Marvel legend teases MCU comeback in the Multiverse Saga

As a longtime Marvel fan who has witnessed the growth of the Cinematic Universe from its humble beginnings with Iron Man back in 2008, it is nothing short of breathtaking to see how far this franchise has come. From the original universe to the multiverse, it’s like the sky is no longer the limit for Marvel Studios.

Over the last 15 years or more, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has exploded into a massive cultural phenomenon. Initially launched with “Iron Man” in 2008, it has since ballooned into a vast cosmos teeming with heroes, villains, and everything in between. Nowadays, simply calling it a universe doesn’t quite capture its scale, as it has transcended those boundaries, encompassing the entire Marvel multiverse at this stage.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is currently immersed in its Multiverse Storyline, delving into various movies and Disney Plus series that traverse alternate dimensions, and even unveiling fresh iterations of familiar heroes. It’s almost trite to assert that the potential for Marvel is boundless, but given the current possibilities of this film franchise, the scope truly seems limitless.

Instead of relying on my opinion, consider the examples of movies like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Deadpool and Wolverine.” These films brought back original actors to play their classic Marvel characters and villains once more. This phenomenon raises the question about potential recurrences from different universes. Remarkably, one prominent Marvel figure has even hinted at a possible reprisal of his character in its original form.

Jeff Bridges on the potential of an MCU return as Obadiah Stane

Legendary actor Jeff Bridges recently chatted about his career, including his latest project “The Old Man” and classic films like “The Big Lebowski” and “King Kong”, on The Happy Sad Confused Podcast with Josh Horowitz. He also reminisced about his time as Obadiah Stane in Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man”, sharing thoughts on the movie’s script and hinting at a possible return to the MCU as the character.

In the 2008 film, Jeff Bridges played Obadiah Stane, also known as the Iron Monger, marking him as the inaugural villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Stane was a long-time confidant of Tony Stark and ran Stark Industries. However, behind the scenes, he masterminded Tony’s kidnapping and illegally sold Stark’s weapons to the highest bidders.

Marvel legend teases MCU comeback in the Multiverse Saga

In the final scene of Iron Man, it appears that the character met his end during a massive battle, leading to his electrocution and fall into the Arc Reactor, causing it to explode. However, actor Robert Downey Jr. hinted at a twist for fans, suggesting that the events might not be as straightforward as they seemed in the movie’s original draft.

When Horowitz questioned him regarding a possible comeback portraying an alternate character in the Multiverse Storyline, Bridges proposed returning as the authentic Obadiah Stane instead. He disclosed that the initial Iron Man script kept the villain’s end somewhat unclear for the original version.

[He] falls into that big vat at the end, the script I read and agreed to do, they pull my suit out, they open it and I’m not there… Who knows, it’s all science fiction. I could maybe pop up again.

In the realm of comic book villains, such an ending isn’t unusual, given its portrayal in both comics and TV series, featuring characters like The Joker and Catwoman. Fans of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) believe this is what Marvel Studios has done with Scarlet Witch in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” They argue that this could have made a fitting conclusion for “Iron Man” back in 2008, but it would have left the MCU franchise with an unresolved narrative. This open-ending could be addressed if Stane were to reappear someday.

In a thrilling twist for Marvel fans, Robert Downey Jr., who previously starred alongside Bridges’ Iron Man, is set to reprise his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the main antagonist across the Multiverse Saga. Known for playing Tony Stark from 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr. will now portray a malevolent version of the character called Doctor Doom in upcoming films such as Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Endgame. This exciting turn of events underscores the immense possibilities offered by the Multiverse Saga.

The idea of Jeff Bridges possibly reappearing in a Marvel project is equally thrilling, especially since the Multiverse Saga aims to honor all Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. Remember, he was the first villain in the MCU! If this comes true, it might be as a different version of his character in a brief appearance, ensuring it doesn’t contradict the ending of Iron Man. Regardless, fans would undoubtedly rejoice at his return to our screens. Additionally, such an appearance would serve as a delightful nod back to the original MCU film.

2024-09-26 22:31

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