If thereâs one thing comic book fans can agree on, itâs that just because a character is dead doesnât mean they canât return for more adventures. There could be a prequel, a miraculous resurrection, a version from another universe… thereâs no limit, really. So when Robert Downey Jr. starts talking about maybe playing Tony Stark again, itâs worth paying attention.
Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we now know it in early May 2008; Downeyâs portrayal of the character instantly made him a fan favorite, something that carried through 10 Iron Man, Avengers, and Avengers-adjacent movies. That all ended in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, when Iron Man sacrificed himself to save everyone from Thanos. There was a funeral and everything! But five years onâand 16 years after first playing the characterâDowney, who just picked up an Oscar for Oppenheimer, says heâs not ruling out a return.
Speaking to Esquire (via Deadline), the actor was asked if heâd ever put Starkâs high-tech armor on again to bring the character back. âHappily. Itâs too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me,â he said, before shouting out the head of Marvel Studios. âAnd look, I always say, Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. It is a losing bet. Heâs the house. He will always win.â
With Marvel currently in a state of figuring out its own future after some recent bumps in the blockbuster road, maybe figuring out a way to bring back one of its most beloved heroesâsomething thatâs been part of rumors in the pastâwould make sense. What do you think: would you want to see Downey return to the MCU?
Update: the post was updated to add the link to Esquire.
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