Robert Downey Jr. teased a “big announcement” in 8 days along with his Iron Man character poster for Avengers: Age of Ultron last week via Twitter.
What will it be?
Here are four theories for your consideration:
Iron Man/Spider-Man
RDJ is Marvel’s biggest box-office champ so why not have him help Spidey start swinging again. RDJ joined Captain America: Civil War. When Spidey joined Avengers in the Brian Bendis run, Peter Parker found a mentor in Tony Stark. I’d love to see Parker and Stark work together in a team-up film. It’s possible RDJ will announce he will appear in the Marvel/Sony Spider-Man film following Civil War.
Iron Man 4
Given Tony Stark’s ego let’s assume it’s all about him but what will the story be?
How about Stark vs. a younger, smarter corporate titan but without an ounce of morality like Tony? Tony battled Ezekiel Stane, the son of his great enemy Obadiah. This was The Five Nightmares, the first arc of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca’s epic run. Armor Wars by David Micheline and Bob Layton saw Tony on the hunt for all the Stark tech stolen and used by an army of super villains. This team is responsible for Demon in a Bottle, what some call the definitive Iron Man story.
Iron Man/Team-Up
Who rivals Tony Stark when it comes to intelligence? T’Challa. Tony is a global force. Why wouldn’t Tony try to forge relations with Black Panther and Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman took the stage with Downey at Marvel’s big movie lineup announcement. As an Avenger and genius tycoon, Tony would be invested in the future of Wakanda, the world’s only source of vibranium. In comics Tony has strong connections to Carol Danvers so Tony could turn up in Captain Marvel or Inhumans. With Downey’s box-office cloud and Tony Stark’s comic connections, Iron Man could be Marvel’s MVP insuring fans will accept the newer heroes of the expanding Cinematic Universe.
The Illuminati/Planet Hulk/World War Hulk
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner are colleagues who appreciate each others’ intelligence but in Avengers: Age of Ultron it’s Iron Man in Hulkbuster armor vs. Hulk.
Look to comics for the foundation of a bitter rivalry between the two big brains.
With Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Black Panther and Black Bolt of the Inhumans in the Marvel films we almost have all the members of this covert club of heroes from the comics. Reed Richards and Namor were the other members. Professor Xavier and then Beast were the mutant representatives on the super team. This cabal of Marvel’s biggest brains met in secret and carried out missions they kept secret from the rest of the Avengers.
Tony Stark convinced the Illuminati that Hulk had to go. When Bruce Banner completely lost control of the monster within, Tony led the mission to trap the Hulk and exile him to a uninhabited world. The ship crashed on an alien world in the epic Planet Hulk story by Greg Pak.
Hulk became a champion in “Gladiator” style games. With his Warbound fellow warriors, Hulk led a revolution, conquered the planet and headed back for Earth and revenge in World War Hulk.
If that’s not reason enough to go to war, Bruce Banner learned Tony Stark played a role in the accident that turned him into the Hulk in the Original Sin event by Jason Aaron.
If Marvel green lights a Hulk movie with Mark Ruffalo, the comics canon is there to firmly tie it into the action of the previous films and set the stage for a planet shaking showdown green the Green Goliath and Armored Avenger.
Which theory do you hope comes true? Share in the comments below or with us on Twitter.
By Editor