14 years after her brief first appearance in 2010’sIron Man 2, I would love to see Kate Mara return to theMCU, and she may have left the door open for her character to be developed further. Known for roles inThe Martian, House of Cardsand2015’s reviledFantastic Fourreboot, I think Kate Mara deserves another shot in the MCU. Despite being a brilliant actor, who even made herFantastic Fourrole as strong as she could, I am disappointed that Kate Mara’s insignificant role in the MCU’s Phase 1 amounted to nothing.
Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to change this, however, giving Kate Mara a bigger role in the MCU. Since2025’sThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis set to debut a more popular and likely-successful iteration of Marvel’s First Family, the case of the hated 2015 reboot could also get reimagined in the MCU, though I’d rather not see them return as theirFantastic Fourcharacters. Instead,Kate Mara has the chance to better develop herotherMarvel role, which has been all but forgotten in the years since her MCU debut 14 years ago.
Kate Mara Debuted In The MCU 5 Years Before Her Fantastic Four Flop
Kate Mara Made Her MCU Debut In Iron Man 2
You wouldn’t be blamed for forgetting that Kate Mara had ever appeared in the MCU proper, but she actually made her Marvel debut five years before starring asSue Storm’s Invisible Woman inFantastic Four. 2010’sIron Man 2saw Mara appear as a US Marshal who serves Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark papers outside the Stark Expoordering him to attend the Senate Armed Forces Committee. This role was incredibly brief, but after Kate Mara’s career as Sue Storm failed to take off, I’d love to see her brought back into the MCU.
Kate Mara Joined Iron Man 2 Because Of Hint At A Bigger Role
Kate Mara accepted a tiny role in Iron Man 2 because there was a hint it could grow into something bigger, as often happens in the MCU.
Kate Mara is one of many brilliantactors who are considered to have been wasted in the MCU.Others include the likes of Christopher Eccleston, Natalie Dormer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Krasinski, many of whom left little mark on the MCU. I would love to see Kate Mara brought back, whether as her US Marshal fromIron Man 2or recast as a completely new character, especially since she could now put the skills acquired over almost a decade and a half sinceIron Man 2into a more substantial Marvel role.
What Kate Mara Has Said About Returning To The MCU
Kate Mara Has Left The Door Open For Her MCU Return
Speaking toColliderin November 2020, Kate Mara went into more detail about her role inIron Man 2, revealing that she agreed to take it with the possibility of the role being developed in the future. This never came to pass, butthis makes me think that Mara would be very open to returning to the MCU and having a more meaty role 14 years after her debut. If Kate Mara does return to the MCU, I wouldn’t want this to be as Sue Storm, and it seems Mara herself doesn’t want to return as the Invisible Woman either.
Vanessa Kirby was revealed to be cast as theMCU’s new Sue Stormin February 2024, and, speaking toVarietyin July,Fantastic Fourstars Kate Mara and Jamie Bell stated that they are"excited"about the reboot, particularly because of the movie’s"great cast.“Varietyreported that Mara only shook her head and laughed when asked whether she would return as Sue Storm. In the Multiverse Saga, it’s possible we could see Mara’s Invisible Woman back in action, but it doesn’t sound like she is interested in reprising this role at all.
Who Kate Mara Could Play In The MCU’s Future (If Not Sue Storm)
Kate Mara Could Reprise Her MCU Role Or Be Recast
Kate Mara’s comments, or lack thereof, make me think that she won’t want to bring Sue Storm back to life a decade afterFantastic Fourflopped. If this does happen in the MCU’s Phase 6, however, this could be a good chance forFantastic Four’scast to seek redemption, especially consideringMiles Teller’s Reed Richards has been speculated to returnas the Maker. If not Sue Storm,I’d love to see Kate Mara develop her role of the US Marshal fromIron Man 2, perhaps having a greater role in the MCU’s ever-growing political storylines.
Victor Von Doom’s Doctor Doom
Robert Downey Jr.
We could see Kate Mara’s US Marshal return inCaptain America: Brave New WorldorThunderbolts*, thoughI think it’s more likely that she may be recast as a stronger and more heavy-duty character. I think Mara would be great as a mutant in theMCU’s upcomingX-Menreboot, perhaps a central member of the team, such as Jean Grey or Emma Frost. With the Thunderbolts set to debut in 2025, I think Songbird or Meteorite could also be fantastic choices, giving her a far more pivotal role than that inIron Man 2, which I’m desperate to see.
Iron Man 2
Cast
The third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2, is an action-superhero film that occurs six months after the original film’s events. After outing himself as the heavy metal superhero known as Iron Man, Tony Stark goes to great lengths to avoid demands from the government for his tech. But, unfortunately, the technology Tony used to save his life is beginning to impact his health inversely - just in time for a man named Ivan Vanko to arrive, who creates his version of the Iron Man tech to settle a decades-long score with Howard Stark’s son.
