The Marvel Cinematic Universe subtly hinted at Robert Downey Jr.’s role as Doctor Doom as early as 2021, explaining why he wouldn’t reprise his role as Iron Man. Although Iron Man died heroically in Avengers: Endgame, the introduction of the multiverse opened up the possibility of alternate versions of the character appearing in future movies, and this casting makes sense in that context.
Many ideas have circulated about how Iron Man could return after Tony Stark’s death in Endgame. However, it now appears Robert Downey Jr. will instead play Doctor Doom, the main villain in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie. This shift seems to be happening because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has evolved significantly since Iron Man was last seen.
WandaVision Began An Iron Man Change That Would Make A Return Far More Complex
As a huge MCU fan, WandaVision felt like a real turning point. It wasn’t just one of the first shows to deal with the aftermath of Endgame – launching right in the middle of the pandemic made it even more noteworthy – but it also felt like Marvel was really figuring out how to evolve the superhero genre. It showed they were willing to get experimental and try something different, and honestly, I think it paved the way for a lot of what we’ve seen since.
The show’s exploration of Tony Stark’s history and Stark Industries’ past as a weapons manufacturer played a significant role. While Iron Man focused on Tony’s desire to use his inventions for good, WandaVision directly addresses the damage Stark Industries inflicted on people. Specifically, the series reveals that Wanda’s parents were killed by a Stark mortar shell, and she and her twin brother were left near unexploded shells for two days before being rescued.
Although there have been other instances after Endgame that showed a more nuanced side to Iron Man and Tony Stark’s journey, this moment is significant because it’s where bringing Robert Downey Jr. back as Iron Man – even as a variant – would have become much trickier. Any return would have needed to account for the new complexities added to Tony’s story and how he was remembered after his death.
The MCU’s Iron Man Story Explains Why Chris Evans Is Returning As Steve Rogers Instead
Steve Rogers’ return in a potential fifth Avengers movie is fairly simple. Since he survived Avengers: Endgame, the film could either feature the original Steve Rogers or a variant from another timeline, without negating the impact of his sacrifice.
It also makes sense why bringing back an Iron Man version would be difficult. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed Tony Stark’s story in ways that would likely cause disagreement among fans about how he should even return.
It seems this explains why Iron Man is largely absent from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, only appearing through his Ultron-like drones, even though a version of him exists in that universe. It also likely influenced the decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films – though we probably won’t know exactly how this will play out until Avengers: Doomsday is released.
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2026-01-14 16:30