Kevin Feige Is Right, Robert Downey Jr"s MCU Return Would Ruin Endgame

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Summary

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige confirms that Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man will not be returning to the MCU, protecting the character's perfect ending in Avengers: Endgame.
Bringing back Tony Stark would undermine the powerful and poignant sacrifice he made in Endgame, and taint the legacy created by that moment.
While Downey Jr. won't be returning, there is still a possibility for Iron Man to make future appearances through the exploration of the multiverse and the introduction of new actors in a potential MCU reboot.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has finally cleared up whether Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man will be returning to the MCU, and thankfully, his comments mean that Tony Stark's perfect ending in Avengers: Endgame will always be protected. Robert Downey Jr. first appeared as Tony Stark in 2008's Iron Man, the MCU's first theatrical release, and went on to become the cornerstone of the franchise both on and off camera. Over eleven years, Downey Jr. appeared in ten Marvel Studios projects, including a solo Iron Man trilogy, all four Avengers films, and a variety of other heroes' solo projects, culminating in his 2019 departure from the MCU in Avengers: Endgame.
At the end of the Battle of Earth in Avengers: Endgame, the Avengers' last stand against the Mad Titan Thanos, Tony Stark acquired the six Infinity Stones and used them to defeat the Infinity Saga villain. Tragically, this came at the cost of his own life, marking the end of Robert Downey Jr.'s tenure in the MCU. Since then, speculation has been rising that the original Avengers team will be brought back for another MCU adventure, and these rumors were reinforced in a recent report by Variety. However, it seems this indeed won't be happening, as Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has now commented on Downey Jr.'s speculated MCU return.

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Why Iron Man Won't Be Resurrected In The MCU

Speaking to Vanity Fair as part of a cover story on Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Feige and Avengers: Endgame directors the Russo brothers confirmed that Tony Stark would not be resurrected in the MCU's future. While Joe Russo notes that they "promised [Downey Jr.] it would be the last time," Feige mentions that bringing back Tony Stark would perhaps taint the legacy created by his powerful and poignant Endgame sacrifice. Noting that they will "keep that moment," and not "magically undo it," Feige confirms that Downey Jr. will not be returning in the MCU's future, putting speculation to rest, and ensuring that his dramatic exit will go down in history.

We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.

Iron Man's Return From Death Would Undermine Endgame's Ending Close Both Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios have a tendency to revive deceased characters, rewriting their storylines to enable them to embark on new adventures in their respective universes. This means that Avengers: Endgame's dead Avengers have been a hot topic of discussion since they departed the MCU, as many have been expecting a return from Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in the MCU's future. However, Feige's new comments prove that this likely won't be happening, as at least Downey Jr. will certainly not be returning, and this is surely the best choice for protecting his legacy as the hero who sacrificed himself to save the universe.
Bringing back Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark would make his Avengers: Endgame death meaningless, and undermine the power of that moment. Iron Man died to protect his family, and the impact of this decision is dependent on his continued absence. Although there seems to be a power vacuum in the current MCU, as no one hero has stepped up to take Stark's place, this void is the perfect way to extend the impact of his death, as the MCU's characters are fumbling just as much as the viewer. While Robert Downey Jr. won't be returning to the MCU, it is still possible for Iron Man to make future appearances.
How Iron Man Can Still Return Without Being Resurrected

Now that Marvel Studios is deep within its exploration of the multiverse, it's possible that a variant of Tony Stark's Iron Man could pop up during the Multiverse Saga. Prior to its 2022 release, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was heavily theorized to be featuring a variant of Stark, who would have been portrayed by Tom Cruise and be featured as a member of Earth-838's Illuminati team. However, this didn't come to fruition, but with reality-crossing projects such as Deadpool 3 and Avengers: Secret Wars still yet to release, it's possible that another reality's Tony Stark could be seen instead of Robert Downey Jr.'s main MCU iteration.
In recent months, it's also been speculated that 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars could lead to a soft-reboot of the MCU, establishing a new timeline for Phase 7 and beyond. This would mean that formerly-deceased heroes could return, though they would be played by new actors, and perhaps have slightly altered backstories. This means that a new actor could assume the role of Tony Stark following the conclusion of the MCU's Multiverse Saga, allowing new Iron Man stories from Marvel Comics to be adapted, and seeing him head in a different direction to Downey Jr.'s beloved performance. Marvel Studios hasn't yet provided official confirmation of an MCU reboot.
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