You Thought Captain America’s Tunnel Chase Was Civil War’s Hardest Scene To Film? Think Again

If you thought the epic airport battle in 'Captain America: Civil War' looked exhausting, well, you have no idea. Turns out the making of that scene was a borderline endurance sport—and not just for the actors in spandex.

The Russo Brothers Spill on the Toughest Day

To mark the 10th anniversary of 'Civil War,' Joe and Anthony Russo got candid about which part of the film actually put them (and their crew) through the wringer. They chatted about it in a recent interview, and honestly, the behind-the-scenes details are wild—even by Marvel standards.

The Airport Set: Less Glamorous Than It Looks

So here’s the deal: That massive airport showdown? It wasn’t shot at an actual airport. The Russos explained they built a replica on a back lot in Atlanta. Sounds cool, right? Except they did it during a heat wave. Imagine shooting fight scenes for hours on blacktop when it's basically an oven outside—temperatures on set were hitting up to 135° (yeah, you read that right) on the surface.

'It was a grind only in that we did a lot of that on a back lot in Atlanta and there was a heat wave. It was like we were on a black top, you know, because we recreated the airport...temperatures were clocking in on the black top of like 135° ...And people’s shoes, the bottom of their shoes were melting if they stood in one place too long because we’re on this black top.'

Basically, you didn't want to pause for too long—unless you felt like gluing yourself to the pavement via your footwear.

Poor Paul Bettany: The Sweatiest Vision

And then there’s what happened to Paul Bettany, who plays Vision. You know, the guy who had to hang on suspension wires, sealed into a head-to-toe suit, all while roasting in those conditions. The heat wasn’t just uncomfortable—it literally broke through the fabric of his costume. According to Joe Russo, at one point Bettany raised his arm, and a tiny seam split open. Suddenly, all the sweat that had been trapped inside just...gushed out. Picture a superhero suit-shaped fountain. Definitely not in the script.

The crew immediately called for him to be brought down—because obviously, you don’t want your Vision overheating and leaking all over the runway. Not exactly how you want to remember 'the biggest superhero brawl ever filmed.'

For the Record: Most Fun Doesn't Mean Easiest

As a fun little footnote, the Russos said that the big chase through the tunnel—where Black Panther (the late, great Chadwick Boseman) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) sprint for their lives—was the most exciting to film. But excitement and comfort are not necessarily the same thing. The airport scene still takes the trophy for sheer, sweaty hardship.

• Toughest scene: Atlanta back lot airport brawl (heat, melting shoes, and one very damp Vision)
• Most exciting to shoot: The Black Panther/Bucky tunnel foot chase

So, next time you watch 'Civil War' and think, 'Wow, those costumes must be uncomfortable,' just remember: You have no idea.