story to be so effective

Thank you, Vanity Fair for such an insightful interview! This could mean a lot to many of the aspiring writers around the globe.

Tony's been willing to sacrifice himself since avengers 1. Just saying

WOW! What a tool to have access too for writing anything! Thanks to the writers for being so open and candid about their process, thanks to Vanity Fair for realizing how awesome this is to share with people. Just great!

infinite respect for these guys! so talented and humble.

I swear, how so many people still can't grasp why a movie might be slow in parts is infuriating. It's like they've never heard of character development or setting the mood. I think they're the kinds of people who would get the most enjoyment out of watching Transformers or some Fast and the furious movie.

I love that writing process so much! No wonder the MCU is so good!

Love this! So inspiring. The movies were inspiring, this video is inspiring. Love hearing about the people behind the project; the passion is evident and comes through every scene and moment on screen.

"Its not when people die that is sad for the audience, its when the people left behind had to react to it" WE KNOW YOU DID IT INTENTIONALLY

I love this so much its so amazing to see how ideas become reality

Christoper Marcus and Stephen Mcfeely is the guy who made mcu film Legendary

What a great runthrough, I love this stuff

This was such an interesting watch simply to see the writing process in action

So are the fake scripts just a compilation of all the cut ideas?

In order for Steve to live his best self is to get a life, and for Tony to live his best self is to lose his. Man 9 months later and that still hurt 😭

I always love seeing writers in interviews like this where you can tell they're as passionate about these stories as the fans.

I can do this all days ! This is enjoy to watch and very usefull video about screen writers stuff

Infinity war, endgame, civil war, winter soldier. Wow, they could die tomorrow and be proud they accomplished greatness.

This was awesome. I love you guys 3000. Thanks for all the MCU movies you’ve written. Hopefully you’ll write for MCU some more.

more of such clips, please!

Amazing interview. So informative.

19 minutes of Christopher Markus on my screen = 19 minutes of hope. hubba hubba!

Sounds so easy, just like that

These two are incredible! I’ma use some of their techniques for my next music video!

I’m really enjoying these behind the scenes videos

12:44 That was exactly my thought. You wonderful bastards

I never heard the Russo's talk about these guys, I wanna see the four of them talking together.

Thank you for this!

I would looooove a writing partner but it's so hard to find a right fit like these guys clearly did.

“How did you figure that out?” “Google” “Nooooo”

In my opinion, Infinity War is the most cohesive movie than Endgame. I dont know why but I can watch more IW than Endgame.

Also I love that they have respect for Back to the Future. And they’re not stroking their egos with the time travel like they acknowledge that they didn’t wanna be patting themselves on the back. I’ve suddenly realised how much I respect these guys.

I love these marvel movies. You guys are amazing.

So awesome!

I mean...wow! That was amazing and just makes me love and appreciate all the effort they put into this universe. I got chocked up as they were talking about getting chocked up and, maybe for the first time, began thinking about how each character felt seeing their best friend disintegrate into dust before their eyes. Yes, time travel is incredibly messy but that doesn't change the fact that Mr. McFeely and Mr. Markus gave us a film series like no other. Something that's never been done before and likely won't ever be done again, not even by Marvel/Disney.

This is so amazing and intresting I should of always think more then look at the screen and enjoy it there’s so much more I’ve been here since iron man it’s been an amazing journey

this was absolutely brilliant to watch.

When Iron Man died you could hear people sobbing. Even little kids. When Superman died it was like 'meh' and nobody cared.

this was actually pretty interesting tbh

This is so incredible and educational!

I wish the regular Hollywood people would learn that one of the things that makes these Marvel movies so good is that the characters have real character arcs instead of being the same person in every movie.