Robert Downey Jr has dominated the last decade of MCU movies, playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man across nine movies. But now it looks like he’s about to make it 10 by returning for next year’s Black Widow movie. Deadline report: “Downey will be seen in the role of Stark one more time, however, in the Marvel prequel Black Widow in May 2020.” But just how is this possible when Iron Man died in Avengers Endgame?
Well, Black Widow is a prequel set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
Let’s also not forget that Scarlett Johansson’s superhero also died in Avengers Endgame.
In one sense the news is bittersweet.
It’s wonderful to get even more Iron Man, but he went out so well in Endgame, with his death scene reshoot being his literal last day in the role to date.
Does Downey Jr really need to come back as Tony Stark so soon?
Sure, it would be a nice surprise say in seven or eight years time, but perhaps it’s a bit to early right now. We’re still processing his death scene!
Nevertheless, presumably, Iron Man’s role in Black Widow would only be a cameo.
Natasha was on his side in Civil War, but she ended up on the run with Steve Rogers by the start of Avengers Infinity War.
Perhaps, Downey Jr’s part would just be a brief contact or moment of help, while we shouldn’t rule out the use of a deleted scene from Civil War or Infinity War.
Despite our reservations, it’s worth pointing out again that both Iron Man and Black Widow were the only two of the six original Avengers to kick the bucket in Endgame.
Hopefully, an interaction between the two in Black Widow will provide a satisfying foreshadowing of their brave sacrifices in a film that risks having little stakes when we already know both their endings.
