Now that Avengers: Endgame has laid to rest both movie-goers' expectations and Tony Stark, fans of the MCU are left wondering: is this really the last time Robert Downey Jr. will suit up as Iron Man? Devotees of the character and the actor who portray him want him back on screen as soon as possible, but perhaps it's best to let sleeping heroes lie? After eleven years of being the glue of the MCU, maybe another character should fill Tony Stark's (jet-fueled) shoes? Here are 5 Reasons the MCU should Bring Back Tony Stark, and 5 Reasons They Shouldn't.

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10 Fans Love Iron Man, and Robert Downey Jr.

The MCU’s success was dependent upon Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Iron Man: if audiences didn’t buy it, the MCU would have stopped dead in its tracks. Suffice it to say, he completely nailed the role: his Tony Stark was equal parts cocky billionaire and anti-war altruist, and his end-of-film confession reaffirmed what audiences had already realized: “I am Iron Man.” As the character has appeared in multiple MCU films, it is easy to say that fans truly love Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, and would still flock to see him in the role.

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9 It’s Comics, Nobody Stays Dead

If there’s one hard and fast rule in comic books, it’s that nobody stays dead. One of the more high-profile resurrections of recent years has been Wolverine, who returned from a 4-year absence with the ability to heat up his claws. Avid comic readers may be used to the revolving door policy regarding death in comic books, but filmgoers might not be. Although there have been some notable cinematic resurrections in comic book films in recent years, returning Tony Stark to life in a future Phase of the MCU would do well to drive home to moviegoers what comic books readers have known all along: death is temporary!

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8 Avengers vs X-Men Needs Tony Stark

Since the acquisition of Fox’s film and television properties by Disney, fans have envisioned only one thing: the X-Men vs the Avengers. However, due to the popularity of Fox’s X-Men films, fans can’t envision the mutants apart from the actors who have portrayed them, most notably, a Wolverine that isn’t Hugh Jackman. Although Jackman has said he’s finished with the role unless it’d be in the MCU, it seems unlikely that Disney would want to pay top dollar to bring Jackman or other X-Men actors into the fold. The same concept applies to Iron Man: no Avengers vs X-Men film would be complete without the character, and fans can't envision Robert Downey Jr. absent from the role.

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7 Tony Stark, A.I.

One of the highlights of the Iron Man films has been Tony Stark’s witty banter with his sentient A.I. system, J.A.R.V.I.S. In the comics, Tony’s A.I. is, at one point, himself, as following his "death," a copy of his personality is downloaded onto his central computer system,  generating a holographic image that performs J.A.R.V.I.S.' functions for Tony’s successor, Riri Williams/Ironheart. Assuming Marvel Studios will seek to replace Iron Man, having Stark return in this way would allow the character to live on in a mentor capacity. Further, having Robert Downey Jr. reprise the role as a voice-over or occasional hologram may be more convenient to the Hollywood star, as well as Disney’s checkbook.

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6 With A Multiverse, Any Tony Stark Can Do...

The last few MCU entries introduced to film audiences what comic book readers have long been familiar with: the concept of a multiverse. With the recent announcement of one of the MCU’s Phase 4 entries being Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, it is obvious that Marvel Studios is looking to explore this concept on the big screen. As such, it is more than conceivable that someone like the good doctor may be able to pluck a Tony Stark from another universe or parallel timeline and bring him to the current MCU. This would either allow Robert Downey Jr. to reprise his role or have it be recast. Either way, Iron Man could once again be flying the skies of the MCU.

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5 The Character's Arc is Complete

When film audiences were first introduced to Tony Stark, he was an arrogant arms manufacturer who gave little regard to the effects his weapons had. Fast forward eleven years, and Stark was willing to sacrifice everything, including his relationship with his daughter, to save half the universe. Watching Tony's transformation from egomaniac to altruist was one of the MCU's most rewarding and in-depth character arcs, and every step he took in that path: teammate, frenemy, PTSD survivor,  superhero mentor, and finally, devoted husband and father, contributed to his ultimate role as a savior. With his story now concluded, Marvel Studios has exhausted the character's creative development, leaving nowhere else to go.

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4 Resurrecting Him Would Cheapen His Sacrifice

Iron Man Snapping His fingers

At the beginning of Avengers: Endgame, some were still mourning as others moved on, but after 5 years, all still bore the emotional fallout of the cataclysmic snap. Even though the death of Peter Parker still haunted him, Stark was one of the individuals who had done his best to move on, having gained some peace through the love of his daughter. When he finally agrees to participate in the "time heist," it makes his sacrifice at the climax of Endgame more poignant, as after years of wrestling with his hubris, he is finally willing to risk everything - including his happiness - to do the right thing. In this way, Tony has become fully selfless, and to bring him back after such a monumental sacrifice would cheapen it. To honor him, it makes more sense to leave him at rest.

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3 It's Time for Another Hero to Step Up to the Plate

 

The absence of Tony Stark in the MCU leaves some big shoes to fill, especially when you factor in Tony’s financial and technological influence on his world. Tony didn’t get a chance to pass the torch on to a worthy substitute before his death (unlike Captain America) however, one does exist: James Rhodes, who has been rocking the War Machine armor since Iron Man 2. A career military officer who possesses a sound tactical mind, Rhodey is also a consummate team player- something Tony has often had trouble with. With the proper support, Rhodey could fill in the 'stark' void left in the MCU.

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2 Robert Downey Jr. May Have Priced Himself Out

Robert Downey Jr.’s reported salary for the first Iron Man came in at 500 000$; a definite bargain for a film that would earn close to 600 million dollars worldwide and launch one of the most profitable film franchises ever. As the popularity of both Downey Jr. and the MCU began to grow, so did Downey Jr.’s salary: his salary for Avengers: Endgame had increased to a whopping 75 million dollars! With the character now deceased, Marvel Studios may be reluctant to resurrect a character who is so expensive to portray. So unless Downey Jr. accepts less money to play the role, or Marvel Studios believes it in their best interests to pay up, consider Tony Stark dead and buried.

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1 It's Time for a New Successor

1. CON - Riri Williams in Iron Man Suit

In the last decade or so, the major heroes of the Marvel Universe have been replaced by successors of diverse ethnicity and genders. With the announcement of Thor: Love and Thunder as part of Marvel Studios’ Phase 4, and Natalie Portman’s return to the franchise in the titular role, it is clear that Marvel Studios is looking to the comics as inspiration. If this is the case, perhaps the onscreen debut of Riri Williams, the African-American teenage successor to Tony Stark in the comics, is imminent. If so, it would provide Marvel Studios the opportunity for creative and diverse casting, a reinvigoration of the franchise, and avoiding Robert Downey Jr.'s high price tag.

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