We all love Robert Downey Jr. and we all love Tony Stark aka Iron Man aka the “Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist”. So when the beloved Avenger met his end in Avengers: Endgame, the hearts of the entire fan base were full and so were the eyes. It was hard letting go of the superhero that started it all. However, due to the multiverse making everything and anything possible, there was some hope that Robert Downey Jr. would return in one way or the other.
Thanks to some reports and rumors flying around, fans were convinced that Robert Downey Jr. will once again play the iconic Avenger in Avengers: Secret Wars. But it now looks like that all the hype was for nothing as the actor’s return is off the table. Even though there were reports about Robert Downey Jr. being in negotiations for his return, it seems like the dream will not be becoming a reality.
Robert Downey Jr. is not Returning to the MCU
If we have to pick one name that is synonymous with the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, it will undoubtedly be Robert Downey Jr. Marking the start of an insane superhero universe with Iron Man (2008), his character stayed close to our hearts throughout his MCU run. Therefore, when rumors suggested that he would once again be donning the red-golden suit, it made a lot of fans happy.
But just like many other rumors, it looks like this one also does not have any link to reality. The VP of Production & Development at Marvel Studios, Stephen Broussard while talking to io9, revealed that Downey was “no longer on the table,” as the new phases are about passing the torch to the next generation.
“If you look at, like, Cassie Lang [in Quantumania], getting a suit and Kate Bishop [in Hawkeye], new characters being introduced like Jack in Werewolf by Night. After these first 10 years of Marvel storytelling, torches are being passed, like with Robert Downey Jr. no longer being [on the] table and stuff like that. So it was kind of like a new generation stepping to the forefront which, again, has always happened in the comics.”
This news comes almost simultaneously with Radar Online’s report about Downey’s supposed negotiations for the MCU return. The outlet reported that the Due Date actor was asking for a whopping $80 million paycheck along with a slice of profits from the film. An insider told the outlet,
“Robert is a businessman and only asks for what he considers proportionate to what he’s offering. He and his people know he’s integral to the franchise…The rule with any Marvel Studios project that has Robert in it is that it will take forever to make the deals…If this deal can close in less than six months, Marvel has a good shot at announcing it at San Diego Comic-Con in July.”
According to Broussard, though, Downey is no longer in the picture and probably won’t be in the future as well. It makes you wonder, was the hefty deal the reason why the actor is going to be kept out of the superhero universe?
Do Fans Want Robert Downey Jr. Back?
Well, the fandom is divided. On one hand, fans are desperate to see Downey return and save the MCU from the slump it is in. There are a lot of fan theories circulating the Internet about how Tony Stark could possibly return. On the other hand, fans absolutely do not want Downey to return as they believe it will mess with the heroic sacrifice Tony made in Endgame.
They believe if the multiverse can bring anyone back from the dead at any point in time, it makes the character’s sacrifices meaningless. There is also the opinion that if Downey does end up returning to the MCU, it will be done just for the sake of nostalgia which could end up ruining Tony’s character.
Maybe it is time to finally let Tony rest. Downey already gave us a plethora of films to cherish forever, and Tony’s ending in Endgame perfectly concludes the character’s story, even if it was absolutely heart-shattering.
Avengers: Endgame is available to stream on Disney+.
Source: Radar Online
