Phase 5’s Most Exciting MCU Character Introduction Theory Can Fix An Iron Man Storyline Waste

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Summary

Marvel Studios may finally bring elements of the iconic "Demon in a Bottle" Iron Man storyline to life through the character of Sentry in the upcoming Thunderbolts project.
The MCU has previously avoided more mature and hard-hitting narratives, but with a new focus on delivering projects with more adult themes, it opens up the opportunity to explore elements of Tony Stark's Marvel Comics history in more detail.
Recent MCU projects have proven that Marvel Studios can handle darker storylines and tackle heavier themes, making Phase 5 the perfect time to include elements of Demon in a Bottle in the Sentry's MCU story.

Although Marvel Studios may have wasted one of the most iconic Iron Man storylines, Thunderbolts could finally bring elements of this tragic story to life, if one rumored character debuts in the Phase 5 crossover project. Many Iron Man-centric storylines from Marvel Comics were adapted into live-action for the MCU, but some of the character's more mature and hard-hitting narratives were avoided in an effort to uphold the family-friendly tones of the MCU. However, Marvel Studios has recently confirmed that more adult storylines will be coming to the franchise, with several upcoming MCU projects receiving TV-MA and R-ratings, which means an iconic Iron Man story can finally be done justice.
While Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark might be absent from the MCU after his sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, one of his most memorable storylines from Marvel Comics can still be revisited in the MCU's future. Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts has been rumored to be debuting Robert Reynolds, a.k.a. the Sentry, a massively troubled character from Marvel Comics who succumbs to addiction and substance abuse just like Tony Stark. If Sentry debuts in Thunderbolts, the Phase 5 project can include elements of Tony Stark's Marvel Comics' history, particularly with Marvel Studios focusing more on delivering mature projects with adult themes, such as those in the MCU's upcoming Echo, Deadpool 3, and Blade.
MCU's Sentry Could Make Up For Iron Man's Wasted Comic Storyline Close Often referred to as the quintessential Iron Man story in Marvel Comics, 1979's Demon in a Bottle saw Tony Stark's Iron Man armor sabotaged by Justin Hammer, and after a series of malfunctions and tragic actions, the armor is confiscated, and Stark is dropped as leader of the Avengers. He turns to alcohol to numb his pain and insecurities, which quickly devolves into Stark developing an addiction to alcohol. While he eventually overcomes this addiction, Demon in a Bottle left a huge impact on Stark, but the MCU's adaptation of this story was lackluster at best, shown in only a few moments of a drunken Stark in Iron Man 2.
Marvel Studios likely side-stepped this storyline in the MCU's early days as it was simply too heavy-hitting for the family-friendly tones that had been cultivated for the franchise. However, with more mature plots making their way into the MCU, it's possible that Demon in a Bottle could be reinvented for the Sentry in Thunderbolts, particularly since his Marvel Comics backstory also involves substance abuse. In 2009's Dark Avengers #13, it's revealed that a meth-addicted Reynolds had broken into a lab and taken the super-soldier serum that transformed him into the Sentry in an effort to feed his drug addiction. This tragic storyline could unfold in the MCU's Phase 5.
Robert Reynolds woke up in 2000's The Sentry #1 suddenly remembering his previous life as a world-renowned superhero, the Sentry, and sought his old superhero friends to help thwart the impending threat of the Void - the Sentry's dark alter ego.
Why The MCU Has Proved It Can Handle An Addiction Storyline

In recent projects, Marvel Studios has delivered mature storylines in the MCU, most notably with Peter Quill's alcoholism in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, T'Challa's death and the subsequent grief in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Marc Spector's experiences with Dissociative Identity Disorder in Moon Knight. With even more adult narratives on the horizon, this may be the perfect time for elements of Demon in a Bottle to make their way into Sentry's MCU story. Since Sentry won't be as central to the MCU as Iron Man, the character's debut is a great opportunity to explore this darker story, rather than just slightly alluding to it.
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