In addition to being the final installments of the ongoing Multiverse Saga, the upcoming Avengers movies will also be a celebration of everything Marvel has accomplished on the big screen so far—even those projects that predate the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Just like Avengers: Endgame paid homage to years' worth of storytelling, Avengers: Secret Wars will attempt to do the same in a much more ambitious fashion. The biggest difference is that any single Marvel character could suddenly make an unexpected comeback this time around, even those whose time seemed to be over.
Now that the barriers between universes are starting to disappear, heroes and villains from other worlds can jump into action again. As if that wasn't enough, variants of characters who have already died could also take over the spotlight. So what better way for the MCU to honor everything that has happened so far than by letting its first starring hero join the Avengers in Secret Wars?
A Tony Stark variant will reportedly appear in Avengers: Secret Wars
It's time to run it back. According to industry insider James Mack, a Tony Stark variant will be involved in the story of Avengers: Secret Wars. This version of the character will be "uninterested, lazy, and an alcoholic," and he also hates being a hero. Maybe we'll finally see a brief adaptation of the Demon in a Bottle comic book storyline in the MCU.
It wasn't revealed whether Robert Downey Jr. will play this new iteration of Tony Stark. After all, the Oscar-winning actor will be busy portraying Doctor Doom in the ensemble film. Granted, there have been instances in the MCU where the same actor brings two different characters to life at the same time (VisionQuest being the most recent). That being said, Marvel could look for a new face for the part.
For years now, MCU fans have heard that Tom Cruise was originally in contention to play Tony Stark, and some rumors even suggested his version of the character would debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This never came to pass, but it could be the perfect time for Marvel to pull this stunt off as we head into the end of the Multiverse Saga. But beyond who will play the character, the biggest question is: how will Tony be involved in the story?
Avengers: Doomsday is highly likely to end with Doctor Doom creating Battleworld—a single planet made from pieces from different universes. If that were to be the case, Battleworld is likely to be the main setting of Avengers: Secret Wars, which would give us the perfect opportunity to see many characters from different realities all working together for the greater good. Interestingly, it has been reported that most people living in this new Earth will be brainwashed by Doom, with only a handful of heroes remembering their previous lives at all.
Maybe there's a chance this new version of Tony Stark will be among those who remember what the multiverse was like before Doom's rise to power. That would explain why Earth's Mightiest Heroes would need to work with him (since they will need all the help they can get), even if Tony isn't keen on being a team player.
This role sounds very similar to that of Hugh Jackman's Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine. So, just like in the Merc with a Mouth's third movie, we could see the unlikely hero eventually move past his demons and save the day once more.
Of course, it's always important to take all rumors with a grain of salt. However, this is Marvel's last opportunity to feature variants from parallel realities before the Multiverse Saga comes to an end, so it isn't far-fetched to think a new version of Tony Stark will be involved somehow.
Avengers: Secret Wars will be released on Dec. 17, 2027.
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