In the Marvel Comics universe, Tony Stark reappears as an artificial intelligence entity, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has decided not to follow this path, instead opting to replace Tony Stark. Since his departure in Avengers: Endgame, he’s been absent from the MCU, although references to him and tributes to his legacy still occur. There was speculation that he might reappear in Avengers: Secret Wars, but this possibility seems less likely now that Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as Doctor Doom for the upcoming two Avengers films.
In the latest preview for Ironheart, the final moments hint that Marvel Studios plans to incorporate certain aspects of the initial comic book storyline for Ironheart. Specifically, we see Riri Williams designing an artificial intelligence companion in the story.
Initially, Tony Stark was the character who introduced himself as Riri’s first artificial intelligence hologram in the comics, however, the trailer indicates a change, suggesting someone else has taken his place now.
In the recorded material, it has been verified that Lyric Ross is set to play the character known as Natalie, who is an AI assistant in the storyline. Consequently, she will assume the role previously played by Tony Stark in the comic books.
It’s important to mention that Natalie is also a character from the comics, but she wasn’t Riri’s initial AI assistant. In the original storyline, Natalie was Riri’s friend who tragically lost her life in a drive-by shooting. Later on, after Tony’s AI was developed, she was brought back as an artificial intelligence construct.
I can’t help but notice that Marvel Studios seems to have subtly acknowledged theories suggesting Tony Stark could reappear as Riri’s AI assistant. This is evident in the trailer where, when Natalie first appeared on screen, she addressed Riri (and perhaps us viewers playfully) saying, “‘Who else would it be, huh?’“. This line certainly feels reminiscent of Tony Stark’s character from the comics, as Natalie steps into his shoes.
The full trailer for Ironheart that was recently released can be seen below:
On June 24, 2025, Ironheart will debut its initial three episodes on Disney+. This upcoming production marks the conclusion of Phase 5 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as it is the final project before Phase 6 commences with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
In the forthcoming series, Dominique Thorne takes on the role of Riri Williams, while Anthony Ramos portrays Parker Robbins, and Alden Ehrenreich is also featured.
Why Isn’t Tony Stark Appearing in Ironheart
Absolutely! Many Marvel Universe enthusiasts would undoubtedly get excited if Tony Stark reappeared in the MCU as Riri Williams’ AI assistant, but remember, he briefly showed up as a hologram at the end of “Avengers: Endgame” following his demise. Yet, there are several compelling arguments for why Tony Stark might not be suitable for the Ironheart series.
In essence, “Ironheart” is primarily centered around Riri, which also implies it belongs to Dominique Thorne as well. If Tony Stark were to reappear, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., the spotlight would predominantly be on him instead of Riri – a scenario that Marvel Studios and Thorne are working hard to avoid in this upcoming series.
The upcoming Marvel Studios series is set to showcase Riri Williams as a unique character who will carve out her own destiny and break free from Iron Man’s influence. However, if Iron Man were to appear in the series, it might strengthen their connection, potentially making it challenging for some viewers to perceive Riri as an independent figure.
It’s important to note that having Tony Stark serve as Riri’s AI assistant would likely be financially unfeasible due to the high cost associated with Robert Downey Jr., who portrays Tony Stark. Since the show, Ironheart, is a Disney+ series, it’s not economically viable for Marvel Studios and Disney to pay such a substantial fee for a character like Tony Stark when he isn’t the main focus of the series.
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2025-06-17 17:34