The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 will continue in 2024, but only one of its forthcoming properties is not a spin-off. Amidst a variety of shakeups and delays, 2024’s slate of MCU Phase 5 properties will include several TV shows and one highly anticipated movie, continuing the MCU’s Multiverse Saga as it builds towards its finale, which will likely be altered significantly following the firing of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. 2024’s MCU properties will, fittingly, take place across various realities, with most tying into the main MCU timeline.

2024 was initially set to include Captain America: Brave New World – a film that continues the saga of Sam Wilson as the new Captain America following the Avengers: Endgame ending and The Falcon and the Winter Solider – which would itself lead into Marvel’s Thunderbolts. With both films delayed, the only MCU movie releasing in 2024 is Deadpool 3, a film that will bridge the MCU to the Fox X-Men universe and potentially many other familiar realities. As for the rest of 2024’s MCU releases, they will be spin off TV shows based on previous MCU properties.

Deadpool 3 Is The Only MCU Release Of 2024 That Isn't A Spin-Off

The MCU will begin its 2024 slate with Echo, a series centered on Maya Lopez, who was introduced in 2021’s Hawkeye. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries will see the return of Agatha Harness, the antagonist and breakout character of WandaVision. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – fascinatingly – is an animated series based on Spider-Man: Homecoming, featuring an alternate version of the MCU in which Peter Parker is mentored by Norman Osborn instead of Tony Stark. The upcoming Eyes Of Wakanda animated series will further explore the history of Wakanda established in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Marvel Zombies will be based on an episode of Marvel’s What If…? season 1.

Deadpool 3, however, will not be a spinoff of a previous MCU property. The film will likely have massive ramifications for the main MCU timeline, bringing not only Deadpool into the MCU but also potentially many other X-Men characters. The X-Men’s introduction to the MCU is inevitable, but with the Fox X-Men universe being bridged to the MCU, it is now possible that the MCU’s mutants (other than Wade Wilson) may come from multiple realities.

X-Men '97 Is A Sequel (But It's Not In The MCU)

One highly anticipated Marvel property due to be released in 2024 is X-Men ’97, which, notably, is not a spinoff but rather a sequel to the beloved X-Men Animated Series. X-Men ’97, despite being produced by Marvel Studios Animation, is not set in the MCU, though considering the multiversal premise of Marvel’s current properties, it is safe to assume that its reality may be referenced in future MCU properties. As it stands, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel each reference the original X-Men Animated Series.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for What If...? season 2 episode 4

4 years after Iron Man died during Avengers: Endgame's heartbreaking ending, What If...? season 2 episode 4's ending undermined his tragedy. Worse still, the same MCU TV release had done the same thing just four days earlier in episode 1. In both cases, the imaginative animated series challenged one of the fundamental story details of Robert Downey Jr's final appearance as Tony Stark.

While What If...? is very much an Elseworlds-style multiverse release offering a glimpse at some of the millions of universe branches created by the countless Nexus events of everyday MCU existence. Now that the TVA are no longer pruning branches created by these Nexus events, the multiverse can be as chaotic as it yearns to be. The result, as Sylvie indirectly predicted in Loki season 1, is that an infinite number of branches exist, creating universes where Nebula joined the Nova Corps, where Happy Hogan became the Purple Hulk, or where the Avengers formed early in 1988. Crucially, though, each of those branches still adhered to every rule of the Sacred Timeline established before they branched off.

What If...? Season 2 Episode 4 Ending Explained

In What If...? season 2 episode 4, Marvel answers the question of what would have happened if Iron Man's near-miss sacrifice at the Battle of New York hadn't been avoided. Instead of Stark falling back through the portal above New York after destroying the Chitauri mothership, in this branch, he was trapped on the other side of the portal and ended up being teleported to Sakaar instead of being killed. Don't ask why, the show doesn't actually answer it: it's more just a set-up to have Stark entwined in The Grandmaster's endless gladiatorial games.

While Thor: Ragnarok saw Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder and Hulk taking part in battles for their life with other gladiators, Iron Man arrives at a different point in Sakaar's confusing timeline. At this point, The Grandmaster presides over rigged Death Races, in which the likes of Valkyrie, Korg, and (inexplicably) Gamora all compete. Stark hatches a plan to escape, but also to overthrow The Grandmaster and end his reign of tyranny on Sakaar.

What If Confirms Valkyrie Was Always Destined To Be King

In an interesting twist, after Iron Man is successful and beats The Grandmaster in their Death Race, Valkyrie is crowned king of Sakaar. That suggests that Valkyrie's multiversal destiny is to be a king, effectively adopting the logic of Canon Events from Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. That raises the possibility that every character in the multiverse remains fated, despite the destruction of the Sacred Timeline, which also fits with The Grandmaster confirming Tony Stark's future defeat of Thanos, even in this branched universe.

After convincing Gamora to help him defeat The Grandmaster, Iron Man repays her allegiance by helping her kill Thanos. The returning Mad Titan sits on the same throne as was previously seen in Guardians Of The Galaxy, and offers no defense when his daughter double-crosses him. Up to that point, she had remained loyal, suggesting an unseen event on the main timeline prior to Guardians of the Galaxy's events led to her epiphany and betrayal of her father. That mystery will seemingly remain unanswered, but her arrival on Sakaar must have come before 2014 (when GOTG is set).

How What If...? Undermines Iron Man's Death (Again)

Without getting too deep in the multiversal soup, it's Gamora's murder of her father that compromises Iron Man's Endgame ending. In Endgame, Doctor Strange tells The Avengers that of the millions of possible futures he saw, only one led to their victory at the Battle of Earth. That single possibility is tied inherently to Tony Stark's sacrifice, with the suggestion that any other plan to take out Thanos (like Rhodey's suggestion to kill him as a baby) wouldn't have worked, somehow.

But in both What If...? season 2 episode 4 and episode 1, Thanos is killed quite easily by two of his former allies. The first episode sees Ronin The Accuser kill him off-screen, while Gamora kills him three episodes later to set up her part in the Guardians Of The Multiverse's battle with Ultron from What If...? season 1's ending. Just as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirmed Thanos was defeated without Iron Man dying, What If...? confirms Doctor Strange was wrong. Thanos could have been taken out elsewhere on the timeline, making Tony Stark's ultimate sacrifice significantly less special.

What If...? Season 2 Episode 4 Post-Credits Scene Explained

As What If...? season 2 episode 4's credits roll, the season's second credits scene (after Darcy's festive sing-along after episode 3's ending), The Grandmaster actually returns again. Despite being melted by his own Melt Stick from Thor: Ragnarok, Jeff Goldblum's charming bad guy survives, jovially asking his sidekick and bodyguard Topaz to fetch a sponge to mop him up. It's a funny tag, but it suggests that the Elders of the Universe (including The Grandmaster and his brother The Collector, played by Benicio Del Toro in the MCU) are actually immortal. No matter what they have to endure to survive.

That suggests that while The Collector was assumed to have been killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, it's unlikely he actually died. He might not be living well, as The Grandmaster wouldn't be after What If..? season 2 episode 4, but it seems he is one of the MCU's genuinely unkillable characters.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for What If...? season 2 episode 3.

Marvel’s What If…? season 2 episode 3 is a festive joy, paying homage to definite Christmas movie Die Hard, and making Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) the hero. The animated episode is easily one of the most fun MCU releases, and perfectly matches up to the spirit of the season. There's humor, heart, and a new type of Hulk for the Marvel timeline: everything you could ever want for Christmas.

But what does it all mean? And how well does the Die Hard parody actually work? These questions and more are answered in this full explainer of "What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" Along the way there's a hint of a major event in Hulk's story after Avengers: Endgame's ending, a hint of Armor Wars' villain's future, and an examination of what really makes an Avenger an Avenger.

What If...?’s Die Hard Parody Explained

"What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" is essentially a smartly observed Die Hard homage. In place of Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber, Justin Hammer plays the invading villain, and the Avengers Tower stands in for the Nakatomi Plaza. Happy, of course, is John McClane and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) is his Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), as she identifies herself in a particularly meta moment.

All the major moments get referenced, from Happy crawling through the vents, to putting a villain in the elevator (though this time it’s a mannequin), and Gruber’s iconic death (though it’s subverted by Happy saving Hammer from death). There are obviously differences - John McClane didn’t use Bruce Banner’s blood to turn into a Hulk to save the day as Happy does - but it’s an affectionate and perfectly timed pastiche.

The "what if...?" element - as if it really matters - is what if Justin Hammer took revenge on Iron Man by infiltrating the Avengers tower and taking over the defence systems including the Iron Legion. Naturally, it just so happens that the Avengers are out on promotional duties and JARVIS is down for repair. Ultimately, Happy takes down Hammer himself after accidentally being transformed into a Hulk when the original plan to reboot the Tower’s defences with a backup AI (hilariously styled on Werner Herzog) fails.

Tony Stark’s Hulk Cure Explained

As Happy hides from Hammer and the hijacked Iron Legion drones, who are seeking to steal a vial of Bruce Banner’s blood to turn Hammer into a Hulk, it’s revealed that Stark was developing a Hulk cure. Interestingly, it seems Iron Man’s experiments sought to keep Banner’s ability to transform into the Hulk, but without the anger issues.

While it may seem strange that Stark doesn’t look to cure Banner outright, that actually fits with what’s established elsewhere in the MCU. In She-Hulk, it’s revealed Iron Man built Hulk’s lab in Mexico to help him transform into Smart Hulk. It could be that Stark’s earlier experiments led to the epiphany that Hulk could never be “cured”, leading in turn to Banner and Stark hypothetizing that balance was the only cure. And there is some suggestion that Stark actually valued the Hulk too much to lose his influence as one of Earth’s defenders.

Why Happy Hogan’s Hulk Is Purple (And Speaks)

The major differences between Happy Hogan’s Hulk mutation and Banner’s are the color and the fact that he can speak. Happy Hulk is purple (and bald like The Abomination despite both Hulk and She-Hulk having hair). Perhaps modified versions of pure Hulk blood create more monstrous mutations?

In the comics, the most prominent Purple Hulk was Norman Osborn who used powers taken from Super-Adaptoid to steal Red Hulk’s powers and transform. His purple coloring is never really addressed. But the other Purple Hulk from the comics suggests the color links to incredible evil. In Incredible Hulk #371 Hulk is possessed by Shangar, the Sorceror Supreme of the Dark Dimension (who became the Dark Entity in the animated adaptation). Possessed, Banner became Dark Hulk and turned purple (at least in the animated Incredible Hulk series of 1996 where the color was revealed).

Happy’s Purple Hulk would break the trend of supervillains turning Hulk purple, though he does visibly fight the influence of the Hulk with his own personality. So perhaps purple here does also mean evil, and Happy’s true superpower was just being enough of a great guy to counterbalance it.

What is clear is that whatever Tony Stark did to Bruce Banner's blood, it created an early version of Endgame's Smart Hulk, because Happy is still able to talk when he becomes Purple Hulk. Notably, both the original Hulk and Abomination were limited in their ability to talk, because neither were able to control their rage: She-Hulk was an exception, because her experience as a woman trained her to control her rage, so she never lost control entirely. Happy explicitly mentions Stark working on a means to control Hulk's anger issues, suggesting the key to communication is simply not being angry.

What If...? Sets Up Justin Hammer’s Powerful MCU Return

At one point, Justin Hammer reveals that he’s gained considerable martial arts skills in prison after the events of Iron Man 2. In the company of criminals, Hammer learned a number of martial arts disciplines in the prison yard, suggesting his expected life-action return could see an improved villain all round. Interestingly, that would also make him a lot more like Tony Stark, who is established as a hand-to-hand combat expert in the MCU.

What Marvel's What If...? Says About The Avengers As An Idea

Seeking deeper meaning in a cartoon that parodies Die Hard and features a John McClane Hulk bumbling his way through a mission to save his superhero friends might seem pointless, but it’s absolutely there. What If…? season 2 episode 3 subtly explores what it really means to be an Avenger: it’s not just about using your superpowers, but about doing your duty in the face of serious adversity.

On top of that, Happy’s initial mistake in letting Hammer take over Avengers Tower so easily echoes the experience of almost every original Avenger. Each had red in their ledger, to borrow Black Widow’s most famous catchphrase, and it was only in atoning for those mistakes that they became Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Happy effectively earns his Avengers stripes because of his recovery, and not just his newly gained powers.

Read More About What..if?

A new report reveals just how long Avengers: Secret Wars' runtime might be.

According to a new insider report by Jeff Sneider (TheInSneider) dated Dec. 20, Avengers: Secret Wars' runtime is a massive five hours, so long that the reported plan is to split the story across two movies. This strengthens Marvel rumors from earlier this year, with the source now describing it as a "a giant five-hour movie with a year-long intermission." This suggests that its current slated date of May 7, 2027, will be quickly followed by Avengers: Secret Wars (Part 2) in 2028. They would also quickly follow Avengers 5, which may no longer be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which is slated for a May 1, 2026 release. As of now, this is just a rumor, and nothing has been confirmed officially by Marvel Studios, but it's creating a lot of fan discussion online.

More from Hollywood's hottest newsletter. Love me or hate me, you should SUBSCRIBE to me. Why deny yourself one of life's simple pleasures? https://t.co/FAw1eXxYrI

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) December 20, 2023

I am praying to god that we still get Avengers 5 as its own thing

They can’t just have Secret Wars be 5 hours with no Avengers movie before it, it will be an overly rushed mess https://t.co/Q5RxZxRwoo

— Mikedude (@Mikedude0) December 20, 2023

Jonathan Majors' MCU Firing Might Further Affect the Avengers Sequels

Marvel Studios firing Jonathan Majors will undoubtedly have rippling effects moving forward, but the move also makes 2 MCU scenes from 2023 much more important in retrospect. Speculation has run rampant about what Disney and Marvel Studios would do ever since abuse and harassment allegations against Jonathan Majors surfaced in March 2023. Now that Majors has been found guilty of the aforementioned, his professional relationship with Marvel has been terminated. As of now, it's unclear if Kang will be recast or if the franchise will move in a different direction entirely.

Regardless of whether Kang is recast or not, it makes sense that Marvel Studios may want to close the narrative threads involving Majors' versions of the character. Fortunately, two scenes from 2023 MCU movies and TV make that a lot easier. These scenes may not have been written with the intention of moving away from Jonathan Majors, but they certainly seem a lot more important now.

Quantumania's Ending Reshoots Mean Kang The Conqueror Never Needs To Show Up Again

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania underwent reshoots, and set photos prove that the final few minutes of the movie are among the scenes that were revisited. It's impossible to say exactly what the original ending entailed, but reports indicate that the original draft had Kang beat Scott in their Quantum Realm brawl and escape out into the world. Regardless of whether that's accurate or not, the end of Quantumania may have been written to allow The Conqueror to return - but it also offered a perfectly serviceable ending for the Kang variant.

When Wasp arrives to rescue Ant-Man, she blasts Kang into his Quantum Engine. Scott previously survived a trip into the device, so it seems Kang was set up to do the same, but the MCU can now very easily move on and operate under the assumption that he died from the event. Regardless of whether Marvel moves on from Kang or recasts him, this scene becomes more important for explaining why this particular variant can be done and over with. Conversely, the bizarre physics of the Quantum Drive could explain an age change if Marvel goes with an older or younger actor for the part.

Loki Season 2 Gave A Perfect Explanation If The MCU Wants To Move On From Kang

Another scene that now seems much more important in hindsight is the ending of Loki season 2. As the season closes, TVA takes on a new task - tracking and dealing Kang variants who may threaten the multiverse. The episode alludes to Kang the Conqueror from Quantumania being taken care of, but the scene can now be used as justification for the Council of Kangs not showing up again if Marvel Studios so chooses. The TVA has proven its competence, and it's narratively reasonable for the group to succeed in nipping other Kang problems in the bud.

Will The MCU Move On From Kang Or Will The Studio Recast?

At this point, it's unclear if the MCU will simply recast Kang and continue on with his story as planned or pivot away from the character entirely to distance the franchise from Majors even further. Either way, change is clearly afoot. Avengers 5 has reportedly dropped "The Kang Dynasty" from its title internally at Marvel Studios as a new writer, Loki co-creator David Waldron, rewrites an earlier draft from Quantumania scribe Jeff Loveness. On one hand, this may indicate a significant change, but Waldron's history with a Kang-centric project may simply indicate a fresh take on the character.

However, pivoting from Kang would likely demand change in more than just The Avengers 5. Presumably, several other upcoming MCU movies include plot points meant to build to Kang's larger story, and those would need to be rewritten, too. There are still several years before the next Avengers project, but some significant rewrites may be needed across the MCU to lay the groundwork for a brand-new villain if that's the direction Marvel Studios goes. Regardless, the MCU is at a crossroads, and only time will tell how the franchise moves on from such an unfortunate situation.

Due to an alleged incident that happened in March, Majors was recently brought to trial following allegations of domestic violence. On Monday, he was found guilty on charges of assault and harassment. After the verdict was announced, it was confirmed by a Marvel Studios representative that Majors will not return for any future MCU projects, per Deadline. Majors had recently appeared in the second season of Loki after debuting as Kang in the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

While this isn't a great time for Majors, with the actor also potentially facing one year behind bars, he did get some good news in that he was found not guilty on additional charges of intentional assault and aggravated harassment in the second degree. His attorney, Priya Chaudhry, has also suggested that the legal battle isn't over just yet. Suggesting that there would be an appeal, she said in a statement after the verdict was announced that Majors "looks forward to fully clearing his name." She added, “Mr. Majors is grateful to God, his family, his friends, and his fans for their love and support during these harrowing eight months.”

Getting fired by Marvel Studios comes after there had been reports that the company was already considering moving forward without Majors in light of his legal troubles. Other companies were also quicker to cut ties with Majors when the allegations were first made public. That included getting immediately dropped from an ad campaign for the U.S. Army that was imminently set to start airing. He was also dropped from multiple movies he had been attached to, and Disney recently pulled his upcoming film, Magazine Dreams, from its planned theatrical release in December.

Majors was on the rise in Hollywood when his legal troubles began. He had just appeared in two major motion pictures with key roles in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Creed III, and there were very big plans for him in the MCU, as he would've been the major antagonist in at least one of the upcoming Avengers films. Majors had also garnered acclaim with his upcoming film Magazine Dreams in its early reviews ahead of its release. The actor previously found praise with his role in HBO's Lovecraft Country and appeared in films like The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Da 5 Bloods, and Devotion.

Loki head writer Eric Martin confirmed a fan theory about the MCU show's Season 2 ending on Disney+.

Tom Hiddleston's titular antihero made the biggest sacrifice of his 12-year MCU tenure in the Loki Season 2 finale, taking on the duty of guarding the Sacred Timeline to keep He Who Remains at bay.

Hiddleston even admitted that his character's moment in the finale "was wholly appropriate and...very moving," with Loki now holding a place as one of the most important figures across the entire Multiverse with this new job.

Loki Writer Confirms Season 2 Ending Idea

Loki Season 2 head writer Eric Martin compared the conclusion of Loki's story in the latest season of his Disney+ show to that of the legendary Greek figure, Atlas.

Martin told Esquire that the idea for Season 2 was to have Loki evolve "from a lowercase-g god, to a capital-G God," powering up his "wisdom and knowledge" while giving him a new responsibility that allows the Multiverse's inhabitants to live:

"The big idea was taking Loki from a lowercase-g god, to a capital-G God, powering him up to that place where he gets his throne—but it’s not a throne he wants anymore. This is a duty. He’s doing this so everyone else can have their lives. He’s giving up the thing that he wants most so that everyone else can have their free will… We wanted to power up his abilities, but also his wisdom and knowledge."

"I leave that up to interpretation. That final image is meant to be ambiguous. So I’ll let people make up their own minds there. If you look into mythology, someone like Atlas is an interesting person to look at with that."

Portraying a single character over a decade is challenging, but Robert Downey Jr. managed just that – successfully bringing Tony Stark/Iron Man to life in 10 films.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Downey in three of his Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances, explained how the actor kept the character fresh for so long. "When he'll come back to set, Robert is famous for throwing the plan out the window and climbing on top of the couch and whatever, sort of going off-book," Joe said. "He does this because he likes to surprise himself. He likes to keep things fresh. He lights up for that."

"There's no other way that he could have played that character for 10 movies unless he was doing that," Anthony added. "Robert has certainly lived a complicated life. He understands the stakes, he understands loss, he understands the turns life can take between ups and downs. He's always looking for that level of depth, that level of complexity. I think he knows that's what we all come to movies for in the first place."

Marvel Studios Firmly Shuts Down Iron Man's Return

During the same interview, dubbed "Robert Downey Jr.'s Third Act," Kevin Feige debunked rumors that Marvel Studios was considering bringing Stark back into the multiverse storyline. "We are going to keep [Iron Man's death] and not touch that moment again," Feige explained. "We all worked very hard for many years to get to that. We would never want to magically undo it in any way," he added, referencing Tony Stark's character growth over the years.

"We'd already said tearful goodbyes on the last day of shooting. Everybody had moved on emotionally," Joe Russo added. "We promised him it would be the last time we made him do it ever." Iron Man met his demise in Avengers: Endgame, giving up his life to thwart Thanos and avert the villain's plan to obliterate half of all life once more. However, with recent MCU releases failing to capture the magic of the Infinity Saga, speculation about Iron Man's return has been rife.

When Robert Downey Jr. was initially cast as Tony Stark in 2008, it was an unexpected choice, and the studio had explored other options before finalizing the decision. Among the considered actors was Tom Cruise, who Feige says was in contention for the role during the mid-2000s. However, financial considerations proved to be a hurdle, as Cruise's asking fee at the time exceeded what studios were willing to risk on an untested superhero property. Interestingly, Cruise dismissed speculation about playing Iron Man and commended Downey for his exceptional portrayal of the superhero.

Source: Vanity Fair

Kevin Feige has confirmed whether or not Iron Man will be returning in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. originated the MCU version of the character in 2008's Iron Man, the movie that kicked off the franchise which has now expanded to include 33 movies and eight Disney+ shows, with many more on the way. Downey Jr. reprised his role in nine MCU movies before his character's death in 2019's Avengers: Endgame.

Vanity Fair recently ran a cover story on Robert Downey Jr. in which they spoke to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about the possibility of a future Iron Man MCU return. Feige said that they are planning to "not touch that moment again." He shared that bringing Iron Man's story to a close took years of hard work, and they do not intend to "magically undo it." Check out his full quote below:

We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.

Iron Man's MCU Legacy Looms Large

Actor Chris Evans says he's just as in the dark as the fans on whether he will return as Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

After portraying Steve in the Captain America movies, Evans seemingly said farewell to the role in 2019 when the character's story seemed to conclude at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Recently, there have been new rumors of Marvel Studios plotting an Avengers movie that would reunite the original crew, including Evan's Captain America. On Monday, Evans was asked about these rumors of his return while appearing on The View (per TheWrap). He suggests that the rumors are not out of the ordinary and that there's no truth to them, claiming he hasn't even been contacted by Marvel Studios at this point about a potential return.

Marvel is reportedly eyeing the possibility of Iron Man's return to the MCU, and has already been setting up the conditions for such an event for the last 10 years. Despite being halfway through MCU Phase 5, Iron Man is still a central figure in the MCU, with even The Marvels' final trailer featuring Tony Stark and his collection of suits in the opening shots. The MCU lingering on Tony Stark four years after his death only helps to cement the notion that it isn't through with him yet. Short of being a cause for concern, however, this may not be a bad thing given that Tony Stark has some unfinished business in the MCU.

Tony Stark was the hero who kicked off the MCU with 2008's Iron Man, with one of the most iconic comic book movie arcs in history culminating in his heroic sacrifice. Despite Tony Stark's heroics, however, he left behind a rather problematic legacy that he had briefly rectified in Iron Man 3 before the following 10 years worked to reverse it entirely. That legacy was one he had attempted to combat throughout his life, but unfortunately, one that persisted past his death.

The MCU Has Made Iron Man's Legacy A Problem

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The overarching motif throughout Tony's tenure has focused on the repercussions of his manifested ideas either falling into the wrong hands, being replicated by the wrong hands, or, as was the case with Ultron, being the wrong hands. Iron Man saw his first-ever suit of armor being commandeered by nefarious actors. Iron Man 2 saw his technology being suboptimally replicated by less competent figures, to dangerous effect. Iron Man 3, meanwhile, culminated in Tony Stark triggering the "Clean Slate Protocol," amounting to the destruction of his suits, which at least went some way to keeping them out of the reach of less worthy characters.

Iron Man Should Return To Reclaim His Own MCU Story