Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has officially closed the door on Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In a Vanity Fair interview, Feige spoke about Tony Stark’s impactful final moments in Avengers: Endgame.
“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” Feige said, “We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
Feige’s remarks come amidst rumours of the original Avengers returning in future MCU phases. However, he firmly dismissed any notion of undoing Iron Man’s sacrificial ending. This decision remains firm despite Marvel’s recent struggles at the box office and the introduction of the multiverse concept, which has sparked speculation about possible character revivals.
Beyond Feige’s stance, Downey Jr. himself shows no interest in reprising the iconic role. His journey with Marvel was transformative, beginning with his unexpected casting as Tony Stark in 2008. Initially, the studio was hesitant due to Downey’s past legal issues, and other actors, including Tom Cruise, were considered. However, Feige and director Jon Favreau pushed for Downey, leading to a crucial screen test that secured his casting.
“It purely came down to the Marvel board being nervous at putting all of their chips in their future films on somebody who famously had those legal troubles in the past,” Feige revealed, “I wasn’t very good — and I’m still not great — at taking no for an answer. But I also don’t pound my chest to try to get my way. I try to figure out ways to make it as clear to other people why we should head in a direction. And that’s when the idea of a screen test came up.”
Downey’s portrayal of Iron Man not only revitalised his career but also had a significant impact on the superhero genre. He became a central figure in the MCU, even advocating for better pay for his co-stars during negotiations for The Avengers.
While Downey’s Iron Man shaped the MCU, Feige’s recent comments solidify that the character’s era has come to an end. This marks a new chapter for Marvel, moving forward without one of its most beloved heroes as it navigates the complexities of an ever-expanding cinematic universe.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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