The multiversal nature of the MCU has already seen audiences introduced to variants of several existing characters. Spider-Man, Loki, Doctor Strange, Karl Mordo, Wanda Maximoff, and Peggy Carter are just some of the characters whose counterparts from parallel worlds made their presence felt in the franchise.
Given the projects ahead – such as Avengers: Secret Wars – the MCU will undoubtedly depict more alternate versions of established MCU heroes and villains on the big and small screens. Iron Man is one of those characters. Whether or not Robert Downey Jr. returns to portray any of his multiversal variants remains to be seen. Still, it doesn’t matter either way – Spider-Man: No Way Home emphatically proved different actors can play different versions of the same character.
Marvel Studios must use these five alternate versions of Iron Man in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
5. Iron Goblin
Iron Goblin is the Anthony Stark of Earth-19919. Like MCU Stark, he became Iron Man and acted as a hero, but after being infected with the Spider-Virus, he took Norman Osborn’s Goblin Serum to cure himself. It gave him superhuman physical attributes but ended up turning him insane. Also, like MCU Stark, he sacrificed himself for the greater good. This version appearing in the MCU – one of the most potent versions of both Iron Man and the Green Goblin in the Marvel multiverse – would be particularly interesting because of Peter Parker’s potential reaction to seeing a variant of his mentor transformed into a variant of his Aunt May’s murderer.
4. Infamous Iron Man
Infamous Iron Man isn’t Tony Stark; it’s Victor Von Doom – the character usually thought of as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. In the comics, in a post-Civil War II world where Stark is believed dead, Doom stumbles across his laboratory and opts to take over his heroic mantle as Iron Man. The character has all the powers of Iron Man, with Doom’s mystical prowess on top of them. With Doctor Doom expected to debut in the MCU sooner rather than later – possibly in the 2025 Fantastic Four movie – a variant of the character who is his universe’s version of Iron Man would be a terrific addition to a film like Avengers: Secret Wars. Having him interact with the MCU’s evil Doom would be quite something.
3. Sorcerer Supreme Tony Stark
Tony Stark is, of course, best known for his expertise in invention and technology. However, there are a couple of Marvel Comics universes where he dabbles in the world of magic and becomes Sorcerer Supreme. One such comic is 1998’s What If… Starring: Iron Man: Strange Allies, in which Sorcerer Supreme Stark gets pitted against Dormammu. MCU audiences would be thrilled to see a variant of Stark. Robert Downey Jr.’s Stark was quite dismissive of Strange and his magic, so it would make for an intriguing twist to see he went down a magic path in another universe.
2. Iron God
In 2020’s Iron Man #13, following a battle with Michael Korvac, Tony Stark bathes in the Power Cosmic and is transformed into a godly being: Iron God, AKA Cosmic Iron Man. He uses his newfound power in curious ways, such as making everyone in New York City as intelligent as he is. A variant of MCU Tony Stark with this level of cosmic energy at his disposal would be a fantastic addition to the franchise. If the variant had the same personality as Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, watching the creative (and potentially narcissistic) ways he would utilize such vast amounts of power in live-action could be spectacular.
1. Superior Iron Man
Marvel Comics’ 2014 event “AXIS” pits the Avengers and X-Men against the Red Skull, who has acquired the powers of Onslaught and Professor Charles Xavier. During the conflict, Doctor Doom and Scarlet Witch attempt to fix things by casting an inversion spell. However, it inadvertently switches the alignment of everyone participating, making the heroes into villains and vice versa. It turns the previously heroic Tony Stark into the villainous Superior Iron Man. This version of Iron Man is callous, brutal, greedy, selfish, and narcissistic in a far more malicious way than his heroic counterpart. Such a vicious version of the character would be incredibly impactful on screen. MCU fans are so used to their beloved Iron Man that they’d be shocked at this one’s behavior – as would the on-screen heroes who knew and fought alongside him. Tom Cruise is said to be a candidate to play this version of Iron Man, and nobody would complain if that happened, but Robert Downey Jr. is also said to be open to a return to play him – and that would be superb.
