The finale of Avengers: Endgame will leave fans in a state of grief, star Mark Ruffalo has said.

The highly-anticipated blockbuster is the culmination of 22 Marvel films over 11 years and is expected to bring closure to fans who have been following the series for more than a decade.

Endgame is a direct sequel to 2018’s Infinity War, which finished with half of life in the universe being wiped out due to the actions of super villain Thanos.

The blockbuster, which was released last year, saw a major shoot in Edinburgh where Avengers battled Thanos’ henchmen in a showdown at Waverley station. 

Although the finer details of the Endgame plot have been kept tightly under wraps, there is speculation that this will be be some on-screen superheroes’ final mission.

Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, hinted at the emotionally charged film.

Speaking at the Endgame world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday, he said: “I think people are going to have a lot of really strong feelings [at the end of the movie].

“I haven’t seen the movie yet so I’m speaking out of turn, but I think people are going to be grieving. And they’re going to be hopeful.

“And they’ll be satisfied and there will be longing.”

While Marvel fans camped out in Los Angeles for days in anticipation of seeing the Endgame stars at the world premiere, many UK cinemagoers are gearing up for late-night screenings tonight.

The premiere boasted a purple carpet, to match the complexion of Thanos, while a 40-foot Avengers symbol revolved in the middle of the convention space.

Infinity War became the first film to gross more than £1.5 billion worldwide and Endgame is expected to be a similar box office success.

Ruffalo, who stars in the film alongside the likes of Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor), said the experience had been “amazing”.

He said: “It’s the best thing in the world, one of the greatest blessings of my life. The fans have been amazing, the journey with these guys has been amazing and Marvel has been amazing.

“It’s a once in a lifetime, maybe once in a century event.”

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, but the character was one of those killed by Thanos.

Fans have speculated the remaining Avengers will find a way to bring back their fellow superheroes in Endgame, but Cumberbatch insists he is not in the film.

He said: “I, like a fan, don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m just super excited. I did want to know what my role was in both films and wanted to have an idea of where this film went... because I’m not in this film.

“I wanted to still understand the whole story and the minute they told me, I just thought ‘now I want to forget everything’. I want to sit there with a blank canvas and just let it all happen.”

Cumberbatch starred in the films Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok and Infinity War, but says he does not have a particular highlight from the series.

He said: “I don’t have favourites, to be honest. 

“The collegiate atmosphere you get with the most extraordinary talent, both in front and behind the camera, you couldn’t ask for a higher set of human beings and standards and work ethics and humour and hard, hard, hard work.

“The hours that people put into this. It’s quite something. So all of the above, there’s no highlight – it’s just about doing the job and then seeing the results.”

Paul Rudd has said he is looking forward to not having to address a bizarre fan theory about the finale of Avengers: Endgame involving his character.

Rudd plays Ant-Man in the Marvel universe films and his superpower is being able to shrink to the size of an insect, while maintaining his human strength.

An outlandish fan theory surfaced online and has since gained traction, suggesting Endgame will finish with Ant-Man defeating super villain Thanos by crawling up his backside and expanding, killing him.

Rudd said he was aware of the idea and was looking forward to the real finale of Endgame being known so he no longer had to address it.

He said: “Oh gosh, yeah, I’ve heard about it a lot from a lot of people and it’ll be nice when the movie is out and I no longer have to address that theory.”

Rudd first played Ant-Man in the 2015 film of the same name, reprising the role in 2018’s Ant-Man And The Wasp.

He also starred in Captain America: Civil War. Rudd said he hoped Endgame, which is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, satisfied fans.

He said: “I hope it’s one of satisfaction (the feeling after watching the film). 
“The culmination of 22 movies, there’s a lot to take in. I hope that they feel satisfied.”

And Rudd, who stars in Endgame as part of an A-list cast including Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo, described the experience of being in the film as “incredible”.

Speaking at the Endgame world premiere in Los Angeles, he said: “It’s an incredible thing to be part of, something this global, that has this passionate fan base. It’s a bit surreal.

“Being here tonight, looking around, I don’t get used to this – it’s incredible.”

Avengers: Endgame will be released in the UK tomorrow.