The Multiverse Saga of the MCU has widened the possibilities of a return for many Infinity Saga legacy heroes, though Marvel Studios needs to follow one rule should Iron Man be brought back into the fold. The concept of variants and the multiverse has made many previous impossibilities a potential reality. Beginning with Loki, the idea that the same actor could play different variants of the same character has become a very real concept in the MCU.
This was only continued with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which saw the many variants played by the same actors as other movies. However, Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as elements of Loki, also introduced the idea of variants played by different actors. With many longtime MCU fans clamoring for the return of the likes of Captain America or Iron Man in Avengers: Secret Wars, one condition must be met in order to bring the latter back into the MCU fold.
Robert Downey Jr. Cannot Play Iron Man Again
That condition is that Robert Downey Jr. should not return as Tony Stark. Should Robert Downey Jr. return as Iron Man in the MCU as a variant, comparisons would undoubtedly be made to the Tony Stark that audiences came to know and love over 11 years of movies. RDJ’s Iron Man has much too big of a legacy, and therefore story baggage, to warrant a return. While it would be cool to see, RDJ’s performance as Iron Man is one of the best in superhero cinema, and this legacy shouldn’t be tampered with. While the same actor approach worked for the likes of Loki with many variants played by Tom Hiddleston, his character has enough inherent chaos and mischief to differentiate each variant.
The main MCU Tony Stark, however, was such a pivotal role in the MCU that it would be difficult for audiences to differentiate variants should another be played by RDJ. This is not to say that Tony Stark should not return at all to the MCU, though. There is certainly room in the expanding Multiverse Saga for a cameo, though it would have to be played by a different actor.
A Different Actor Should Play An Iron Man Variant
In hiring a different actor to play Iron Man in an upcoming movie, Marvel Studios would instantly make it much easier for audiences to allow that variant to stand on its own. Another actor would not subliminally bring up the amazing story of RDJ’s Tony Stark/Iron Man and would be able to forge his own story no matter how big the role. From the likes of Timothy Olyphant and Tom Cruise, both of whom were considered for Tony Stark, there are plenty of actors that could make an Iron Man return to the MCU possible without tarnishing or subconsciously reminding audiences of Robert Downey Jr.’s legacy.
