Is there going to be an Iron Man 4?

Will Robert Downey Jr. return for a fourth Iron Man movie?

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe | Is there going to be an Iron Man 4?

It’s been nearly 10 years since Iron Man 3 opened in theaters, and even though the titular character died in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, some fans are still hoping that an Iron Man 4 will still happen.

Is there going to be an Iron Man 4 even after Tony Stark’s death?

A couple of months before the May 2013 theatrical release of Iron Man 3, director Shane Black said that he had a feeling that Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in at least two more Iron Man films despite the actor’s original contract with Marvel Studios expiring after Iron Man 3.

“There has been a lot of discussion about it: ‘Is this the last Iron Man for Robert?’”, Black told the French magazine Premiere (via Screen Rant) in March 2013 when asked if the actor would do Iron Man 4. “Something tells me that it will not be the case, and will be seen in a fourth, or fifth … But I can be a little excited…”

In April 2016, Downey himself stated that he was open to reprising his role in a potential Iron Man 4 movie. “I feel like I could do one more,” the actor told ABC’s Nightline during a Captain America: Civil War set visit.

Robert Downey Jr. in Tony Stark's death scene in Avengers: Endgame
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man’s death scene in the Infinity Saga finale.

Downey, however, changed his tune after his character was killed off in Avengers: Endgame. In a September 2020 episode of the SmartLess podcast, the actor casually mentioned that he’s already done with all of his obligations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

“I’m assuming that the Marvel thing is at a slower speed now, or are you done with that now?” podcast co-host Jason Bateman asked Downey.

That’s all done,” Downey replied. “As far as I’m concerned, I hung up my guns and I’m good to let it go.”

He went on to say that Marvel Studios is now on this whole new journey where “they’re trying a bunch of other stuff.” “I’m excited for them to see how all that goes,” he added.

As of February 2023, there’s no official word from Marvel Studios that an Iron Man 4 is currently in the works. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t happen in the future. Although Downey’s Iron Man is already dead, the movie could still happen with a new actor in the titular role, especially after the MCU started to explore the multiverse in the films Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and in the TV series Loki (2021) and What If…? (2021).

Is Tom Cruise replacing Robert Downey Jr. in the MCU?

Earlier this year, Giant Freakin Robot reported that Tom Cruise has joined the MCU, and while Marvel Studios has yet to confirm the news, a trusted and proven source told the website that the Top Gun actor will be playing Iron Man.

Cruise’s Iron Man, however, is reportedly not the same as Robert Downey’s Tony Stark. “It is sure looking like he will be playing Superior Iron Man, a villainous version of Tony Stark from another reality,” reads a portion of the website’s story.

The Illuminati members in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Some of The Illuminati members in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Though it was speculated that Cruise would make his first appearance as Superior Iron Man in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati, the actor was nowhere to be seen in the film. That, however, doesn’t mean that the report of the actor joining the MCU is untrue.

After all, Cruise was actually considered for the role of Iron Man when the MCU was first unfolding. So, to see him portray a version of the beloved Avenger on the big screen would be something of a hat-tip to what could have been when the superhero made his live-action theatrical debut back in 2008. As to why Cruise turned down the role at the time, the actor reportedly didn’t like the script for the movie.

If Cruise does debut as Superior Iron Man in the MCU in the near future, then it won’t be surprising if he ends up starring in the potential fourth Iron Man movie.

Is the Iron Man 4 trailer real?

No. The viral Iron Man 4 trailer featuring Cruise as the titular character is not true. The video, which you can watch below, was made by artist Stryder using deepfake technology and old clips from previous Iron Man and Avengers movies.

IRON MAN 4 - First Look Trailer | Marvel Studios & Disney+ Concept

When will Iron Man 4 come out?

Iron Man 4 doesn’t have a release date yet, because as of February 2023, there has been no official announcement from Marvel Studios saying that an Iron Man 4 is currently in development. We will update this story once Marvel Studios decides to officially make a fourth installment of the Iron Man franchise.

After Tony Stark’s death

Though Tony Stark sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos and save the universe from decimation at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he has continued to have a presence in the MCU. In fact, his name has been mentioned in various Marvel movies following the Avenger’s emotional demise. These films include Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Black Widow (2021), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Eternals (2021), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2022), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Stark is also expected to be mentioned in the upcoming Disney+ series, Ironheart. The six-episode series will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart. Dubbed by many as Iron Man’s successor, Williams is an MIT student and genius inventor from Chicago who creates a suit of armor that rivals the one built by Stark. The show doesn’t have a release date yet, but it is expected to premiere sometime in 2023.

The parallels between Stark and Williams were supposed to be shown for the first time in the 2022 film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but the movie’s Iron Man-inspired subplot ended up getting cut.

Want to build your own Iron Man costume? Check out this easy-to-follow guide!

Sources: Premiere, Screen Rant, Nightline, SmartLess, Giant Freakin Robot
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