Phase 5 of the MCU came to an end, and the main complaint is that it didn’t feel like a phase at all.Scattered projects with no real interconnectednessare what characterized this middle chapter of the Multiverse Saga. Still, the phase’s last outing,Ironheart, proves that if anything, the MCU still has stories to tell if it’s willing to return to the basics. And by basics, we mean the machinery that kickstarted this age of heroes: the tech armor. Introduced byRobert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, his infinite armor versions came to a halt following his death inAvengers: Endgame.
Living up to his legacy,Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williamsreignited the tech suit flameand gave it a kick.Ironheartachieves a unique mix between technology and magic, creating new paths for the future of the MCU. Having the suit of armor interact with other elements of this vast universe should be a priority for Marvel Studios, and the ideal project is right there to move forward — the stuck-in-development-hellArmor Wars.
‘Ironheart’ Features an Unexpected but Welcome Mix of Magic and Technology
When introduced to the MCU inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri’s intellectindirectly starts a warbetween Wakanda and Namor’s (Tenoch Huerta) Talokan. Returning to her MIT life, she struggles to make ends meet and keeps on selling her knowledge. After being discovered, her inevitable expulsion leads her to allying herself with The Hood (Anthony Ramos) and his criminal gang. While this is just the regular bad decision-making of the story’s hero, it also leads her to discover the world of magic.
Exploring the origins of The Hood, Riri comes in touch with Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah), a practitioner of the mystical arts. This kickstarts the dynamic between Riri and magic, as she fully embraces it, along with the consequences it may bring. With her magic-infused tech armor, she’s able to defeat Zeke (Alden Ehrenreich) and The Hood. This leads her to the mastermind behind the curtain, the long-awaited Mephisto (Sacha Baron Coen).Ironheartends with Riri making a dealwith him, leaving the door open for more interactions between Stark-like technology and the unexplored corners of the MCU.
The Active Development of ‘Armor Wars’ Was Retooled and Then Stalled
Back in December 2020,Armor Warswas announced with thunderous applause. With Marvel Studios being fully committed to its packed slate of Disney+ TV shows, the announcement includedDon Cheadlereprising his role as James Rhodes. For the next few years, the series continued in active development, asBlack Monday’sYassir Lesterwashired as head writer. In 2022, Marvel’s seeming confidence in the show made the studio decide to makeArmor Warsa feature film instead.
But, ever since then, news about the film waned. Anambiguous update was givenby producerNate Moorefollowing the release ofCaptain America: Brave New World, apparently indicating the project was stuck in development hell. It’s clear Cheadle is up to play Rhodey whenever he’s required to, soeven ifArmor Wars’ fate might be bleak, the project should be revived for Phase 6 or beyond.
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‘Armor Wars’ Should Answer Several Open-Ended Questions From the MCU
AlthoughArmor Warshas yet to see the light of day, Rhodey has already appeared in a Phase 5 project –Secret Invasion. And even if it’sone of the lesser MCU outings, it’s still canon. In it, Rhodey was revealed to have been abducted and replaced by the Skrulls at some point in the timeline. WithArmor Warsset after these events, it was supposed to answer the questions of when and how he was replaced, as well as exploring the fallout of his comeback.
The fate of important characters of theIron Manfranchise should also be the focus ofArmor Wars. For instance, who would want to come into possession of Stark technology more thanSam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer? Also, after havingTy Simpkins’ Harley Keener at Tony’s funeral, it’s clear he kept in touch with Tony afterIron Man 3. It’d make sense for him to want to continue with his legacy as well. If he were to interact withIronheart’s Riri, their combined intelligence would be unmatched. Plus, the legacy angle could be stretched to Morgan Stark as well, givingKatherine Langfordthe chance to portray the character in the MCU, beyond theAvengers: Endgamedeleted scene.
‘Armor Wars’ Has the Potential to Make Stark Industries Relevant Again in the MCU
Even aftert wasannounced five years ago, not many details are known aboutArmor Wars. If the project is to follow the comic book storyline of the same name, it’d focus on War Machine recovering leaked Stark technology. And boy, does that company have scattered tech across the globe.Spider-Man: Far From HomeshowcasedJake Gyllenhaalas a disgruntled former Stark employee who becomes an instant menace when controlling Stark’s glasses. Situations like these must be an everyday happening in the MCU, and Rhodey is just the man to keep policing them.
MCU crossovers don’t need much explanation behind them, as long as there’s a shared thematic thread. Under this assumption, it’d be logical for Riri’s armor to be mistaken as stolen Stark property. And let’s not forget thatPaul Bettany’s Vision is also composed of Stark technology. He’s set to return in his own series,tentatively titledVision Quest, along withIron Manvillain Raza (Faran Tahir).The consequences of this confrontationcould also play out inArmor Wars.
The MCU is packed with infinite storytelling possibilities. Considering Marvel Studios is currently milkingthe nostalgia factor through legacy actors, it’s understandable for them to keep angling for multiversal adventures. ButArmor Warsis also a product worth developing – with the potential of bringing the old Marvel feeling back. Whichever wayArmor Warsmay go, it’s clear the suit of armor deserves a continuing storyline to keep honoring Tony’s legacy.
