Since Tony Stark (from Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame) discontinued his involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe by snapping his fingers, Marvel Studios have been grappling with the void left behind. Initially, they may not have openly admitted it, but the impact of Iron Man goes beyond technology and wealth. It encompasses presence, leadership, intricate drama, a touch of neurosis, and a hint of paranoia. In essence, it’s about being the smartest person in the room, which can sometimes be more of a burden than a benefit.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced possible future characters – Riri Williams becoming Ironheart, James Rhodes potentially taking over Armor Wars, and Doctor Strange committing well-intentioned errors in the name of a higher cause. However, none of these newcomers have made as strong an impact as Tony Stark did.
The issue lies not only in Stark’s role as an inventor or leader, but rather he was integral to the Avengers, functioning like their central nervous system. His intelligence and apprehension fueled crucial situations. After his demise five years ago, Marvel seems to have discovered a potential candidate who could fill the void left by him – not in an armor suit, but as a moral and emotional foundation for the universe.
Reed Richards Is Built to Inherit Tony’s Burden
Introduce Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in the upcoming MCU’s “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Before the film even hits theaters, Marvel is preparing Reed Richards to be a key figure in the franchise, reflecting his status as a crucial member of Marvel’s First Family. For quite some time, it has been known that Kevin Feige plans for the Fantastic Four to significantly impact the future of the MCU. However, what’s intriguing is how the new film is portraying Reed’s character. In a recent conversation with Empire Magazine, director Matt Shakman disclosed, “There’s the intellectual Reed Richards, and then there’s the action hero, the leader, the husband, the father, the friend. I knew Pedro could handle all of that…
Pascal finds the portrayal particularly captivating: “He exhibits an exceptional form of worrying about potential disasters – possessing a mind capable of assessing threats on a mathematical plane, yet being emotionally open. This contradiction was enthralling.” The key concept here is the “exceptional form of worrying,” which served as the foundation for Stark’s character development.
Read Next
Tony didn’t merely construct suits out of vanity and desire for recognition; instead, it was fueled by his deep-seated fear of the consequences if he didn’t. Ultron, as well as his support for the Sokovia Accords, stemmed from this panic. He lived in constant dread of future alien invasions, potential threats like Thanos, and unexpected events. In the film Endgame, he created a suit more potent than his own for Pepper as a precautionary measure. Reed Richards, with his exceptional mathematical intelligence, isn’t simply intelligent – he is tormented by these same fears. This makes him an ideal character who could embody Tony’s mindset perfectly.
The allure of Reed’s journey isn’t solely due to his intellect; it’s also the emotional toll that comes with such intelligence. This is akin to the predicament Thanos recognized in Stark from their first encounter, which significantly contributed to Stark’s development throughout the Infinity Saga. Reed possesses the ability to foresee outcomes, yet he remains susceptible to the same human blunders Tony encountered: overreaching, poor judgment, and a disguised isolation that appears as confidence. Similarly, Reed, like Stark, will likely become a leader others follow not only for his technology but also for his fear and decisive actions.
If “First Steps” successfully develops Richard’s character in line with Pascal’s expectations, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might find its replacement for Tony Stark, with Robert Downey Jr stepping into the role of the new main antagonist, Doctor Doom. This idea is intriguing because Iron Man frequently balanced heroism and villainy (occasionally accidentally) due to his fear-driven nature, and Mr. Fantastic could embody that same captivating dynamic.
Read More
- The Lowdown on Labubu: What to Know About the Viral Toy
- Valorant Champions 2025: Paris Set to Host Esports’ Premier Event Across Two Iconic Venues
- Street Fighter 6 Game-Key Card on Switch 2 is Considered to be a Digital Copy by Capcom
- We Loved Both of These Classic Sci-Fi Films (But They’re Pretty Much the Same Movie)
- Karate Kid: Legends Hits Important Global Box Office Milestone, Showing Promise Despite 59% RT Score
- Masters Toronto 2025: Everything You Need to Know
- There is no Forza Horizon 6 this year, but Phil Spencer did tease it for the Xbox 25th anniversary in 2026
- Mario Kart World Sold More Than 780,000 Physical Copies in Japan in First Three Days
- ‘The budget card to beat right now’ — Radeon RX 9060 XT reviews are in, and it looks like a win for AMD
- Microsoft Has Essentially Cancelled Development of its Own Xbox Handheld – Rumour
2025-06-22 15:09