Robert Downey Jr. showed his interest in playing his iconic role as Iron Man again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) when asked in an interview with Esquire.
While fans were excited about the possibility, the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, have cast doubt on the likelihood of Tony Stark’s return.
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A Closed Chapter for Iron Man
In an interview with GamesRadar at the Sands: International Film Festival, the Russo brothers discussed Downey’s comments and the potential for Iron Man’s return.
Anthony Russo shared, “I don’t know how they would do it. I don’t know what the road to that would be.”
Joe Russo added, “I mean, we closed that book, so it would be up to them to figure out how to reopen it.”
These statements reflect a broader sentiment within Marvel Studios. Kevin Feige, head of Marvel, has previously emphasized that they wouldn’t “magically undo” Tony Stark’s death in “Avengers: Endgame.”
Feige told Vanity Fair, “We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
Fan Reactions and Theories
Fans have shared a variety of opinions on the potential return of Tony Stark
One common sentiment is the belief that Hollywood loves a great return almost as much as a great death.
Many fans agree that bringing back Tony Stark could be seen as a natural progression in Marvel superhero storytelling.
Some fans have suggested detailed theories on how Tony could return.
The MCU has laid some groundwork that could potentially explain a resurrection.
Biohacking and Nanotechnology
Tony Stark’s advancements in biohacking and nanotechnology are well-documented in the MCU.
His nanotech suit in “Avengers: Infinity War” demonstrated his ability to integrate advanced technology with his biology seamlessly.
This could be a starting point for a resurrection narrative, where his body could reboot itself using these nanobots, repairing damage and potentially bringing him back to life.
BARF and Memory Preservation
In “Captain America: Civil War,” Tony introduced BARF (Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing), a technology capable of projecting and potentially storing memories.
This raises the possibility that Tony’s consciousness could be preserved digitally.
Combining this with his nanotechnology could theoretically allow for his resurrection, albeit with the question of whether he would be the same person or merely a copy.
The Emotional and Narrative Impact
While the technology exists within the MCU to bring Tony Stark back, many fans and creators alike are wary of undoing his death.
Tony’s sacrifice in “Avengers: Endgame” was a pivotal moment that provided a fitting conclusion to his character arc.
Resurrecting him could undermine the emotional weight of that sacrifice.
As one fan put it, “I don’t think it’s a ‘we couldn’t do it’, I think it’s a ‘we shouldn’t do it.’ The juice isn’t worth the squeeze from a narrative standpoint. You told an amazing complete story from bell to bell and ended it in an extremely satisfying way. If you undo that, you’re just damaging the whole product.”