Iron Man’s legacyMCUmovie,Armor Wars, received a disappointing update from Don Cheadle, but I’m not buying it. Iron Man’s death was apivotal moment for the MCUin many ways, drawing a line beneath the Infinity Saga and preceding a general decline in enthusiasm forthe MCU’s Multiverse Saga offerings. While MCU veterans like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange have helped to keep Marvel afloat in recent years, newer characters like Ms. Marvel and the Eternals haven’t struck the same chord as Iron Man did in 2008.
Still, only one movie has lingered on Iron Man’s death sinceAvengers: Endgame -namely,Spider-Man: Far From Home. Thanos' presence has been felt more in the Multiverse Saga by comparison, with the consequences of the Snap threatening to overshadow the Multiverse Saga’s central themes. Meanwhile, the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as the Multiverse Saga’s arch-villain even threatens to overshadowIron Man’s MCU legacy. With all that in mind, I think Marvel is treading on thin ice if Don Cheadle’s recent comments are anything to go by.
Armor Wars Was Meant To Be Iron Man’s Legacy Movie
Iron Man’s Tech Remains Consequential After His Death
Armor Warswas supposed to be a successor toIron Man’s trilogy, with Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes in the driving seat. While the driving force of Tony Stark’s arc was his tech and how protective he was over its uses,his death leaves it vulnerable as the creations he left behind are more prone than ever to fall into the wrong hands. This was touched on inSpider-Man: Far From Homeas his EDITH glasses came into the possession of the villain Mysterio - perhaps a little too easily. Still, it goes to show how consequential Iron Man’s tech remains.
10 Times Iron Man’s Tech Fell Into The Wrong Hands Before Armor Wars
Armor Wars will reportedly see Iron Man tech fall into the wrong hands, and this problem has already been explored a bit in other MCU projects.
While the comic book run from whichArmor Warsgets its name starred Tony Stark himself as he wrestles with the misappropriation of his tech, the movie would ostensibly replace him with Rhodey. This puts it on par withCaptain America: Brave New World, where Sam Wilson takes on the mantle of Captain America and strives to do justice to his predecessor’s legacy. NorecentArmor Warsupdates, however, have left a huge question mark hanging overArmor Wars, and Don Cheadle’s recent comments now make it look more precarious than ever.
Don Cheadle Has Cast Doubt On Armor Wars
Don Cheadle Has No Updates On Armor Wars' Progress
Don Cheadle was recently asked about the status ofArmor Warsin an interview withTVLine, where he jokingly remarked thatthe publication should find out themselves and enlighten him, suggesting that he has no updates on its progress. When it was mentioned thatArmor Wars"switched" from being a series to a movie, Cheadle continued:
Yeah. I think the word that’s the most salient in that sentence is “switched.” [Laughs] I don’t know, I’m not sure where anything is right now. I think things are going through a lot of changes, and we’ll see what happens, we’ll see what it is.
This remark worries me greatly. Stating that the word “switched” is salient could mean many things (such as Rhodey being switched out for a Skrull) - but remarking that “Things are going through a lot of changes” seems to be in reference to Marvel’s recent change of pace.
I realize that some pills will be hard to swallow, but abandoning Armor Wars now feels particularly unjust given the set-up it received as recently as last year.
Upon taking the reins from Bob Chapek, Disney CEO Bob Iger ruled that the MCU would reduce its output and focus on a “Quality over quantity” ethos. This is largely a good thing, but if these are the changes that Cheadle is referring to, then he may share my concerns thatArmor Warshas been put on the chopping block. I realize that some pills will be hard to swallow, but abandoningArmor Warsnow feels particularly unjust given the set-up it received as recently as last year.
Marvel Can’t Abandon Armor Wars After Rhodey’s Skrull Reveal
Rodey’s Time As A Skrull Should Be More Than A Footnote
Much of the MCU’s audience may have willfully forgotten thewidely pannedSecret Invasion, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t canon. One of the most consequential reveals to come out of the series was the fact that Rhodey had, at some point, been replaced by a Skrull. Not only did it not elaborate on when exactly this occurred - which is a huge bone of contention in itself - butMarvel may be choosing to sweep this stunning development under the rug by sidesteppingArmor Warsand Rhodey’s solo movie story entirely.
Rhodey being found in a hospital gown suggests that he may have been switched out for a Skrull as early asCaptain America: Civil War.
This would be a big mistake. Opting to debut new characters like Ironheart instead of tying up loose narrative threads is a dangerous move in a saga that is struggling to win over the loyal fanbase of the Infinity Saga. It’s also impossible to ignore the touching narrative inherent in having Rhodey protect his best friend’s reputation years after his death, as is the golden opportunity to reintroduce a fan-favorite character, Justin Hammer. Thankfully,Armor Warsis still a confirmed project at the time of writing, so I’m hopeful that Cheadle’s comments may simply precede a positive development.
Armor Wars
Cast
Initially conceived as a Disney+ series, Armor Wars is an MCU movie centered on Rhodey Rhodes' mission to honor Tony Stark’s legacy and keep his Iron Man technology from wreaking havoc when they fall into the wrong hands. Starring Don Cheadle as War Machine, Marvel Studios' Armor Wars adapts the eponymous comic book storyline to the big screen in the Multiverse Saga.
