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I Can’t Believe Marvel Already Debunked One Of The Best MCU Theories For How Robert Downey Jr Could Return Before Avengers: Doomsday

June 13, 2025

Theories about Marvel‘s last chance to bring Robert Downey Jr. back as Iron Man may have been debunked by Ironheart‘s trailers ahead of the series’ June release. Riri Williams is stepping into the spotlight in the MCU’s Ironheart series, which marks a major evolution for the young hero following her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Despite never meeting Iron Man in the MCU, Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams inherits Tony Stark’s legacy through her technology and her heroic stand against villains like the Hood.

Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU in a completely new role. Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom role marks a huge shift for Downey, whose portrayal of Tony Stark carried the Infinity Saga from 2008’s Iron Man to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Doctor Doom will allow Downey to explore the complete opposite of his original MCU character in Avengers: Doomsday, perhaps with little to no direct ties to Iron Man.

MCU Theory Had Robert Downey Jr Returning As AI Tony Stark In Ironheart

Tony Stark Serves As Ironheart’s Equivalent To JARVIS In The Comics

In Marvel Comics, Tony Stark falls into a coma in the second Civil War. Stark, who had already met and approved Riri Williams as his eventual successor, had an AI version of himself delivered to Riri. From that point, Riri Williams’ Tony Stark AI system served as her mentor and helped her design her next Ironheart suits of armor. Riri’s AI also piloted the real Tony Stark’s Iron Man suits of armor and joined forces with other Avengers to save the world while Stark recovered.

While Riri never got to meet Stark in the MCU, she could have found a prototype AI duplicate of Stark at Damage Control, the Avengers HQ, Stark Industries, or MIT

After Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams made her MCU debut and received tech and resources from the Wakandans in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it would make sense for Riri to receive posthumous support from Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. Spider-Man: Far From Home revealed that Tony Stark left Peter Parker an inheritance in the form of EDITH, the Stark drones, and the Iron Spider. While Riri never got to meet Stark in the MCU, she could have found a prototype AI duplicate of Stark at Damage Control, the Avengers HQ, Stark Industries, or MIT.

Marvel Revealed Riri Williams’ AI System Is NATALIE

The MCU Reimagines Riri Williams’ Childhood Friend

Ironheart‘s second full-length trailer reveals that Riri Williams has created her own AI system. Unlike Tony Stark’s JARVIS and FRIDAY, Riri’s AI has an anthropomorphic appearance, taking the form of a young woman named Natalie. The second Ironheart trailer hints at initial uncertainty in Riri’s relationship with Natalie, but also suggests that they’ll soon develop a strong bond. Natalie is played by This Is Us star Lyric Ross, who joined the Ironheart cast early in the show’s development.

Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark seems lost in thought while he tests an Iron Man glove-1

RDJ’s Iron Man Never Fought Many Of His Comic Villains But His MCU Replacement Gives Marvel A Chance To Fix This Problem

Iron Man’s recurring villains could get a second chance to shine in the MCU thanks to Tony Stark’s MCU successor, Riri Williams a.k.a. Ironheart.

Natalie is likely an adaptation of NATALIE a.k.a. “Neuro-Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory Intelligence Entity” — an AI modeled after Riri’s late childhood friend, Natalie Washington. In the source material, a young Riri witnesses the tragic deaths of Natalie and her stepfather in a drive-by shooting, and she later designs an AI resembling an older Natalie to honor her friend’s memory. Riri’s step-father also makes a brief appearance in the second Ironheart trailer, which suggests the MCU show will adapt Riri Williams’ origin story accurately.

Why It’s Good That Robert Downey Jr Won’t Appear In Ironheart

Robert Downey Jr. Shouldn’t Reprise His Iron Man Role After Endgame

Robert Downey Jr sitting in a set chair with the Avengers: Doomsday cast

Avengers: Endgame gave Iron Man the best possible conclusion, with Tony Stark sacrificing his life to save the universe. Unlike their comic book counterparts, MCU characters require well-defined endings, as actors cannot reprise their roles indefinitely. While MCU canon technically leaves enough room to explore untold chapters of Tony Stark’s past, a new Robert Downey Jr. cameo would undermine Iron Man’s emotional farewell in the eyes of audiences. For example, Tony Stark was considered for Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Earth-616 flashback scene, but a small comedic appearance would have felt out of place after the gravity of Iron Man’s Avengers: Endgame sacrifice.

An Iron Man AI would definitely overshadow Riri Williams in her own MCU show

Robert Downey Jr.’s return as an AI version of Iron Man in Ironheartwould also undercut the significance of his Doctor Doom role in Avengers: Doomsday, which relies heavily on the mystery surrounding Downey’s villain casting and Doctor Doom’s potential resemblance to Tony Stark. Riri Williams’ Tony Stark AI works in the comics because the real Stark would inevitably come back, whereas Downey’s return as an AI in the MCU would send the wrong message, as Downey may never reprise his Iron Man role after playing Doctor Doom. Not to mention, an Iron Man AI would definitely overshadow Riri Williams in her own MCU show.