The journey of the original Avengers team finally came to a fitting conclusion in Avengers: Endgame. Sadly, the face of the Avengers, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, sacrificed himself in the final act to save the universe. Interestingly, while filming the Infinity Saga, Marvel had some calculations as to who should take Iron Man’s place. Recent revelations suggest Marvel considered Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man to take the mantle.
All three actors, Chadwick Boseman, Brie Larson, and Tom Holland, were supposed to return to future Marvel movies. According to the new book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Marvel’s plans fell apart, and they had to take a new direction with Phase 4.
Marvel’s Plan For Robert Downey Jr.’s Replacement Didn’t Work Out Well
It was a moment to cherish in the climactic battle in Avengers: Endgame when Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth fought side by side against Thanos. While this was the last time fans got to see them together, Marvel had already initiated plans for a future without these heroes. The studio’s initial strategy revolved around Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Captain Marvel taking on central roles in the upcoming phases.
However, several setbacks put Marvel’s plans in jeopardy. The tragic loss of actor Chadwick Boseman deeply saddened fans and came as a shock to the Marvel Studios. To honor his memory, the studio made the bold decision not to recast the character. Another blow came from the failed negotiations with Sony concerning Spider-Man’s future. After Far From Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man briefly exited Marvel before a renegotiation allowed the character to return for No Way Home.
Moreover, due to toxic backlash and divisiveness surrounding Brie Larson‘s character, it became unwise for Marvel to anchor the franchise’s future on Captain Marvel. The negative online reactions also took a toll on the actress, reportedly leaving her disillusioned with her role. These details emerged from the new book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, which quoted (via ScreenRant):
“The future of those Marvel icons was unclear. The departure of franchise anchors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson had already taken its toll, as had the shocking loss of Chadwick Boseman, but other MCU stalwarts were heading for the exits. The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ cast went on a farewell tour, Brie Larson grew disillusioned, and Marvel tussled with Sony in a custody battle over Tom Holland.”
Marvel’s failed plan undoubtedly has impacted its outputs since then. The studio is currently criticized for its poor-quality projects, clearly indicating a lack of direction.
Did Marvel Find A Superhero To Lead The Franchise Like Robert Downey Jr.?
The answer is no. With multiple average movies and series constantly introducing new characters, the Marvel Universe appears to be in shambles right now. Although the studio centered the next three Phases around the multiverse theme, major movies discussing this concept have underperformed with the audiences. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania generated a lot of hype but ultimately failed to deliver on their promises.
While there were some promising projects, none except Loki delivered anything substantiative about its multiverse theme. While Spider-Man: No Way Home stood head and shoulders above the rest, Marvel wouldn’t want the franchise to depend on a character shared with Sony. Even the original Avenger, Thor, failed to impress the audience with his outing in Phase 4.
Fans continue to hold out hope for a comeback from the studio, as it has started preparations for the next two-part Avengers movies. Avengers: Endgame and other MCU projects are now available for streaming on Disney+.
