In a recent interview RDJ says he’s happy to return to Marvel as Tony Stark, if Kevin Feige asks him to do it. RDJ, or Robert Downey Jr. to give him his Sunday name of course hasn’t been in the MCU since Tony Stark sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos in Endgame. However, there has been rumors that Marvels wants Secret Wars to feature RDJ and perhaps even Chris Evans. Likely alongside Hugh Jackman and Tobey Maguire as Wolverine and Spider-Man respectively.
I guess we will find out if the rumors are true in time? Asked by Esquire whether he’d come back to Marvel RDJ was instantly positive.
“Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA,” Downey said. “That role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.’ It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.”
However, we must also remember two things. One that Kevin Feige has said Tony had the perfect ending in Endgame and that he would not be brought back. Secondly, if RDJ was to return, his fee would be…considerable. That being said, having Tony on a poster will almost surely bring in more box office than RDJ’s fee and that’s why he can command that kind of fee.
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I would have issue with Tony, our 616 Tony coming back. That would in my mind demean his previous sacrifice in Endgame. However, I would have no issues at all with Tony being from another Universe. This could be the case for the likes of Cap, Spidey and Wolverine also. Maybe even throw in Tom Holland’s Spidey as the 616 representative for good measure. Depending on how Avengers 5 plays out that is, which is supposedly led by Holland. I’d also not want that version of Tony to suddenly be in the universe we are left with post-Secret Wars. If he comes back, it should be a one-off and then not happen again for a long time if ever.
RDJ has also fulfilled his goal of scoring an Oscar win in very short time since leaving Marvel with Oppenheimer. So, let’s face it, much as we all feel Tony had a great end, the MCU is not the same without him.
One good example of why he’s so unique is what co-star Gwyneth Paltrow had to say about RDJ in the same Esquire piece.
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“There would be this process of [director] Jon Favreau and Robert and I going into Jon’s trailer in the morning and Robert being like, ‘I’m not fucking saying these lines’ and throwing them out,” Paltrow remembered. “And then live improv-ing either in the trailer or on the set. I think in order for something to feel alive for Robert, it has to feel fresh, and he makes it fresh by making it feel like it was just invented. So many of those famous lines were written 10 minutes before we said them.”
That’s his real talent and it helped elevate the MCU to a different level in his presence.
So, RDJ says he’s happy to return to Marvel as Tony Stark, if Kevin Feige asks him to do it. Would he? How would it work without demeaning that moment in Endgame? Leave us your thoughts below as always.
