Who Could Replace Iron Man After Avengers: Endgame?
One way or another, Avengers: Endgame is expected to mark the end of Robert Downey Jr's long tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and if he goes, Iron Man is almost certain to go with him.
More accurately, Tony Stark will go, but that doesn't mean that Iron Man will vanish from the MCU forever.
Iron Man's armor doesn't need to be shoved into a cupboard to rust. Just like Captain America, Disney could easily find a way to replace him.
The comics have placed someone inside the armor on various different occasions when Iron Man has been incapacitated, MIA or temporarily dead (temporary death is a common state in the world of superheroes).
An obvious choice for the MCU's Iron Man would be James Rhodes – AKA War Machine – who already has a lot of experience piloting his own version of Iron Man's armor. Likewise, Pepper Potts is rumored to be acquiring her own version of the armor, which she has worn in the comics under the superhero name 'Rescue.'
To be honest, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle don’t feel likely to increase their participation in the MCU. Paltrow had seemed rather disenchanted with acting in general and Marvel in particular – although she later appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, and at 54 years of age, Cheadle isn't immediately suggestive of a shot in the arm for Marvel.
Looking outside the MCU, there are other characters who recently took on the role of Iron Man. Doctor Doom had his tenure as the 'Infamous Iron Man' before returning to his villainous ways. The Disney/Fox merger is on its way, meaning that the film rights for Doom will be back at Marvel Studios, although it seems unlikely that the famed villain would be fast-tracked into an heroic role.
Another replacement was Riri Williams, a genius, teenage, African-American engineering student who reversed engineered her own suit, was mentored by Tony and eventually took on the title 'Ironheart.' She would certainly offer an opportunity for the MCU to continue its slow progress towards better diversity and representation – and we'll take this opportunity to shout out Amandla Stenberg as the perfect casting choice.
Even if Marvel doesn't choose to create a new Iron Man outright, there will still be a 'genius tech head' role vacant in the Avengers lineup – and plenty of candidates to step into the rocket-propelled shoes.
Bruce Banner already fills a similar role in the Avengers (when he isn't transforming into the considerably less intelligent Hulk, at least), and even got a turn in Tony's Hulkbuster suit in Infinity War.
Likewise, we have Spider-Man. Peter Parker is traditionally one of Marvel's greatest inventors, even if the MCU hasn't really explored this aspect of Tom Holland's youthful version of the character so far. Oh, and he also received his own 'Iron Spider' suit in Infinity War, too.
Although if Marvel really wants a step up from the frequently flawed Tony (who did accidentally create the apocalyptically minded Ultron that time, lest we forget), there is one person widely acknowledged to be his intellectual equal and probably his superior.
That's Black Panther's kid sister Shuri, who has already in her short tenure in the MCU established herself as T'Challa's version of Q by kitting him out with amazing battle gear AND undo the Winter Soldier's homicidal brainwashing. As far as we can tell she created most of the technology in Wakanda's super-advanced capital, too.
She makes Tony's armaments and death-robots look pretty paltry by comparison, and it helps that everyone adores up-and-coming actress Letitia Wright.
If all that isn't enough for Marvel Studios, there is one final get-out they could use to retain Tony Stark after Downey's departure. But we really don't recommend it.
There was an infamous story in the Avengers comics called 'The Crossing,' which basically revealed that Iron Man had been secretly evil for ages. The Avengers recruit a 19-year-old Tony from the past to help them, and the story ended with the older Tony making coming to his senses and making a Heroic Sacrifice™.
We can't see them making Downey's Iron Man evil, but they could introduce a younger version of the character if they really wanted. But unless Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige is also revealed to the mad puppet of supervillains, it seems highly unlikely.
Avengers: Endgame will be released on April 26.
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