Cut Endgame Character Rumored to Replace RDJ's Iron Man in the MCU
It's difficult to know whether all the rumours about Robert Downey Jr's potential return as Iron Man in the MCU are circulating because fans genuinely expect it to happen – or they'd just like it to.
What is certain, though, is that his final scene in Endgame was a piece of cinematic history that the franchise will be wary of ruining by reprising the character.
Which has given rise to another rumour. One that sounds plausible given the circumstances – that Iron Man will return with a slight twist.
It was a widely held view in the run up to the release of The Multiverse of Madness, that we would see Tony Stark revealed as one of Earth-838's illuminati. That didn't happen.
But, once again, speculation began. Fans began to ask why Iron Man didn't return in the movie when some other iconic MCU characters did.
Surely, they thought, this has to mean the franchise has other plans for some kind of return for Iron Man.
And the latest rumour doing the rounds is that it won't be Robert Downey Jr returning as a variant of Iron Man, but Katherine Langford.
While the Australian actor is yet to appear in the MCU, she did have a part in Avengers: Endgame that was subsequently cut. And who did she play? An adult Morgan Stark.
Now, it would seem strange to think that Endgame is the last we'll see of Morgan Stark, and clearly some though has already gone into her future.
So, why not see Iron Man return in a different guise, continuing the family legacy without running the risk of ruining the powerful and moving ending that fans witnessed when Robert Downey Jr's iteration of the character sacrificed himself?
This twist would add a new and different dimension to the franchise. Morgan as Iron Man would be taking up the baton so heroically dropped by her father – but also carrying vengeance in her heart.
There is a real opportunity to explore the character of Morgan's Iron Man on depth, drawing on the complexities and internal conflicts she faces.
It would also be a great opportunity for the MCU to properly showcase a female Iron Man, and to tie up some of the storylines that never quite came to a conclusion in Endgame.
Whether Marvel has plans to introduce Morgan Stark as a variant of Iron Man, and whether Katherine Langford would be cast in such a major role, are matters to be revealed at a later date.
For now, though, it's just nice to have a new rumour to chew over.