After seven years, Marvel’s star-studded epic Avengers: Endgame is coming to the big screen again at the end of September with a new Avengers: Endgame Encore special release.
You might remember the cultural phenomenon back in 2019. Whether you had a hoard of Marvel comics or got dragged to a screening by your mates, there’s no denying the energy was infectious.
Editor's note: There are spoilers ahead.
I remember seeing it in my local cinema. There was an enthusiasm from the crowd that I have rarely experienced since.
The film follows the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War, where the villainous Thanos snapped half of the universe out of existence. The remaining superheroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, must figure out a way to bring them back.
While all your favourite parts of the film will be present and correct, the catchily named Avengers Endgame: Encore will be bringing some changes.
There are rumours that the film has a completely revised colour grade, designed to fix the somewhat drab original version’s grey and brown aesthetic, which wasn’t universally loved by fans.
That, though, hasn’t been confirmed by Marvel. The only evidence for it is that if you compare the two trailers, there seems to be a little more black depth and slightly more vibrant colours on the new version.
It could be the colour grading or increased saturation of the trailer and not the full movie, however, so the cinematic release may not see the same benefit. We have reached out to Disney for clarity and will update this page when we hear back.
Colours aside, it’s certainly an exciting prospect to see such a classic superhero film in the cinema again – and, if the colour grading rumours are true, it would make for an even more vibrant experience.
But what’s so special about the revamped Avengers experience, and is it worth the trip? Thankfully, a few additions to Encore have been confirmed.
To infinity and beyond
The biggest difference with the new release is the film’s length. If you watched the original version, you may remember having to take a well-timed toilet dash, as it ran for about three hours.
There are two slightly different cuts that are being released. The regular screening of Endgame: Encore will feature two extra minutes of footage, according to the British Board of Film Classification.
There’s no word yet on what this will actually include, but in an interview with Fandango, the Russo brothers called it “required viewing” in preparation for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film.
If you go to an Infinity Vision screening, however, you will be treated to just over five minutes of extra content, bringing the total runtime to a touch over 186 minutes.
What’s Infinity Vision, I hear some of you ask? It’s Disney’s new cinema certification, which calls for screens to meet certain specifications. Infinity Vision-approved cinemas must have a screen width of at least 45 feet (around 14 metres), a Dolby Surround 7.1 sound system, and a specific brightness level.
This is not a proprietary sound or projection system like IMAX or Dolby Vision, so any cinema can become Infinity Vision-approved if it meets the specifications. That makes it harder to pin down the exact number of eligible cinemas, but selected Cineworld, Vue and Odeon screens in the UK are on the list.
It’s hard not to be cynical about Marvel re-releasing its most financially successful film with only five minutes of extra material.
Having the Infinity Vision badge of certification does, at least, make it reassuring that you will get to experience immersive picture and sound while recalling the golden days of the studio. And, if you’re a newcomer to Marvel who never got to experience Endgame in the cinema the first time round, it should certainly be worth a watch.
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