Robert Downey Jr. Dodges Iron Man 4 Question in Interview

 

In a recent interview, Robert Downey Jr. was asked about the possibility of returning as Iron Man in a fourth movie. Instead of directly answering the question, he cleverly avoided it by referring to another famous actor, Tom Cruise. Downey had been discussing a potential sequel to the movie Tropic Thunder, in which he and Cruise had worked together.

In Avengers: Endgame, Downey's character, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), dies. While some people were unhappy with the way the directors handled the character's storyline, it was an emotional moment in the film. Although Tony Stark is already dead, that doesn't mean he can't come back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Marvel Studios has used fake deaths before, but it might not be the best approach moving forward. Instead, utilizing the concept of the multiverse could be a better way to bring him back.

While there are plenty of ways Marvel Studios could bring back Iron Man if they wanted to, it might be best if they didn't. Bringing him back could diminish the impact of his emotional departure in Avengers: Endgame. It's possible that Downey could make a cameo appearance in the future, especially with the introduction of the multiverse, but a full return to the MCU seems unlikely. This means that an Iron Man 4 movie with Downey as the lead is almost impossible.

The MCU is currently in Phase 5 of its Multiverse Saga, and Marvel Studios is focused on building the future of the franchise. Bringing back characters like Iron Man or other founding heroes who concluded their stories in the Infinity Saga would disrupt their plans. However, it's reassuring to know that there is a way for Tony Stark to make a return to the franchise at some point.