5 Marvel characters who could replace Robert Downey Jnr as Iron Man
It’s rumoured that Avengers: Endgame could be Robert Downey Jnr’s last appearance as Iron Man. We look at five possible replacements from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
More than 10 years in the making, Avengers: Endgame finally drops later this month, bringing the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to an end after 22 blockbuster films. The Infinity Saga, as it’s called, kicked off back in 2008 with Iron Man, and one of the key questions surrounding Endgame is whether Robert Downey Jr’s hi-tech hero will survive this final clash. As far we know, the 54-year-old’s contract to play Iron Man is over and he has no further obligations to Marvel. Cue numerous fan theories that Marvel will use this as an excuse to kill off Downey Jnr in Endgame to provide some emotional oomph.
Although much of the popularity of Iron Man is undeniably down to Downey Jnr’s personal charm, it seems unlikely that Marvel will kill off the character if the actor decides he’s had enough of superhero flicks. Instead, as with the continual recasting of James Bond, it’s likely the studio will simply find someone else to fill his hi-tech suit. Here are our picks for the best possible replacement:
1. Ty Simpkins (Harley Keener)
Since 2013’s Iron Man 3, there have been rumours that 17-year-old Ty Simpkins is in the running to take over the role of Iron Man. In Iron Man 3, Simpkins played Harley Keener, a precocious youngster who helped Stark fight back against the Mandarin. Before leaving to save the day, the billionaire inventor left Keener some of his technological gadgets. Stark ended the movie talking about how he needed to scale back his life as Iron Man, so the foundations have been laid for Keener to take over. Simpkins is also credited with an appearance in Endgame, leading many to suspect this storyline will play out in the new movie.
2. Don Cheadle (James Rhodes)
From the perspective of the story, this makes sense. Colonel James Rhodes, aka War Machine, has already mastered the use of one of Stark’s armoured suits, and has proved himself to be a valuable – if occasionally unreliable – ally (remember Iron Patriot?). Rhodes has even taken on the mantle of Iron Man in some episodes of the comic. The internal logic is sound, as Cheadle is the same age as Downey Jnr. But Marvel might prefer to hire a younger actor, as the Iron Man brand has more years in it yet.