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The emotional ‘I Love You, 3,000’ line in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ was inspired by Robert Downey Jr.’s kids
- Go To Brand: I Love You 3000
One of most memorable lines of dialogue to come from ” Avengers: Endgame” is from an exchange between Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and his daughter, Morgan. As she goes to bed, she tells her father, “I love you, 3,000.” The line is reiterated later in the movie as part of one of the film’s most emotional moments.
After the movie’s release, “I love you, 3,000” has become ubiquitous among Marvel fans, with many sharing the line on social media as a way to thank both Marvel Studios and Robert Downey Jr. for more than a decade of movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What was the inspiration for “I love you, 3,000”?
“Robert [Downey Jr.],” said “Endgame” screenwriter Stephen McFeely during a conversation at the 92Y in New York City Thursday night, which INSIDER attended.
“The line went, ‘I love you tons. I love you tons,'” said McFeely of the original version of the line in “Endgame.” “And so, he says, ‘I love you tons,’ but his children say to him, ‘I love you, 3,000.'”
“In real life,” “Endgame” screenwriter Christopher Markus clarified.
During the hour-long conversation with New York Times’ reporter Dave Itzkoff, the screenwriting duo recounted their journey from meeting at University of California, Davis to working on the “Chronicles of Narnia” franchise at Walt Disney Studios, and, eventually the first “Captain America” movie.
The two have written screenplays for several Marvel movies, including the two last “Avengers” movies. After years of working with “Avengers: Endgame” co-directors and brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, the two will continue their working relationship at a studio they started with the brothers.
Though McFeely said they’re executive producing a number of “bigger” projects there, Markus teased the two have been contacted about another potential Marvel project.
McFeely, hesitant to say anything more, said it may be best for them to take a breather for a while after spending the past five or so years with Marvel Studios.
“[Marvel] should really get some fresh blood in there,” said McFeely. “We’re a couple of tired old mules.”
- Go To Brand: I Love You 3000
