The superheroes in the MCU have been the selling point of the franchise throughout its history, and what made these heroes so attractive to the audience was the foes they had to overcome to grow. One such villain was Justin Hammer, a villain that Robert Downey Jr. had to face off in the second Iron Man film in the franchise.
Considered to be one of the most offbeat and quirky yet equally important characters in the MCU, especially in terms of the character development aspect of the protagonist, Sam Rockwell played the role to the dot, making him one of the memorable antagonists from the franchise. And now, it seems like he might be returning to the main timeline with the upcoming Armor Wars, and fans are divided in their opinions about it.
Sam Rockwell May Be Returning To The MCU In Armor Wars After Robert Downey Jr.’s Exit
As the saying goes, a hero is only as good as the villain he fights, and with each foe that Robert Downey Jr. defeated as Iron Man in the MCU, he became a better person along with becoming a better hero. And one of those antagonists that played a crucial role in leading him down that path was Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell in Iron Man 2.
But after the passing away of the beloved character from the franchise, the villains from his past became less relevant as the franchise expanded. But it seems like Marvel Studios had a plan for Hammer all along, as recent reports suggest that he may be making a surprising appearance in the upcoming MCU film Armor Wars.
And in. a recent interview on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, the Jojo Rabbit star was asked whether he would be interested in reprising his role as the antagonist, and he replied with an enthusiastic yes.
Sam Rockwell addresses the rumor that his Iron Man 2 character, Justin Hammer is returning for Armor Wars 👀 #FallonTonight #Marvel #ArmorWars pic.twitter.com/FZFD2NCUHp
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) February 2, 2024
Considering the upcoming film will focus on tactical exoskeleton and combat armor advancements as well as the race to occupy the top spot in the arms race, it’ll be the right place for the antagonist to spread his and Hammer Industries’ dominion. But seeing that this news can be true, fans are either yet again rolling their eyes with exasperation, or are beaming with excitement.
What Do The Fans Have To Say About This?
This may be an interesting development in the narrative of the MCU as it progresses toward the future, fans are less than excited about this if it happens, especially when no one asked for this in the first place. But then, there are several who would love to witness the quirkiness of the antagonist in the franchise once more.
Disney is making everything except for what the fans want to see
— Josh Sweat Truther (@EaglesBurna) February 2, 2024
I doubt that’s even part of phase 6 anymore 💀
— Vtuber 4Life (@Vtuber94077) February 2, 2024
A redemption arc for Hammer, in the context of Stark's demise, would be quite the story🗿
— Aryan Gupta (@SavageAryan007) February 2, 2024
He also returned in WhatIf s2 & it was pretty good
— Vtuber 4Life (@Vtuber94077) February 2, 2024
We need a true Armor Wars and it can't be done without Hammer himself.
— McMintz (@McMintzOfficial) February 3, 2024
Now, the appearance of the character in the MCU depends on how well and how uniquely they execute his return in the upcoming film which will prove its success.
Iron Man 2, streaming on Disney+.
