10 Things We Expect To Happen In The Marvel Cinematic Universe
5. Tony Stark Will No Longer Be A Main Player
Robert Downey Jr. has been playing Tony Stark since 2008, and his critically acclaimed portrayal of the character has been one of the MCUs greatest accomplishments. After Iron Man 3 was released, Downeys future as Stark was unclear, but fans breathed easy when he signed on for Avengers 2 & 3. By the time the third Avengers flick is released, Downey will have played the character for 10 years. Not as long as Hugh Jackmans tenure as Wolverine, but its still very impressive. Still, its understandable that Downey wants to focus on other acting projects and not be tied down by Tony Stark. Theres also his age to consider. He was 43 when Iron Man came out, and hell be 53 by the time Avengers 3 is released. As much as we may love him as sarcastic yet lovable Stark, he cant play the role forever. Thats why its likely Marvel will either retire the character or recast the role in a future movie. Thats not to say that no one else will ever be able to play Tony Stark, but Downey is so connected and loved with the role that to recast him within the same franchise would throw audiences off. Sure, Val Kilmer took over the Batman role from Michael Keaton in the 90s, but Batman Forever was such a different beast than Batman Returns that the change wasnt as jarring. When Downey leaves the role, its likely that Marvel will set Tony aside for a little bit. Its possible he could be killed, but Im hoping that he just decides to leave the superhero business and focus on his life with Pepper and trying to make the world a better place. However, with Iron Man 3 left open-ended and the reveal in All Hail The King that the true Mandarin is somewhere out there, its possible that Marvel will eventually return to the Iron Man franchise with a different actor. Either way, expect Tony to take more of a sideline role in post-Phase 3 movies. After all, Marvel, and especially The Avengers, has always been about shifting the status quo in the comics (regardless of how long it may last). Tony may be a fan favorite, but there are others who can take the spotlight.
Adam Holmes is a writer who loves a good story whether it's fact or fiction. When he's not day-dreaming about time travel, he's usually immersing himself in all things film, television and comic books. He hopes to one day break into the entertainment journalism industry. Yes, he is aware of his resemblance to Clark Kent and McLovin. Keep up on the latest geek news by following his articles at Unleash The Fanboy: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/author/adam-holmes
