The Latest Disappointing Update On Iron Man's Legacy Movie

Don Cheadle gave Armor Wars, Iron Man's legacy MCU film, a poor update, but I don't believe it. In many respects, Iron Man's demise was a turning point for the MCU, marking the end of the Infinity Saga and the beginning of a general drop in interest in the Multiverse Saga offerings. Newer characters like Ms. Marvel and the Eternals haven't had the same impact as Iron Man in 2008, despite the fact that MCU mainstays like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange have helped kept Marvel viable in recent years.

Despite this, Spider-Man: Far From Home is the only film that has dealt with Iron Man's passing since Avengers: Endgame. In contrast, Thanos' influence has been more noticeable in the Multiverse Saga, as the Snap's effects threaten to eclipse the main themes of the series. The decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as the arch-villain of the Multiverse Saga even poses a danger to Iron Man's legacy in the MCU. Considering all of that, if Don Cheadle's recent remarks are any indication, I believe Marvel is stepping on slippery ice.

Iron Man's legacy film was supposed to be Armor Wars.

Armor Wars, starring James Rhodes played by Don Cheadle, was intended to be the follow-up to Iron Man's trilogy. Although Tony Stark's technology and his protectiveness of its applications were the main themes of his story, his passing leaves it open to abuse because the inventions he left behind are more likely than ever to end up in the wrong hands. This was mentioned in Spider-Man: Far From Home when the antagonist Mysterio, possibly a bit too readily, obtained his EDITH glasses. It just serves to highlight how important Iron Man's technology is.

The movie would supposedly replace Tony Stark with Rhodey, even though the comic book series from which Armor Wars derives its name featured Stark himself as he struggles with the theft of his technology. This makes it comparable to Captain America: Brave New World, in which Sam Wilson assumes the role of Captain America and works to uphold the legacy of his predecessor. However, the lack of recent Armor Wars upgrades has raised serious concerns, and Don Cheadle's recent remarks have made the game appear even more vulnerable.

Armor Wars Are Under Doubt Due to Don Cheadle

When asked about Armor Wars' current state in a recent interview with TVLine, Don Cheadle joked that the magazine should research it on its own and inform him, implying that he is unaware of any developments. Cheadle went on when it was brought up that Armor Wars "switched" from being a television show to a motion picture:

I'm very concerned about this statement. The statement that "Things are going through a lot of changes" appears to be a reference to Marvel's recent change of pace, but the word "switched" might signify many different things (for example, Rhodey being replaced by a Skrull).

I understand that some things may be difficult to accept, but considering the setup Armor Wars received just last year, it feels especially unfair to abandon it now.

Disney CEO Bob Iger decided that the MCU will cut production and prioritize a "Quality over quantity" philosophy after succeeding Bob Chapek. Although this is generally a good thing, Cheadle might share my worries that Armor Wars has been thrown on the chopping board if these are the changes he is referring to. I understand that some things may be difficult to accept, but considering the setup Armor Wars received just last year, it feels especially unfair to abandon it now.

Marvel Cannot Put Armor Wars on Hold Following Rhodey's Skrull Reveal

The highly criticized Secret Invasion may have been consciously forgotten by a large portion of the MCU's fanbase, but that doesn't mean it isn't considered canon. The fact that Rhodey had eventually been replaced by a Skrull was one of the most important revelations to emerge from the series. In addition to failing to specify the precise time this happened, which is a major point of dispute in and of itself, Marvel might be deciding to ignore this startling development by completely avoiding Armor Wars and Rhodey's solo film narrative.

This would be a grave error. In a tale that is having trouble retaining its devoted fan base, choosing to introduce new characters like Ironheart rather than resolving unresolved storylines is a risky decision. Along with the fantastic chance to bring back a beloved character, Justin Hammer, it's also hard to overlook the heartwarming storyline that comes with Rhodey defending his best friend's reputation years after his passing. Fortunately, Armor Wars is still a confirmed project as of this writing, so I'm optimistic that Cheadle's remarks might just be the prelude to something good.