Marvel Studios executive Stephen Broussard shares some less-than-joyful news regarding possible future MCU appearances from Robert Downey Jr.
While Tony Stark/Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios executive Stephen Broussard recently shared disappointing news about MCU veteran Robert Downey Jr. possibly returning to the franchise.
While speaking to io9, Broussard said that he thought one of Phase 4’s meta-narratives centered on new characters and mantles taken up by the latest heroes. “If you look at, like, Cassie [Lang in Quantumania] getting a suit and Kate Bishop [in Hawkeye], new characters being introduced like Jack in Werewolf by Night,” he explained. “After these first 10 years of Marvel storytelling, torches are being passed, like with Robert Downey Jr. no longer being [on the] table and stuff like that. So it was kind of like a new generation stepping to the forefront which, again, has always happened in the comics.”
Broussard reiterated that he thought Phase 4 was about bringing in those new characters to the MCU and having a chance to tell those stories. “Now that those players are on the board and there’s a big bad coming [in the form of Kang the Conqueror], it’s about like, ‘What are they going to do with that? What are they going to do with this power?'” Broussard continued. “Because as you know, perhaps you’ve heard. With great power…[comes great responsibility.]”
Prior to this, a rumor claimed that a future Avengers movie would see a variant of the Armored Avenger played by Downey Jr. pop up as a still-living member of the Earth-838 Illuminati from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and have a grudge against the eponymous heroes. However, this has not been confirmed by Marvel.
Robert Downey Jr. Started the MCU With Iron Man
As for Downey himself, the actor has yet to express interest in reprising his role in either live-action or animated formats. Variants of Tony Stark appeared in the animated series What If…?, though Downey Jr. did not reprise his role. Instead, Mick Wingert voiced those versions of the character. While he may not return to the part of Iron Man anytime soon, the actor, whose swan song as the character came in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, has revealed he missed the most from the MCU in 2022.
“Being in the trenches with Kevin Feige throughout; the beginning, with Jon Favreau, it’s like a beautiful dream now; the middle, with Shane Black on Iron Man 3, [my wife Susan and I’d] just had [our son] Exton and shot it mostly in Wilmington NC,” commented Downey. “It was idyllic and subversive. And The End, when I realized I’d made so many close friends in the MCU cast, and the Russo Brothers helping me embrace Tony’s arc.”
