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It’s a common tactic in Hollywood that has been used for ages – and one that may be the reason why actors like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are still in the business. When a long-standing action franchise is struggling to make as much money as it used to, the solution often seems to be bringing back the original star who helped make it successful.
This is the main reason why films like Terminator Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate were made, whether for better or worse. However, for those who were hoping that Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr, would revive the struggling superhero franchise, they will have to search elsewhere for their beloved comic book character. In an interview with Vanity Fair discussing Downey Jr’s successful career, Marvel’s top executive Kevin Feige has rejected the idea of bringing back this version of Tony Stark. Feige explains that it would undermine the powerful conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, where the character sacrifices himself for the greater good.
Feige expressed a desire to preserve and not alter the significance of that moment by saying, “We will hold onto that moment and not revisit it.” He acknowledged the dedication and effort put in by everyone over the years to reach that point, and emphasized the importance of not undoing it in any manner.
There has been speculation that Downey Jr could make a comeback in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through some kind of alternate reality switch. This is due to the introduction of multiverse elements in recent films. For example, the current on-screen version of Loki played by Tom Hiddleston is a variant of the one who was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Similarly, Gamora played by Zoe Saldana in Guardians of the Galaxy is actually an earlier version of the superhero who was also killed by Thanos in the same film. So it wouldn’t be a stretch to bring back the most famous face in the MCU, especially since it would allow the studio to have the best of both worlds.
Feige’s argument is a fair one. If moments of high movie drama need to be earned, it is never a good idea to undermine them by signalling that death is not the end. The advent of the multiverse makes anything theoretically possible, yet there is a superior set of rules that’s based on not pissing off your audience, rather than quantum mechanics.
It is somewhat ironic that bringing back Downey Jr’s Iron Man is seen as a solution to the current issues facing the MCU. This is because the franchise’s success has always been rooted in the idea that the characters, not the actors portraying them, are the true stars of comic book movies. Before taking on the role of Thor, very few people were familiar with Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Holland was relatively unknown before being cast as Spider-Man.
The Marvel method represented a refreshing departure from the traditional, marketing-driven method of casting. Despite the use of heavy makeup, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Mr Freeze in Batman & Robin was still primarily recognized as the Austrian actor rather than the character’s ice gun-wielding nemesis. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Judge Dredd in 1995, where he frequently removed his helmet, was highly criticized. However, Tom Holland’s masked portrayal of Spider-Man remains true to the character, as does the casting of actors for Hulk and Captain Marvel. Marvel received no backlash when they changed the actor portraying Captain America in a different version of the character.
However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is undeniably lacking Iron Man, and it appears to be somewhat unfair that after achieving remarkable success in over twenty movies, the character is now rendered unusable. Unlike DC, who can easily change their cast of superheroes with new performers and plotlines since there was not much attachment to their DCEU versions of Batman, Superman, and others, Marvel is unable to do so because fans have invested so much in Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Iron Man that anyone else taking on the role would feel like a betrayal.
The studio should consider finding a replacement for the character’s multiversal variant before their absence becomes permanent, like a retired sports team’s jersey. While Robert Downey Jr did a fantastic job portraying Tony Stark, we shouldn’t have to wait until the MCU fails to see the character return. Apparently, Tom Cruise enjoys flying at high altitudes.
Source: theguardian.com
