You’d be hard pressed to choose just one moment in Avengers: Infinity War that was sad, tense, or hilarious. The film was full of every emotion you could conjure. However, one funny moment that easily comes to mind is the exchange between Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Ebony Maw outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Though, the American version of a specific joke was different than the French, and for good reason.
Though Spongebob Squarepants is a well-known pop culture reference and widely used here in the United States, the show isn’t so known elsewhere. So, the Squidward joke we saw and laughed at was replaced with a Lord Voldemort one from the Harry Potter stories. Either joke works, though I do favor the Squidward joke.
It would have been confusing to the people in France to come across the Squidward joke, as it would have been for us to hear a joke referring to something we didn’t understand here. Nothing was lost with the switch, however, and Stark goes on to fight Maw through New York.
that’s funny because in french he doesn’t call him squidward but voldemort
— infinity war killed my soul (@katxice) May 1, 2018
just so y’all know in the french version of #InfinityWar Iron Man calls the dude from Thanos’ children Voldemort instead of squidward
— jay (@JanieSavageBond) May 3, 2018
I just realized that the french translation for #TonyStark ” Squidward” joke was a Voldemort one.
I thought he did the same one in english lol But nope. The Harry Potter joke was only in the french sub ( and dub?) Of #infinitywar
— Nadia (@NadiaJPLE) May 3, 2018
in the french translation of infinity war tony called ebony maw voldemort and not squidward haha
— infinity war killed my soul (@katxice) May 1, 2018
Fun fact about Infinity War : in french they called him Voldemort not Squidward pic.twitter.com/ov5REb0eqo
— louise (@thxlouser) April 30, 2018
The Avengers: Infinity War synopsis reads as follows:
“As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.”
Anthony and Joe Russo directed the film, and it stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Peter Dinklage, Benedict Wong, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright.
Avengers: Infinity War is playing in theaters now.
What do you think about the way the French version replaces the Squidward joke? Be sure to tell us your thoughts on that and the film in the comments down below!