Iron Man Soars Again? Robert Downey Jr. Hints at MCU Return
Get Ready to Soar Marvel Fans! The man himself, Robert Downey Jr., poured rocket fuel on the hype fires when he said in a recent interview that he may yet return to one of the most iconic comic book characters of our time just around the time news of this MCU-set Disney+ show broke, as well. A big change of heart from when Tony Stark made the ultimate “Avengers: Endgame” sacrifice, eh?!
On a more surprising note, Downey Jr. actually hinted that he’s not totally done with the role, revealing that he’s “surprisingly open-minded” about returning to play Tony Stark. He referred to the role of Iron Man as one that was “crazily in his DNA,” a far more intimate tie than the one binding an actor to his character in most other cases. Anyway, Downey Jr. told me, “He’s probably the most me, although way cooler, of course.”
Robert Downey Jr reveals he is “surprisingly open-minded” to the idea of returning as Iron Man.
“It’s just crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character I’ve ever played, even though he’s way cooler than I am”
(Source: https://t.co/LTLeoQhsiW) pic.twitter.com/HaatcyJXrU
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 3, 2024
This is good news all around following the feel of “Endgame“. While the inevitable outcome of Tony Stark made it an emotional bookend to the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige did factor in the “excitement” from Downey Jr. and the fans who were clamoring for a return. This, of course, means there’s a creative window open for a possible return maybe in the form of flashbacks, a “parallel universe” scenario, or perhaps even a simply ballsy narrative move.
This is exciting Marvel fanboys everywhere and for good reason. A prequel series showing a de-aged Tony Stark? Can we get an alternate reality Tony Stark from the Multiverse? What if a smart AI, kind of like the one based around Tony’s consciousness, surfaced to shepherd the following generation of heroes.
It is extremely beneficial for the MCU if the possibility of Downey Jr. It is hard to argue that his charm and skills as an actor as well, and Iron Man will forever be the foundation of the franchise. Returning now could possibly rekindle box office magic and provide a sense of emotional finality to the franchise’s fans.
But this return is a highwire act to navigate. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Box Set doesn’t spoil how Iron Man’s apparent sacrifice will be restored if the Avengers do remake reality, but Stark’s death deserves huge gravity, regardless of how it will be unwound, so any future appearances shouldn’t undercut that. The second task is to title the movie a Tony Stark and MCU story that opens up doors of the MCU in a rich and sensible way.
The one thing for sure: the potential return of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man is an exciting proposition. A chance to re-explore a character we love, to respect his incredibly epic vaudevillian arc, and to take new road trips across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It expands the horizons of the MCU and if Marvel Play it right and allow themselves to get a little imaginative, it could open the door to the one Series of the MCU everyone has been itching for. The future of Iron Man and the MCU in general — has never looked more promising, Marvel fans.
