2019's Avengers Endgame delivered a satisfying conclusion to the MCU's long-running Infinity Saga, while also breaking multiple box-office records along the way. On the flip side, the MCU blockbuster also bid goodbye to some of the franchise's stars, essentially completing their heroic journey.
One of those stars is Robert Downey Jr., who famously portrayed Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man for 11 long years. Downey previously reflected on the success of Endgame , describing it as a proud moment for him and his MCU co-stars. Not only that, after Endgame , some fans are already asking about Stark's potential comeback in the future, but one-half of the film's directors admitted that the character's return "had to be earned."
Now, a Marvel Studios executive recently chimed in the Stark-related conversation.
NEWS
While speaking with Clarin , Marvel Studios executive vice president Victoria Alonso was asked about the potential resurrection of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark down the line, but she revealed that they "don't have any plans" for the character to return.
Tony Stark is dead. And that's our story. Resurrection, I do not know , I do not know how we would do it. It seems to me that the story of Tony Stark is told by us. Hence, he has left his inheritance, who he is for example in Spiderman , because Peter Parker has been a false son, so you see a lot of what Tony Stark would have been in Peter Parker. And it seems to me that you see that constantly in how one person influences the other. But no, at the moment we don't have any plans.
WHAT THIS MEANS
It isn't surprising that fans are already campaigning for Downey's return as the famous playboy billionaire, especially after the actor's charismatic performance every time he is seen on the silver screen. On top of that, given that the MCU is within the confines of a superhero/comic-book world, a return is not out of the realm of possibility, but the recent comments of Marvel Studios executive vice president Victoria Alonso should at least calm the nerves of those fans seeking the potential return of the actor.
While Stark's return is currently not being planned by Marvel Studios, Alonso's remarks about the character's impact on another MCU hero in the form of Peter Parker allude to the lasting impact of Iron Man in the monumental franchise. This is part of the fun of the interconnected nature of the MCU, with past characters still laying the groundwork for future storylines.
It will be interesting to witness how Marvel Studios will handle Stark's legacy moving forward, and it's a safe bet that it will transcend beyond Peter Parker. For now, the MCU is moving on with a massive Phase 4 slate, and there's a whole bunch of new characters that are set to make their own mark in the franchise.
