Avengers: Infinity War!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the film; Avengers: Infinity War, on it’s 8th Anniversary! I was even lucky enough to ask Tom Vaughan- Lawlor who voiced the creepy villain Ebony Maw in the film, a few questions!

“Avengers: Infinity War” began with a clear concept: unite every major corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe against a single threat; Thanos. The film drew from Jim Starlin’s “Infinity Gauntlet” storyline, adapting the idea of a villain seeking cosmic balance through the power of the “Infinity Stones”. From the outset, the Russo brothers planned a structure that balanced dozens of characters while maintaining a focused narrative anchored by Thanos.

Its backstory stretched across a decade of MCU world-building. Each stone had been introduced in earlier films, creating a serialized foundation that allowed “Infinity War” to start in motion. Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely developed parallel character arcs, ensuring teams like the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Wakanda’s leaders intersected organically as the threat expanded.

Production was one of Marvel’s most complex undertakings, filmed back-to-back with “Endgame” in Georgia and coordinated across multiple units and digital effects houses. Motion capture performance drove Thanos’ emotional depth, while actors like Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, portraying Ebony Maw, added distinct personalities to the “Black Order”, enhancing the film’s portrayal of Thanos’ inner circle.

Upon release in 2018, “Infinity War” earned strong critical reviews for its scale, pacing, and bold ending. Audiences responded with record-breaking box office numbers, and the film’s unexpected final act became an immediate cultural moment. Its reception confirmed Marvel’s long-form storytelling strategy had succeeded, culminating in one of the most influential blockbuster events of the decade!

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What was it like voicing Ebony Maw?

Tom: It was such fun, the voice I thought would suit his physical representation from the comics was a higher pitched voice using a standard English accent which seems to be a kind of natural cosmic accent (for some reason). I knew I couldn’t use my own Irish accent as it would seem too specific, but it was a wonderful experience the whole time.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Tom: Best advice? Be kind, I think if you can be kind to yourself and others you can’t go too far wrong..

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo