Once we all decide that it’s okay to start discussing the details of Avengers: Endgame (speaking of which, spoilers lie ahead), you can imagine that social media is going to be flooded with memes that give new life to the film’s most memorable moments.
In the meantime, one line that’s already managed to get a little traction – and has even been shared by the Twitter accounts of Marvel Studios and the cast – is the young Morgan Stark’s declaration to her father, “I love you 3,000.” And as it turns out, the phrase originated from one of the real-life children of Robert Downey Jr.
Speaking to Chinese outlet Watching Hollywood, Endgame co-director Anthony Russo explained how Downey once relayed to them a time when his child said to him, “I love you 3000.” Evidently, the Russo Brothers thought it was an endearing enough phrase to base a whole motif around.
In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Russo Brothers explained that they’ve worked closely with Downey over the years in mapping out his character’s journey. Anthony even went as far as to praise the actor as “a really brilliant filmmaker in his own right,” adding that he brings “a tremendous amount of energy” to the creative process.
On top of that, the Russo Brothers have claimed that Downey was probably the only actor who was allowed to read the entire Endgame script. The co-directors even ran Iron Man’s death past him to check that he was comfortable with his character’s fate.
Ultimately, Downey was acceptant of Tony Stark’s demise, though seeing how Avengers: Endgame hasn’t even moved into its second weekend yet, some fans may need a little more time to heal.