This article will not contain spoilers for Avengers: Endgame but does contain spoilers for every other film in the MCU

This is it. The final event. Over 10 years in the making. Avengers: Endgame hits UK cinemas at midnight tonight.

I’m sure none of us can forget the devastation that Thanos left when he snapped his fingers at the end of Avengers: Infinity War and wiped out half the universe. But as the MCU is perhaps the most intricate tapestry of our generation - surely there are a few other things of note that have happened since. Here’s a couple things worth keeping in mind when you watch the movie event of the summer. Although, I’m sure you’re probably already aware of all of this as you binged watched all the MCU films in preparation.

1. Tony and Steve aren’t on speaking terms

The events of Captain America: Civil War saw Iron Man and Captain America fall out over the Sokovia Accords. The government wanted to lead the Avengers and decide when and where they can intervene.Iron Man agreed as he felt some accountability would be good, however Cap disagreed on account of his distrust of the state following Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Anyway, they literally went to war about it, haven’t spoken since and it led to Cap being forced to operate underground and give up the title of Captain America.

2 . Ant-Man is stuck in the Quantum Realm

All those who saw the absolutely game changing post-credits scene for Ant Man and The Wasp will remember what happened here. Ant Man ventured into the Quantum Realm which he had become very well acquainted with, with the help of Hank Pym, Janet Van Dyne and The Wasp. However, Thanos snapped his fingers before the latter three could retrieve Ant Man and wiped them from the face of the universe. Thus leaving poor old Scott stuck there with seemingly no way out.

3. Hawkeye took a plea deal to protect his family

One of the more surprising moments of Avengers: Age of Ultron was when it was revealed to us that Hawkeye had a family that he kept off the radar with the help of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. The events of Captain America: Civil War then placed him on the wrong side of those accords we mentioned earlier and he was brandished a criminal. In order to avoid a more serious punishment and to spend more time with the family he loves, Hawkeye took a house arrest plea deal (as did Ant Man for similar reasons). He’s been living there with them peacefully ever since apparently…

4. Tony and Nebula are stuck in space

Thanos’s quest in Avengers: Infinity War split the heroes of the MCU across the universe. There was a team in Wakanda and a team who ended up on Thanos’s home world of Titan. Team Titan included some of the heaviest hitters in the MCU - Iron Man, Spider Man, Star Lord, Drax, Mantis, Nebula and Dr Strange. Unfortunately, most of this team was hit in The Decimation (snap). Only Iron Man and Nebula survived.

How are they planning to get back to Earth when everyone who knows where they were, died?

5. There is still hope

Remember when Doctor Strange used the Eye of Agamotto to view 14,000,605 possible futures to check the odds of the battle against Thanos? Remember he found one instance where the heroes came out top? Remember when Dr Strange willingly handed over the time stone to Thanos to save Tony’s life even though he knew it would cause the Decimation?

That was weird.

But then again, Dr Strange is the only person to have seen the one in fourteen million outcome where Thanos is defeated. And as he faded to ash he said ‘...there was no other way’. Interesting.

BONUS: Current Status List

Alive: Iron Man, Steve Rogers, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Bruce Banner, Captain Marvel, Rocket, Okoye, Ant Man, War Machine, Valkyrie, Nebula, Wong

Dead: Spider-Man, Black Panther, Loki, Doctor Strange, Star Lord, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Gamora, Groot, Drax, Mantis, Wasp, Shuri, Bucky, Falcon, Nick Fury, Maria Hill

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