Why Iron Man 4 Never Happened In The MCU
Summary
It seems as if the idea was at least entertained, as negotiations were reportedly happening around the release of Iron Man 3. RDJ, Kevin Feige, or anyone else at Marvel Studios has never given an official reason why Iron Man 4 didn't happen. However, looking at the circumstances around Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man, and the wider MCU provides some reasonable insight into why Iron Man 4 didn't work out.
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Related Iron Man 4 Has The Perfect Opportunity To Fix A Major Marvel Movie Villain Problem Iron Man movie villains have been a lackluster lineup, but it is something that Iron Man 4 could improve upon with one key change Robert Downey Jr. Was More Expensive Than Other Avengers Close Many MCU stars earn percentages of their films, but none seem to have locked in as big of a number as RDJ.
While it's hard to imagine in hindsight, Iron Man was far from a guaranteed success, and an interconnected shared universe was a risky gamble in the early years of the MCU. Moreover, Robert Downy Jr. himself was a risky casting given his previous fall from stardom and off-screen struggles. Given all of these unknowns, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. worked out a contract different than the ones other MCU stars would later sign. Instead of massive guaranteed money (though he'd get that later, too), RDJ also earned a percentage of what his movies took in at the box office.
It's easy to understand why forgoing a massive paycheck for Iron Man and instead offering a percentage of earnings makes sense. Since the movie was a risk, it mitigated potential losses on Marvel's end and tied RDJ's making more money to the studio's doing the same. However, RDJ's earnings-based contract led to enormous paychecks as the MCU grew and smashed box-office records.
Exact dollars and cents are unknown for the actors of the MCU, but RDJ reportedly signed for about 8% of a movie's earnings as part of his initial contract. Between this and his up-front, guaranteed pay, he went from making $2.5m total for Iron Man to a whopping $75m for Avengers: Endgame. Many, or even most, MCU stars earn percentages of their films, but none seem to have locked in as big of a number as RDJ. As such, Iron Man 4 would simply be a bigger expense for Marvel Studios than other projects.
Iron Man Remained A Main Character In Team-Up Movies Close Tony was well enough developed throughout his solo movies that he could flourish in a group setting.
Iron Man's movie trilogy wrapped up early, but it's not as if the hero disappeared from the MCU. RDJ's initial contract locked him in for a certain number of appearances, and it's clear that Marvel Studios decided it's more important to have Iron Man anchor big team-up movies than receive a fourth solo project. It's hard to argue that it wasn't the right call.
Iron Man, along with Captain America and, to a lesser extent, Thor, remained the narrative focus of the entire Infinity Saga. Despite Captain America: Civil War being titled as a Steve Rogers movie, it's just as much about Tony Stark. Tony is also arguably the main character of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He doesn't take center stage in Spider-Man: Homecoming, but his role there is also important nonetheless. In short, Tony was well enough developed throughout his solo movies that he could flourish in a group setting, something not always as true for franchise newcomers.
The MCU Needed To Develop Other Heroes Close It's likely Marvel Studios knew they needed to set the groundwork for new big names
Another reason Iron Man 4 likely didn't happen is that Marvel Studios can only release so many movies in a given year, and the franchise needed to develop new heroes. Several now-iconic characters and teams didn't make their MCU debut until after Iron Man 3, and it's possible that one of them may have been cut from the release schedule had Tony gotten another feature project. While it's unclear when it was decided Tony Stark would sacrifice himself and Steve would retire in Endgame, it's likely Marvel Studios knew they needed to set the groundwork for new big names.
Heroes With Infinity Saga Debut Movies After Iron Man 3
Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, Groot
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Scott Lang
Ant-Man (2015)
Stephen Strange
Doctor Strange (2016)
Peter Parker
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
T'Challa
Black Panther (2018)
Carol Danvers
Captain Marvel (2019)
Given that each of those post-Iron Man 3 heroes went on to become iconic in their own right, it's hard to disagree with the decision. The post-Endgame MCU may be struggling to find a narrative core to replace the original Avengers, but strong individual characters remain as popular as ever. While Iron Man 4 seems all but impossible to make happen at this point, Tony's legacy continues to live on in how it shaped the MCU and big-budget action cinema as a whole.
Every Iron Man movie is currently available to stream on Disney+.
Iron ManIron Man 2Iron Man 3DirectorJon FavreauJon FavreauShane BlackRelease Date2008-05-022010-05-072013-05-03WritersHawk Ostby, Mark Fergus, Art Marcum, Matt HollowayJustin TherouxShane Black, Drew PearceCastTerrence Howard, Leslie Bibb, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Shaun Toub, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth PaltrowMickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth PaltrowGuy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow
[圖擷取自網路，如有疑問請私訊]
- Iron Man 4 never materialized, and while no official reason has been given, it was likely a combination of several factors.
- Tony Stark's role in team-up movies outweighed the need for a fourth Iron Man solo film in the MCU.
- Marvel focused on developing new heroes post-Iron Man 3, making room for iconic characters like Black Panther and Doctor Strange.
It seems as if the idea was at least entertained, as negotiations were reportedly happening around the release of Iron Man 3. RDJ, Kevin Feige, or anyone else at Marvel Studios has never given an official reason why Iron Man 4 didn't happen. However, looking at the circumstances around Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man, and the wider MCU provides some reasonable insight into why Iron Man 4 didn't work out.
Related Iron Man 4 Has The Perfect Opportunity To Fix A Major Marvel Movie Villain Problem Iron Man movie villains have been a lackluster lineup, but it is something that Iron Man 4 could improve upon with one key change Robert Downey Jr. Was More Expensive Than Other Avengers Close Many MCU stars earn percentages of their films, but none seem to have locked in as big of a number as RDJ. While it's hard to imagine in hindsight, Iron Man was far from a guaranteed success, and an interconnected shared universe was a risky gamble in the early years of the MCU. Moreover, Robert Downy Jr. himself was a risky casting given his previous fall from stardom and off-screen struggles. Given all of these unknowns, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. worked out a contract different than the ones other MCU stars would later sign. Instead of massive guaranteed money (though he'd get that later, too), RDJ also earned a percentage of what his movies took in at the box office.
It's easy to understand why forgoing a massive paycheck for Iron Man and instead offering a percentage of earnings makes sense. Since the movie was a risk, it mitigated potential losses on Marvel's end and tied RDJ's making more money to the studio's doing the same. However, RDJ's earnings-based contract led to enormous paychecks as the MCU grew and smashed box-office records.
Exact dollars and cents are unknown for the actors of the MCU, but RDJ reportedly signed for about 8% of a movie's earnings as part of his initial contract. Between this and his up-front, guaranteed pay, he went from making $2.5m total for Iron Man to a whopping $75m for Avengers: Endgame. Many, or even most, MCU stars earn percentages of their films, but none seem to have locked in as big of a number as RDJ. As such, Iron Man 4 would simply be a bigger expense for Marvel Studios than other projects.
Iron Man Remained A Main Character In Team-Up Movies Close Tony was well enough developed throughout his solo movies that he could flourish in a group setting.
Iron Man's movie trilogy wrapped up early, but it's not as if the hero disappeared from the MCU. RDJ's initial contract locked him in for a certain number of appearances, and it's clear that Marvel Studios decided it's more important to have Iron Man anchor big team-up movies than receive a fourth solo project. It's hard to argue that it wasn't the right call.
Iron Man, along with Captain America and, to a lesser extent, Thor, remained the narrative focus of the entire Infinity Saga. Despite Captain America: Civil War being titled as a Steve Rogers movie, it's just as much about Tony Stark. Tony is also arguably the main character of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He doesn't take center stage in Spider-Man: Homecoming, but his role there is also important nonetheless. In short, Tony was well enough developed throughout his solo movies that he could flourish in a group setting, something not always as true for franchise newcomers.
The MCU Needed To Develop Other Heroes Close It's likely Marvel Studios knew they needed to set the groundwork for new big names
Another reason Iron Man 4 likely didn't happen is that Marvel Studios can only release so many movies in a given year, and the franchise needed to develop new heroes. Several now-iconic characters and teams didn't make their MCU debut until after Iron Man 3, and it's possible that one of them may have been cut from the release schedule had Tony gotten another feature project. While it's unclear when it was decided Tony Stark would sacrifice himself and Steve would retire in Endgame, it's likely Marvel Studios knew they needed to set the groundwork for new big names.
Heroes With Infinity Saga Debut Movies After Iron Man 3
Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, Groot
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Scott Lang
Ant-Man (2015)
Stephen Strange
Doctor Strange (2016)
Peter Parker
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
T'Challa
Black Panther (2018)
Carol Danvers
Captain Marvel (2019)
Given that each of those post-Iron Man 3 heroes went on to become iconic in their own right, it's hard to disagree with the decision. The post-Endgame MCU may be struggling to find a narrative core to replace the original Avengers, but strong individual characters remain as popular as ever. While Iron Man 4 seems all but impossible to make happen at this point, Tony's legacy continues to live on in how it shaped the MCU and big-budget action cinema as a whole.
Every Iron Man movie is currently available to stream on Disney+.
Iron ManIron Man 2Iron Man 3DirectorJon FavreauJon FavreauShane BlackRelease Date2008-05-022010-05-072013-05-03WritersHawk Ostby, Mark Fergus, Art Marcum, Matt HollowayJustin TherouxShane Black, Drew PearceCastTerrence Howard, Leslie Bibb, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Shaun Toub, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth PaltrowMickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth PaltrowGuy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow
[圖擷取自網路，如有疑問請私訊]
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