With Marvel Studios hitting a slump, the brand is looking to revive two iconic MCU characters for the upcoming Avengers movies… and we’re not sure how we feel about that.
The MCU is broken. We can all admit this. Look, I have loved every minute of the MCU since the moment it launched back in 2008 and have been seated for each show and movie that has debuted in the years since. However, we can all admit that Marvel has lost its direction a bit lately and the overall narrative isn’t as tight as before.
Now, I’m certainly not in agreement that there is too much Marvel but I do agree the MCU hasn’t quite been the same since the Infinity Saga concluded. Change is needed and it seems Marvel is looking to make some bold creative decisions by looking to draw fans back in with help from the individuals who first helped launch the MCU.
Marvel wants to bring the OG Avengers back
According to a recent report from Variety, Marvel brass see their best path forward as one that takes them back to where it all started. Yep, that’s right, it seems Marvel Studios is looking to bring back the original Avengers for one of its upcoming Avengers movies.
No, we’re not just talking about the Avengers who are still alive and well in the MCU. Apparently, Marvel is looking to resurrect the fallen Avengers with talks of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow both returning as Marvel Studios looks to revive the two characters that were both killed in Avengers: Endgame.
While the Variety report did not name names, the broader plan seems to be for the duo to once again team up with Chris Evans’ Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. Pulling this off would be a major move for Marvel which would bring the group together for the first time since the events of Endgame and most certainly get audiences talking.
Robert Downey Jr. apparently has agreed to return to the MCU
Interestingly, it seems Marvel might already be making moves behind the scenes as it looks to get the original Avengers to reassemble on the big screen. It appears the studio has put feelers out to the cast and Robert Downey Jr. apparently seems ready to answer Marvel’s call.
According to Marvel scooper My Time to Shine Hello, Downey Jr. is on board with the idea and has already agreed to come back to the MCU. This is, of course, nothing more than a rumor at this time; however, we imagine if Marvel made him a good enough offer Downey Jr. would not be opposed to returning to the franchise.
What will be interesting is to see how Marvel might look to bring Iron Man back into the fold. Given the impact of Tony’s death in Endgame, we don’t see the studio erasing that moment. What seems more likely to happen is that when the Avengers next assemble, it will be variants of the team we once knew perhaps from other timelines or simply from the past.
That angle would allow the studio to bring the characters back into the mix without cheapening past plotlines which we imagine would be a key selling point for the former stars.