Marvel Studios has taken part in the recently-held San Diego ComicCon. However, the entertainment company only talked about four of its upcoming movies including “Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and the “Black Panther.”
Many fans were actually expecting that Marvel will also speak about “Iron Man 4” but nothing of that sort happened. Some of them were even disappointed that Robert Downey Jr., who plays Tony Stark and Iron Man in Marvel movies, also was a no-show at the event.
As expected, the absence of “Iron Man 4” announcement or representation at the San Diego ComicCon led to speculation that the movie might not happen at all.
In fact, there are rumors now going around saying that Iron Man might meet his demise in the upcoming two-part third Avengers movie entitled “Avengers: Infinity War,” reports Game & Guide.
It’s really a depressing spoiler for Marvel fans but since the production company has yet to make any announcement or confirmation about it, it is best to take the report with a pinch of salt.
However, assuming that Tony Stark and Iron Man dies in “Avengers: Infinity War,” then it follows that there will be no more “Iron Man 4” to follow unless Marvel Studios decides to recast the role and start on a clean slate.
The character needs to die
According to some critics, Iron Man might need to die for real this time because the pattern of death and eventual revival on Marvel films has become too predictable and boring.
Another compelling reason for Iron Man’s necessary death is because Robert Downey Jr. has been saying that he is the one and only Iron Man and that nobody could replace him in the iconic role, a claim which sure has a good leg to stand on.
So in order to have a way out for the character and Marvel Studios, it is best to plot the character’s death.
There have been a lot of speculation saying that the possible replacement for Robert Downey Jr. in the Iron Man role for “Iron Man 4” may be the young Ty Simpkins, who played Harley Skeener in “Iron Man 3.”
There are also other speculations saying that the Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johannson in Marvel films, would replace Robert Downey Jr. as the next Iron Man or Iron Woman in “Iron Man 4.”
Apparently, such speculation emanated from the comic book storyline where Tony Stark developed an iron suit for Natasha Romanoff while they were still dating. She eventually turned to become a renegade against the Ultimates and Tony Stark in the comics.
Doctor Doom as Iron Man
Incidentally, the rumor mill about “Iron Man 4” started swirling heavily again when Marvel illustrator Alex Maleev recently sketched Marvel super villain Dr. Doom wearing the Iron Man suit.
It actually spawned absurd speculations saying that Dr. Doom could be the next Iron Man, reports the Parent Herald.
Some critics believe that the concept art of Maleev is not related to “Iron Man 4” at all and it would not translate to something on the big screen.
However, some are saying that it could not be Iron Man’s suit that Dr. Doom was wearing in the concept art. Marvel fans know that Dr. Doom is also a genius like Tony Stark so he could have developed it for his own villainous ways.
Incidentally, a Twitter user has reacted to the concept art of Alex Maleev and commented that the character could be called as the Iron Doom but never Iron Man.
Meanwhile, Jon Favreau, a filmmaker and an actor himself, who played the role of Happy Hogan, the assistant of Tony Stark in the three “Iron Man” films, says he cannot imagine Marvel Studios producing an “Iron Man 4” without Robert Downey Jr. on the lead role.
In an interview, Favreau was quoted as saying that there is no better actor for “Iron Man 4” than Robert Downey Jr. himself, apparently in response to countless rumors saying that a replacement actor or actress is going to take the lead for the fourth installment of the very successful Marvel film franchise.
Favreau added that if Marvel Studios decide to have another actor take over the role of Tony Stark and Iron Man, it would be better for the producers to just stop the film series for a while and reboot it at a later time.
He explained that the generation gap will redefine the character to fit for a new and perhaps younger actor.
Although Marvel Studios has not said anything official whether there would be an “Iron Man 4” or not, the speculation started swirling wildly as of late following the recent statement of Robert Downey Jr. saying that he would like to reprise his Tony Stark and Iron Man role one more time in a stand-alone film.
The actor is set to take on the same role for three different movies every year starting next year but all of them are not going to be an “Iron Man” stand-alone film.
Marvel has already confirmed that Iron Man shall be part of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” due to hit theaters in July of next year, “Avengers: Infinity War Part 1” in May of 2018, and “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” in May 2019.
Given that the earliest that an “Iron Man 4” movie could come out is in 2020, it is likely that filming would start around 2019. Some critics think it is going to be tricky as Robert Downey Jr. would be 54 years old by then.