Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame shocked the Marvel Cinematic Universe and fans alike, but the truth is that Marvel had been dropping hints about Tony Stark’s demise for years. The Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2008 with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and ultimately resulted in a decade later with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, with Spider-Man: Far From Home closing this chapter in the MCU’s history.
Fans had been bracing for Iron Man’s demise since it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr‘s contract was one of those set to expire following Avengers: Endgame, but they probably weren’t expecting the genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist to die to save the world.
In a recent interview with TODAY Live, Robert Downey Jr. discussed his new upcoming movie Dolittle in which he is playing as the doctor who can communicate with animals. In between the interview, he was asked if he’d be interested in reprising his role as Iron Man, he says, “We’ll see.”
Can Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man Ever Really Return In The MCU?
Even though Downey died in Avengers: Endgame, there is no hard and fast rule against him returning to the MCU. The MCU has found ways to undo multiple deaths over the years to serve their storytelling, so they can bring Iron Man back to the franchise if they want to. However, this does not imply that they should.
Given that Iron Man is the franchise’s first hero, Marvel Studios should be careful about how they handle his legacy. At this point, the universe requires more time between Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame and his proposed return to avoid his emotional send-off. It also needs to be more than a glorified cameo, which means it should add to the value of the project in which he will appear and his MCU arc.
Also Read: MCU Theory: Robert Downey Jr Could Return to MCU as a Skrull Impostor in Secret Invasion
Where Could Robert Downey Jr’s Best MCU Cameo Appear?
RDJ may appear in a few other projects. For example, Don Cheadle’s Armor Wars will directly address Iron Man’s legacy through his creations. Second, Disney’s Ironheart will introduce Riri Williams, who is essentially Tony Stark’s successor in Marvel Comics. Both of the previously mentioned projects would arguably be a better venue for Iron Man return because they have direct ties to the character, making his cameo more meaningful. Since Iron Man’s relationship with Spider-Man, other options include any of the upcoming Spider-Man films (Tom Holland). Finally, if Marvel Studios decides to do something with grown-up Morgan Stark, they can include her father in their plans.
For what it’s worth, Marvel Studios appears to recognize the significance of preserving Iron Man’s legacy in the franchise. According to Spider-Man: No Way Home writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, any talk of bringing him back is a non-starter for Kevin Feige and his team.
Source: YouTube
