Script To Screen: Avengers: Endgame

  • Saturday, October 12, 2019 / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (PDT)
  • Pollock Theater
  • Screening Format: DCP (181 Minutes)
  • With Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (Screenwriters)
  • Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
    Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner

Avengers: Endgame (2019), the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga, follows the aftermath of the snap felt across the cosmos. With half the population of the universe turned to dust, the surviving Avengers—including Tony Stark, Thor, Black Widow, Captain America, and Bruce Banner—must figure out a way to bring back their allies for an epic showdown with the seemingly-unstoppable Thanos.

Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have been key architects of the Infinity Saga, weaving together the stories of dozens of superheroes across a series of films. They joined Pollock Theater Director Matt Ryan for a post-screening discussion about their roles in crafting Avengers: Endgame and propelling the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Biographies

Christopher Markus R & Stephen McFeely L Headshot

Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely hold the record for the highest-grossing film of all time for Avengers: Endgame, as well as the fifth highest-grossing film of all time for Avengers: Infinity War. Their extensive work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe also includes Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Captain America: Civil War.  They are widely credited with advancing the superhero genre by layering in more humanity, complexity, and political self-awareness, while still honoring the Marvel family of characters.

Markus and McFeely are partners with Joe and Anthony Russo in ABGO Films. At ABGO, they are shepherding a growing list of titles, including the adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s The Electric State, Matthew Michael Carnahan’s Mosul, and Jessica Goldberg’s Exit West, which is based on the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Mohsin Hamid.

Past screenwriting credits include Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain; the first three films in the Chronicles of Narnia series; the Emmy and Writers Guild award-winning teleplay for The Life and Death of Peter Sellers; and ABC’s Agent Carter, which they created and executive produced. Born in Buffalo and San Francisco, respectively, the two met in a small Northern California fiction-writing program.

Moderator Matthew Ryan

Matthew Ryan is Director of the Pollock Theater, where he pioneered the Pollock Theater Internship, which offers students the opportunity to develop professional production skills through hands-on experience. Ryan created and hosts the Script to Screen series, which has welcomed prestigious guests like writer/director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), screenwriter Vanessa Taylor (The Shape of Water), writer/producer/director David Mandel (VEEP), actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus (VEEP) and actor Kevin Costner (Hidden Figures).

This event is sponsored by the Carsey-Wolf Center, the Department of Film & Media Studies, and the Scott Frank Fund for Screenwriting.

Script to Screen

The Script to Screen series examines the screenplay and its transition to the screen from the perspective of writers, directors, producers, editors, and actors. The Pollock Theater connects artists to our audience of aspiring production students, and Guild & Academy Members. Our Q&As transform into a television show that airs on the UCTV cable station. The series is hosted by the Pollock Theater Director, Matt Ryan, and co-produced by the Pollock Theater student staff.