Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man has consistently showcased his character’s genius throughout the MCU. Now, a fan theory is connecting even more dots, suggesting that Tony Stark knew far more than people might have realized. This theory proposes that Stark understood Captain America more deeply than even Cap himself did and perhaps there was a reason for it. Consequently, it implies that Stark knew he wouldn’t return to the field after the events of Endgame.
Did Tony Stark Know Peggy Carter?
Throughout the MCU, it has been shown that Peggy Carter shared a strong connection not only with Steve Rogers but also with Howard Stark, the father of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Their close relationship extended to their partnering together to establish S.H.I.E.L.D.
In Endgame as well as Ant-Man, people get a taste of Howard and Peggy collaborating together and the time frame suggests it went on from around 1970 or even before and continued till well into the late 1980s. This thus prompts rather interesting speculation, Did Tony know Peggy?
Given Peggy’s significant role in Howard’s life, it’s only logical to assume she would have been a familiar figure to Tony as well.
Tony Stark, born in either 1970 or 1971, estimated from the scene in Endgame where Howard Stark revealed to Tony from the future that his wife was pregnant. Therefore, Tony was around 20-21 years of age when Howard and Maria Stark died in 1991. It is highly probable that Peggy attended their funeral, given her close relationship with Howard Stark.
Furthermore, Tony was no doubt familiar with Jarvis, and as Agent Carter suggests, that the loyal butler remained with the Starks until at least the mid-1970s. Carter and Jarvis also shared a very special connection in the series. So if Tony remembers Jarvis from his childhood days, why wouldn’t he remember Peggy, who, as the time frame suggests, appeared in his life numerous times well after he turned 18 years old? These dots join together to paint a scenario that suggests Peggy Carter was definitely someone Tony Stark was aware of.
Thus, the theory proposes that it’s implausible for Tony Stark to have been unaware of Peggy Carter’s existence. So does that mean, Tony knew Captain America all along?
How did Tony Stark May Have Known Captain America’s Eventual Fate Before Captain Himself?
It is no secret that Steve Rogers ended up with Peggy Carter, and Tony Stark likely knew Peggy quite closely, it implies that Tony may or may not have been acquainted with Captain America even before formally meeting Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger.
In Endgame, it’s revealed that Steve travels back to 1949 to live his life with Peggy. Thus, the time frame just doesn’t quite match up with where Tony would have not known either Peggy or Steve. Perhaps they just missed each other by a bit, or perhaps they did not.
The fact that Stark may have known Captain America since childhood, and then encountered him again in adulthood, makes their connection even more special. It’s fascinating to think about how their dynamic might have evolved over time. While this is just a fan theory, it certainly adds an exciting dimension to their story.
This would certainly add intrigue to their dynamic the second time around, which the audiences are much more familiar with. Tony Stark would have been aware of all the achievements Captain America would eventually accomplish and the man he would become. While this theory may seem far-fetched to some and quite twisty and bendy, it is undeniably one of the most popular fan theories that have intrigued fans who desperately wish for it to be true.
