For the first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man was the biggest name in Marvel Studios. If you wanted to kickstart a franchise, just use Iron Man. In fact, the first real crossover in the MCU saw Robert Downey, Jr. show up in “Incredible Hulk,” way back in 2008. But since the character’s death in “Avengers: Endgame,” apparently Marvel Studios isn’t interested in using Tony Stark any longer. Even if it can be possible in the multiverse.
According to a recent interview on The Q&A Podcast, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers talked about the urge to bring back Robert Downey, Jr.’s Tony Stark using the multiversal shenanigans of that film. However, the duo explained that even if they wanted to do that, Marvel Studios wouldn’t let it happen.
McKenna and Sommers talked about how there was the possibility of using Tony Stark in a way that would allow for an Uncle Ben moment in the film. However, that was given (rightly) to Aunt May, played by Marisa Tomei. But even if the writers were seriously considering the use of Tony Stark, they said that Marvel Studios is looking at the future of the MCU and isn’t interested in using Iron Man as a crutch.
“I think honestly that’s a non-starter in the halls of Marvel, at least in our experience,” said McKenna. “They just don’t really like constantly evoking [Iron Man]. I mean, obviously, Tony cast such a large shadow even after ‘Endgame’ — which we dealt with in ‘Far From Home’ — but I think everyone felt like we can’t just keep on going to the Tony well.”
While Downey, Jr. made it abundantly clear that he was done with the MCU after ‘Endgame,’ there’s always the thought in many superhero film fans’ minds that maybe, just maybe Marvel Studios will pull a Tony Stark rabbit out of their hat. And with the introduction of the multiverse, they can sidestep the whole “he died back in ‘Endgame’” thing if they truly wanted to. But it would appear that’s not actually going to happen.
That said, there are lots of spoiler-y rumors about shenanigans in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which might include Tony Stark, but not how you think of him. But that all remains to be seen. At this point, it is clear Marvel Studios just wants to focus on the future and not the Robert Downey, Jr-led past.