Avengers: Infinity War brought the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe together against Thanos, meaning that first-time interactions between heroes became a must-see during this cinematic event.
One of the highly anticipated meetings in the film was between Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. From the get-go, the pair's back-and-forth and relentless use of quips and sarcasm toward one another became one of the memorable highlights of Infinity War, leaving fans wanting more of the duo's solid chemistry.
The original version of the film had a good amount of scenes between Stark and Strange, and it successfully cemented the bond between the two MCU heroes. Despite that, it was revealed during the aftermath of Infinity War that there was a game-changing moment between them that didn't make the final cut.
This aforementioned moment saw Doctor Strange and Tony Stark swapping power sets. Strange donned Iron Man's armor while Stark used the sorcerer's Cloak of Levitation in the cosmic duel against Ebony Maw.
Now, to celebrate this alternate concept, a new figure based on this deleted tidbit was revealed.
DOCTOR STRANGE AS IRON MAN
Hot Toys officially unveiled a brand-new Marvel figure, showcasing an alternate version of Doctor Strange wearing Tony Stark's Iron Man armor.
Based on the official listing, the figure is inspired by concept art from Avengers: Infinity War as seen from the Art of Avengers: Endgame book.
The figure is dubbed as Iron Strange, and it features the Eye of Agamotto as the main source of power of the suit instead of an Arc Reactor.
The description from Hot Toys says that the armor forms itself around the Eye of Agamotto, effectively burning a glyph into the chest and turning it into a magically powered suit.
The figure can be used to recreate iconic moments from Infinity War, giving Strange a whole new set of superhero poses based on Iron Man's design.
The collectible figure is expertly crafted based on the likeness of Benedict Cumberbatch. It features specially applied metallic red, gold, and silver-colored painting with patterns of the Eye of Agamotto alongside LED light-up functions throughout the suit.
This collectible figure would not be complete without the hero's iconic weapons and accessories, including LED light-up Energy Displacer Sentries, Hand Cannons, a selection of mystic art effects, a themed backdrop, and a dynamic figure stand.
A POTENTIAL WHAT IF...? EPISODE CONCEPT
Many would agree that this moment was a missed opportunity for the MCU, but this newly-revealed Hot Toys collectible figure should give fans a chance to recreate this scene the way they envisioned.
Hot Toys is known for its movie-accurate designs, and this latest figure is no different. From the solid resemblance to Benedict Cumberbatch all the way to the minute details of the Iron Man suit, this 1/6th scale collectible is a must-have for any MCU fan.
At this stage, it is unknown if this concept will be revisited in a future MCU project, especially considering the fact that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is now dead in the main timeline. Still, the presence of animated shows like What If..? presents a golden opportunity to revisit this moment in a standalone episode.
It remains to be seen if Marvel Studios will give the green light to showcase this concept, but many would agree that it's a worthwhile idea down the road. With the multiverse being pushed to the forefront in Phase 4, there's a strong chance that there is an alternate universe where Iron Strange is alive while protecting realities and Earth-based threats.
For now, this Hot Toys figure of Iron Strange should serve as a fitting reminder of a huge what-if moment that would've brought the house down when Infinity War premiered back in 2018.
Avengers: Infinity War is now streaming on Disney+.
