A Biased View on Tony Stark’s Potential Return in the Black Widow Movie

The recently confirmed appearance of Tony Stark in the upcoming Black Widow movie has sparked a flurry of discussions among fans. Despite the excitement, the reality is more complex and nuanced than a straightforward “return.”

Understanding the Concept of a “Return”

Many fans, myself included, view Tony Stark’s potential appearance as more of a cameo or a fleeting glimpse into the past rather than a full-scale “return.”

In fact, there are several ways this could play out:

Setting the movie in the past: This is a logical assumption, given Natasha’s status as a deceased character in the MCU. This would allow for a brief appearance from Tony without contradicting later storylines.

Current theories suggest a technological or magic-driven comeback: If Black Widow includes a way to bring Natasha back to life, perhaps Tony would appear in a similar fashion, perhaps in the afterlife or the Soul Stone.

For all we know, Robert Downey Jr. remains retired from reappearing as Iron Man. Hence, this appearance (if confirmed) would be a limited one.

Personal Perspective and Reasons for Skepticism

As someone who isn’t particularly invested in the MCU, my reaction is cautiously neutral at best. However, if these rumors are true, I’m less than thrilled.

Given that Tony Stark’s death at the end of Avengers: Endgame marked a profound and fitting conclusion to his arc, bringing him back now seems unnecessary and potentially damaging to the story.

Why It Feels Awkward

Firstly, there is no concrete evidence that this is accurate. But even if true, such a cameo would be incredibly awkward:

Emotional farewell: Tony’s final appearance in Endgame was emotionally impactful, with a touching funeral speech and a heroic sacrifice. Bringing him back would feel like a betrayal to his character arc.

Potential for misuse: Marvel Studios might extend Robert Downey Jr.’s screen time, which they had originally promised to cut back. Extending it again could feel like a questionable decision.

Imagine the scene: After the tragic funeral and the posthumous speech, Tony suddenly reappears in a flashback. It would be jarring to see him again, especially since we already know the outcome of his story. This would make the experience feel less impactful and more of a misstep.

Could This Set a Bad Precedent?

The potential appearance of Tony Stark in Black Widow raises questions about how Marvel handles character death and their narrative continuity. If they start bringing back beloved characters in flimsy ways, it could set a precedent for future stories.

Given the emotional weight of Tony’s final moments, any return would need to be handled with the utmost care. However, with the current setup, it feels like a jaded and unnecessary element that could damage the storytelling.

So, while the idea of seeing Tony Stark again is tempting, the uncertainties and potential drawbacks make it a rather unsatisfactory prospect.