In what is likely one of the most obvious publicity stunts in recent Marvel history, actor Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man, publicly endorsed Disney’s upcoming Ironheart TV series on Good Morning America.
The problem? The internet reaction has been visibly negative for this show.
In a simpler and more conversational style: The first trailer for Ironheart received over 521,000 dislikes on YouTube compared to only 217,000 likes. The second trailer hasn’t done much better, with around 70,000 dislikes versus 45,000 likes. There have been numerous critical comments, and viewers are openly criticizing the show’s tone, visual effects, and concept. People are even making fun of these aspects.
In simpler terms, Downey’s brief video message seemed scripted and had an overly enthusiastic tone towards Dominique Thorne. He inserted an uncomfortable joke about Parker Robbins, who is known as “The Hood,” hinting at the possibility of him taking over the role of Doctor Doom from Downey himself.
The segment ended with Downey declaring, “Iron Man loves Ironheart.”
Let’s bring on the hearty cheers, if you will, especially from the live audience at ABC Television, a network that, as we all know, falls under the ownership of Disney.
A Manufactured Moment
The delivery and attitude of the message have promptly raised doubts among followers, as many perceived it as an insincere effort to stage a “handover” event that lacked authenticity. To them, this supposed transition didn’t occur naturally.
Previously, Dominique Thorne asserted that Robert Downey Jr., in private, had given her his approval to continue his Marvel legacy. However, without any video evidence or public confirmation, this story didn’t gain traction. Now, mere days before the show’s release on June 24th, a major endorsement has surfaced from someone who is currently earning millions for his role in Avengers: Endgame.
Convenient.
Access Media Loves It
The mainstream media, of course, lapped this up.
Gizmodo enthusiastically shared their praise for the show and Downey’s impressive voicemail, penning an adoring homage that could be aptly called over-the-top admiration.
The website excitedly announced that Tony Stark had given his backing to the show, describing it as a significant event and likening the seemingly arranged scene to a high-profile political endorsement from a party veteran. In an attempt to downplay the obvious staging, the publication mentioned, “he wasn’t obligated to make any recording at all.
As a die-hard movie fan, let me tell you, if Downey truly felt passionate about Ironheart, he wouldn’t have just given a well-rehearsed phone call from the Avengers: Doomsday set. His delivery—stiff and filled with awkward lines like “the hood has me nervous”—didn’t really convince us this was anything beyond a contractual duty.
Unfortunately, the public reaction to the Ironheart trailer on YouTube hasn’t been as positive as Disney had expected. Instead of the enthusiasm typically associated with a new Marvel debut, the initial response resembles more of a controversial political advertisement. The second trailer has faced similar criticism and skepticism, drowning under a pile of negative comments from viewers.
Meanwhile, Gizmodo persists in proposing Ironheart as a character who will uphold Tony Stark’s legacy and continue his work, but it appears the general Marvel Cinematic Universe fanbase is not immediately convinced by this notion.
As a fan, I must admit that while Riri Williams is a fresh addition to Marvel’s comics, she doesn’t carry the same depth, history, or charm that made Tony Stark an iconic character. It feels somewhat forced when they present her as his potential successor, especially considering the apparent scripted nature of this message. This seems like another instance where Marvel may be losing touch with their audience and failing to resonate with us in a meaningful way.
A day after it was discovered that seemingly promotional bot activities, presumably boosting the hype for the series, surfaced on X.
In a moment when Marvel seems to be yearning for genuine energy, I find myself expressing concerns about the hype surrounding Ironheart. It appears that her popularity might not be entirely organic, with suspected social media bot activity and even an unwarranted celebrity endorsement seemingly inflating her appeal. If this is what we’re calling “passing the torch” in today’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s no surprise that the fire of excitement seems to be dwindling.
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2025-06-18 22:56