If Tony Stark didn’t die inAvengers: Endgameand made it toAvengers: Secret Wars, his eventual end could have been so much worse, showing why his journey in theMCUwas so well concluded the way it was.Avengers: Secret Warswill release May 7th 2027, most likely featuring the biggest cast of Marvel characters ever on screen, with the Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War,Avengers: Endgame) set to direct the epic conclusion of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, it was revealed thatRobert Downey Jr. would play Doctor Doom, marking his return to the MCU after Iron Man died at theend ofAvengers: Endgame. It didn’t seem that Downey Jr. would ever come back to the MCU, especially after his perfect ending, but having him play Doctor Doom inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsis an interesting choice for the universe.
Marvel Comics' Avengers: Secret Wars Story Ties Into Iron Man’s MCU Arc Perfectly
Marvel Comics' storyline “Time Runs Out” shows the imminent destruction of the Marvel universe while everyone is fighting each other. It eventually leads into 2015’s “Secret Wars,” which looks to be the basis for the MCU’s Multiverse Saga conclusion withAvengers: Secret Wars,alongside the original “Secret Wars” from 1984.“Time Runs Out” leading into “Secret Wars” perfectly ties into Tony Stark’s character arc throughout the MCU, particularly what happens inAvengers: Age of UltronandCaptain America: Civil War.
“Time Runs Out” is ultimately about how the desire to protect the universe at all costs can sometimes lead to bigger evils.
“Time Runs Out” is ultimately about how the desire to protect the universe at all costs can sometimes lead to bigger evils. This comes to a head with Iron Man willing to do whatever it takes before “Secret Wars,” which switched its focus to other characters.Iron Man’s character in the MCU begins to feel that way, deciding that there needs to be a"suit of armor around the world.“His paranoia and ego could have gone one step further, like the Marvel Comics storyline, if he hadn’t died in Avengers: Endgame.
Secret Wars Could’ve Paid Off Iron Man’s MCU Arc - But At A Massive Cost
By the end ofAvengers: Infinity Warand intoAvengers: Endgame, Tony’s paranoia and the need to protect the world following the events inAvengers: Age of Ultroncome to fruition, showing that maybe he was right all along. Of course, it isn’t as simple as that, butThanos finally showing up completely validates all the fear that Tony Stark had about what could happen to Earth.
One of the best parts about Captain America: Civil War is that there doesn’t feel like a definitive side to take between Iron Man and Captain America, as both of their fears play out at various times following that film.
Iron Man’s death inAvengers: Endgamewas emotionally devastating, and him saving himself for the entire universe brings his character arc full circle.Avengers: Secret Warscould have also paid off his arc throughout the MCU, but he might not have been as heroic once his death came around, especially if they adapted “Time Runs Out” beforeAvengers: Secret Wars.It would have been even more brutal and could have had Captain America and Iron Man fight once more before Tony Stark’s inevitable end.
The MCU’s Iron Man Needed To Die Before Avengers: Secret Wars
Iron Man’s death inAvengers: Endgamewas the perfect sendoff for the character, helping to finish off a decade of storytelling with one monumental moment in superhero history. Even if the plan was to always doAvengers: Secret Warsfollowing the finale of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, long before Iron Man died inAvengers:Endgame, it would always make sense for him to die beforeSecret Wars.In a way, the Infinity Saga felt like the “Iron Man Saga,” and capping it off with his death is the perfect ending to it.
Why Iron Man’s Death Had To Happen For Phase 4 To Work
Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the MCU, but in hindsight, it was necessary for Phase 4 to work.
Even thoughAvengers: Endgamewas a massive film that is virtually unmatched in scale, it seems likeAvengers: Secret Warscould be even bigger. If Tony Stark had lived,he might not have been as much of a focus inSecret Wars,and his death might not have been as powerful if that was the case. If the MCU wanted to adapt “Time Runs Out” leading up toAvengers: Secret Wars, it could have drastically changed how fans felt about the character and his time in the MCU.
Iron Man got the perfect sendoff inAvengers: Endgame,a character arc a decade in the making, tying it all together in one final heroic moment. For Tony Stark, his death always felt inevitable, with him even willing to embrace it all the way back inThe Avengerswhen he took the nuke through the portal. Despite not having Iron Man around for the massive Multiverse Saga conclusion withAvengers: Secret Wars, it would have felt wrong to keep him around beyond the Infinity Saga.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Cast
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
