It appears that Marvel enthusiasts may have not seen the last of Robert Downey Jr. portraying Tony Stark, despite the character’s apparent demise in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, and Downey’s supposed retirement from the iconic role. The actor did not reprise his role for the animated series “What If…?” and has been focusing on new endeavors beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nevertheless, recent reports have hinted at discussions within Marvel Studios about the potential development of a new Avengers movie featuring the original lineup, including Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow.
Speculation was fueled further by a report from the movie insider known as MyTimeToShineHello on X, claiming that “RDJ has already agreed to return,” potentially making him the first star to commit to the Avengers reunion film. However, it’s important to note that neither the actor nor Marvel Studios has officially confirmed this information. Additionally, the studio has not yet fully committed to the rumored Avengers project.
The idea of bringing Iron Man back to the big screen isn’t entirely far-fetched, given the recent challenges faced by the superhero movie genre in terms of box office performance. With the exception of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” many superhero films this year have seen declining returns, potentially prompting some executives to explore strategies to revitalize the MCU. Reintroducing RDJ’s Tony Stark could be a strategic move to boost box office numbers.
Many Fans Want Tony Stark to Return
Fans have been enthusiastic about the possibility of Tony Stark returning to the MCU, particularly in the context of the multiverse, which offers a convenient way to bring the character back into the fold. Fan art has even depicted Iron Man reuniting with characters like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in an imagined “Avengers: Secret Wars” scenario. This suggests that even if the rumored Avengers reunion film doesn’t materialize, there’s still potential for RDJ’s Tony Stark to make appearances in upcoming MCU productions.
While Robert Downey Jr. had appeared to move on from the role of Iron Man, he had not definitively closed the door on the possibility of a return. In a 2020 interview with Joe Rogan, the actor expressed his willingness to reprise the character if the creative vision and storyline were captivating enough.
Downey stated, “There would have to be a super compelling argument and a series of events that made it obvious. But the other thing is, I wanna do other stuff.”
Currently, Downey can be seen in the highly acclaimed film “Oppenheimer,” and he is set to appear in the upcoming black comedy series “The Sympathizer,” which is in development at HBO.
