Who Will Be the Next Iron Man Following the Fallout of ‘Avengers: Endgame?’
Now that Avengers: Endgame has come and gone, fans have moved on to prophecizing the most minute details concerning the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase Four and beyond.
WARNING: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ spoilers below (if you haven’t seen Endgame...wait, you still haven’t seen Endgame?)
With the plot of Avengers: Endgame coming to the most satisfying, yet heartwrenching of conclusions, one question remains at the forefront of fans’ minds: who will replace Robert Downey Jr. as the next Iron Man?
Robert Downey Jr. has been tied to the role since he first donned his metal suit of armor back in 2008; intimately connected to Tony Stark, a comparable replacement seems inexistent, which is the very reason Tony Stark will not be replaced. Rather, only Iron Man will be. Meaning, the next Iron Man will not boast the same everyday identity as Tony Stark, but rather present a younger character, from a different comic book narrative.
The next Iron Man will likely be Iron Lad of the ‘New Avengers’
While fans anxiously await the next major Marvel team-up, it’s likely that a few standalone movies will come down the pipeline first. For, unlike DC, Marvel prefers to build up to its massive mash-ups of cinematic splendor.
According to We Got This Covered, the next team-up won’t hit cinemas until sometime around 2022, and the team will consist of younger heroes, to be called either the “New Avengers” or the “Young Avengers.” The team will likely include Iron Lad, Vision 2.0, Hulkling, Wiccan, Stature, and more.
As of now, Marvel studio is only rumored to be making this film, and all those possibly involved are keeping a very tight lid on things to avoid exposing any of Marvel’s future endeavors. However, based on the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, and what we know about the comics, it’s easy to make a few assumptions.
As for Iron Lad, the character’s real name is Nathaniel Richards. Richards has seen many different incarnations over the years, but has a similar look and retains similar abilities to that of Tony Stark’s Iron Man (as would be expected). His armor is produced from a rare and synthetic alloy from the 40th century, and he can fire concussive blasts, travel through time, and more.
Ty Simpkins to play Iron Lad following Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man
If you remember the funeral scene from Avengers: Endgame, you will remember that the actor responsible for portraying Harley in Iron Man 3 was present. This has led many fans to speculate that he will take the Iron Man (Iron Lad) mantle moving forward.
It’s likely that Iron Man left him with some pretty cool technology, and given the boy’s display of intelligence and ingenuity at such a ripe age, it would be logical to assume that he’s only grown wiser since.
While Harley’s origin story and name do not match that of the comic books’ Iron Lad, the MCU is not known to adhere to comic book plot; rather, it tends to take overarching narratives and concepts, and then transform them from there. Thus, Ty Simpkins playing an adolescent Iron Man seems all the more plausible. Would those behind Avengers: Endgame bring him back without having a plan in mind? What has Marvel ever done without a plan?
Based on all the evidence, Ty Simpkins will likely receive a standalone film sometime before the New Avengers; this way, audiences can watch him transform from a young, technology lover into an adolescent superhero. Ty Simpkins is also 17, which places him at just the right age for the role.
