Iron Man is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? | Tony Start Returns

Iron Man Returns

Iron Man is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? With Avengers: Endgame becoming the biggest film of all time this year, there was one sad, irrefutable truth that we must make peace with. The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will have to move forward without the face of its founding member who made the entire over-a-decade spanning franchise possible, Tony Stark AKA Iron Man AKA Robert Downey, Jr., because, let's face it, he is Iron Man. Or do we?

Thanks to a report from Deadline, it seems that Tony Stark AKA RDJ still has at least one appearance left to make in an upcoming MCU film, but where could it happen and why? Let's break it down right now.

This past weekend was the 45th Saturn Awards. The awards that recognize achievements

in genre films and media, such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and it was a big night

for the MCU in general. Tom Holland and Zendaya won for their roles in Spider-man: Far From Home. Josh Brolin took home a statue for playing Thanos in Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame led the night, winning six awards, but come on, did anyone expect anything different?

And one of those six wins for Endgame was the Best Actor in a Film that went to Robert Downey, Jr., for his final appearance as Tony Stark, but wait. In Deadline's breakdown of the event, they casually mention a little fact that seems to have huge implications for the MCU.

"Downey will be seen in the role of Stark one more time, however, in the Marvel prequel Black Widow in May 2020."

Iron-Man Is Back?

Yeah, that was definitely unexpected. Now, despite the fact that she came down with a little case of death in Endgame, we've known for a while now that Scarlett Johansson would be reprising her role as Natasha Romanoff for the upcoming Black Widow film, and that she would be joined by such luminaries as Rachel Wise, David Harbor, and Florence Pugh. But RDJ making an appearance was definitely news to fans. So how could this come to be? Well, we know that Black Widow will be a prequel of sorts to both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Reportedly, it will take place shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, when the Avengers split into two teams for the world's worst game of dodge ball. This means that the film will take place in 2016 in the MCU timeline. That also means that any appearance of Robert Downey, Jr., as Iron Man, will most likely take place before his sacrifice at the end of Avengers: Endgame, instead of Tony Stark coming back to life in some because-comics way. But will having Tony Stark show up on Movie Theater screens again so soon after his death lessen the impact of the sacrifice he makes in Endgame, eh, probably not.

Remember that this entire film is about someone who sacrificed themselves in Avengers: Endgame. Black Widow herself. So if this film doesn't lessen the sacrifice that Natasha made, then it also doesn't lessen Tony's. Honestly, we can't imagine Tony Stark having a huge role in the film.

While having Stark show up will help tie the film into the events of the greater MCU, this story should focus on Natasha. That said, even we will admit that it's going to be hard to see both of them on the big screen one last final time. I’m not crying…… you are.

 “Mr. Stark?”

“Can you hear me?”

Anyway, we'll just have to wait until Black Widow comes out May of 2020 to see how this all plays out. But what do you folks think? Do you want to see Tony Stark show up in Black Widow, or is it hashtag too soon? Are you excited that Black Widow will finally have her own standalone flick? Or is it hashtag too late?

And do you want to see anymore MCU films that serve as prequels like this one or is it hashtag too much? Let me know about that in the comments below.