The potential for Iron Man‘s revival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe still exists, with Robert Downey Jr. not completely ruling out a comeback.
In a conversation with Jodie Foster as part of Variety‘s Actors on Actors series, Downey revealed that his perspective on reprising the iconic role of Tony Stark/Iron Man has softened since his last appearance in Avengers: Endongame.
“I’ve always connected deeply with this role. Out of all the characters I’ve portrayed, he’s arguably the most similar to me, albeit significantly cooler. To my surprise, I’ve become much more open to the notion of a return,” the actor confided. “The work on Nyad, [Night Country], my efforts on Oppenheimer, then Sympathizer, has really been interesting, as we’re all aging quite well. I was checking the stills from our shoots, making sure: ‘Do we still look the part?’ I think we do.”
Iron Man’s Role in the MCU Remains Concluded
Should Downey step back into Tony Stark’s shoes within the MCU, it’s likely it wouldn’t be as the Iron Man character audiences have grown to idolize, primarily because Stark sacrificed himself in the 2019 finale Avengers: Endgame by utilizing the powers of the Infinity Stones, culminating in his character’s death and subsequent memorial service.
In December of 2023, Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios, stated that there are currently no intentions to revive the beloved character, expressing, “We worked tirelessly for a significant amount of time to reach that conclusion, and we certainly wouldn’t want to diminish that in any regard.”
Nonetheless, Downey could potentially play an alternate universe’s version of Tony Stark in future MCU endeavors. Even though Iron Man has not graced the screen in a live-action capacity since Endgame, alternate versions of the character have sporadically appeared in the animated series What If…?, with Mick Wingert lending his voice to the character.
With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home demonstrating that variants can significantly differ from the original versions, Robert Downey Jr. could explore a new interpretation of Iron Man, distinct from his previous performances in the MCU.
Marvel enthusiasts have the opportunity to view Robert Downey Jr.’s journey as Iron Man in the MCU, encompassing 10 film appearances from Iron Man through to Avengers: Endgame, all available on Disney+.
FAQs on Robert Downey Jr.’s Potential Return to the MCU
- 1. What character is Robert Downey Jr. known for in the MCU?
- Robert Downey Jr. is best known for his portrayal of Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, in the MCU.
- 2. Has Robert Downey Jr. expressed interest in returning to the MCU?
- Yes, Downey has recently hinted at being open-minded about making a return as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU.
- 3. What was the fate of Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame?
- Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr., sacrificed his life to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, marking the character’s exit from the MCU storyline.
- 4. What are the chances of Iron Man returning to the MCU?
- Although Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige has mentioned no plans for Iron Man’s return, the concept of multiverse variants could provide a pathway for alternate versions of the character to appear.
- 5. Where can fans watch Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man films?
- All of Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU films as Iron Man, from his first solo film to Avengers: Endgame, are available to stream on Disney+.