Marvel’s Rerelease of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Is a Lesson in Perseverance

The power of perseverance

Marvel Studios is rereleasing “Avengers: Endgame” with new footage this Friday, June 28, in a final push to topple the box office record set by “Avatar.” Whether you are among those who consider the move to be thrilling, desperate, or a cash grab, it’s an example of perseverance that those of us living with sarcoidosis should live by — a mantra to never give up. This aggressive move can teach us a few lessons, whether or not we are Marvel fans.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in “Avengers: Endgame.” (Courtesy of Film Frame ©Marvel Studios 2019)

If at first you don’t succeed …

Since its record-breaking opening in April, “Avengers: Endgame” has raked in $2.749 billion worldwide as of June 23, which is still shy of the $2.788 billion record set by “Avatar.” With slowing ticket sales and the chances of surpassing “Avatar” slipping out of reach, the executives at Marvel Studios didn’t sit around with their fingers crossed, hoping — they acted.

Sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat because of the disease’s unpredictable nature. In some people, the disease disappears without treatment; for others like myself, it’s a lengthy, wide-ranging battle.

The fight is one that requires our hidden superpowers — and chief among these is perseverance. As actor Dwayne Johnson says, “Change doesn’t begin when we get knocked on our a**. It begins the moment we decide to get back up on our own feet.” 

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Avengers: Endgame.” (Courtesy of Film Frame ©Marvel Studios 2019)

Try, try again

Will moviegoers be persuaded to hand over more cash to watch what Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Screen Rant will be “a deleted scene, a little tribute, and a few surprises” appearing after the movie’s credits? Perhaps. Or maybe not. The lesson to be learned here is that Marvel Studios is rolling the dice and trying a new approach in its efforts to cement the movie as the top-grossing film of all-time.

Similarly, when managing our healthcare, we can seek successful outcomes by keeping abreast of new developments in the treatment of sarcoidosis. So when one approach isn’t effective, instead of sitting idly by and hoping for the best, we can pursue other alternatives.

Or, according to the saying, widely attributed to Chinese philosopher Confucius, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

From left, “Avengers: Endgame” cast: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), War Machine/James Rhodey (Don Cheadle), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). (Courtesy of Film Frame ©Marvel Studios 2019)

Keep reaching

The list of box office records broken by “Avengers: Endgame” already stretches as long as the movie’s post-credits. “Highest Opening Day of All Time,” “Fastest Film to Hit $100 million at Box Office,” “First Film to Make $1 Billion During Opening Weekend,” and “Fastest Film to Reach $2 Billion” are among its many achievements, as reported by Complex in May. Despite sitting on that hill of success, Marvel Studios is still reaching for the crowning achievement of its 11-year, 22-movie, superhero saga.

When setting goals for our sarcoidosis management, we should adopt a similar approach. When we reach one goal, we should set another, and so on until we reach what we consider our crowning achievement. Only you can decide what that top goal is. The road may be long and difficult. But the only chance you have of reaching your destination is to do like Marvel and keep reaching.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

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Note: Sarcoidosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sarcoidosis News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sarcoidosis.