Russo Brothers Say Iron Man Isn't Returning to the MCU

Iron Man is one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, it's hard to imagine the MCU without Robert Downey Jr.'s charismatic portrayal of Iron Man. However, Downey Jr.'s sentiments about returning left the Russo brothers, the masterminds behind the MCU, confused.

In a recent interview with Esquire, Downey Jr. dropped a bombshell—he’d be more than happy to don the Iron Man suit again. He even stated that being Iron Man was integral to his DNA, and he wouldn't be surprised if they would bring him back.

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The Russo Brothers Say Iron Man’s Story Has Ended

Credit: Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore, License: creative commons

The Russo brothers, directors of Avengers: Endgame, were surprised by Downey Jr.'s comments about putting on the Iron Man suit again. After all, they were the ones who wrote Iron Man's emotional exit from the MCU.

During the Sands: International Film Festival in St Andrews, Scotland, the Russo brothers shared their confusion with GamesRadar+.

Given that Tony Stark sacrificed himself to save the universe, his comeback seems like a stretch, even in a superhero universe where anything and everything is possible. Loki has returned many times from the grave; why not Tony Stark?

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Anthony Russo explained why Tony Stark can’t just pull a Loki-style return: “I don’t know how they would do it. I don’t know what the road to that would be.”

Meanwhile, his brother Joe added, “I mean, we closed that book so it would be up to them to figure out how to reopen it.”

Kevin Feige Agrees—Iron Man Is Not Returning

Credit: Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore, License: creative commons

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige mentioned the finality of Iron Man’s fate in an interview with Vanity Affair last December. With so many fans speculating about the return of Tony Stark, Feige firmly shut down any hopes of undoing the hero's noble sacrifice.

“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” he stated, reinforcing that Iron Man's death was a carefully crafted moment that would not be tampered with.

For Fiege and the Russo brothers, bringing Iron Man back could risk undermining the emotional weight of Avengers: Endgame.

Why Bringing Iron Man Back Is Tricky

Credit: Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore, License: creative commons

Despite the buzz surrounding Downey Jr.'s potential return, finding a place for him in the MCU would bring about a lot of confusion in the current phase of the MCU.

Iron Man's death was pivotal in the MCU, marking the culmination of over a decade of storytelling.

Bringing him back could cheapen the impact of his sacrifice and feel like a cop-out to fans who mourned his loss. His character's death has been the root of Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) motivations and character development in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

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A prequel sounds like a good idea, but if Marvel chooses that route with Downey Jr. reprising his role, the technical challenge of de-ageing could result in an uncanny valley effect.

Could Iron Man Be Part of the Multiverse?

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While Feige and the Russo brothers seem adamant about keeping Iron Man's story closed, the MCU has always thrived on surprises and plot twists. Look at Loki’s many returns. Could a multiverse storyline or a flashback offer a chance for Downey Jr. to return without disrupting the timeline (again)?

Nothing is confirmed yet, so time will tell if the multiverse can give Downey Jr. a chance to reprise his iconic role.

For now, it seems that Iron Man’s story has ended in Avengers: Endgame. But with the MCU, never say never.