Why Iron Man Should Die in Avengers 4 (For Real)

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Infinity War

Marvel fans don't know what's coming in Avengers 4, but there's a good chance it will bring the death of Tony Stark. That's our theory, considering the growing evidence that the one-time MCU poster-boy will be heading for the exist sooner rather than later. Not as a case of the studio wanting to shift away from their most established (and most expensive) leading actor. Nor is it, as in the case of Chris Evans, a desire to move on to other creative pursuits or roles. Robert Downey, Jr. has spoken candidly about the fact that playing Iron Man well past fifty could prove disastrous, and would rather go out on top.

So as Marvel angled the marketing for Avengers 3 as a major turning point for the MCU, and decided not to comment on the fact that Iron Man won't appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming 2, there was more reason than ever to assume that with the arrival of Thanos raising the stakes, the time had finally come: Iron Man would die in Avengers: Infinity War.

That obviously wasn't the case... in fact, Tony was one of the few Marvel heroes who survived Thanos's plan. But fans shouldn't exhale just yet: Tony Stark's death may still be the grand finale to the second part of this story, coming in Avengers 4.

This Page: Why The Time is Right For Iron Man To Leave MCU

All Signs Point To Robert Downey, Jr. Leaving The MCU

Robert Downey Jr in Save the Day campaign

To assume that future in the Marvel movie universe is set in stone - especially after the conclusion of Infinity War - would be wishful thinking. Mainly because the future of the MCU itself seems to be undecided... with Tony the leading candidate to actually set things right.

For obvious reasons, it's hard to believe Infinity War's ending is going to stick. Sure, the original cast of The Avengers has all survived into this bigger, more plentiful universe. Seeing the teams, legacy heroes, and most popular new MCU franchise leads turned to dust was a shock not just for story reasons, but because it seemed to be the opposite of the obvious twist. That's likely why Marvel made the choice, upending the expectation that it would be the old heroes cast aside, leaving the new stars to save the day. And where Iron Man was concerned, see Tony Stark among the most meaningful heroes to die in that hand-off.

That may still be the plan, however, when taking into consideration the movie's final twist. The evidence suggesting Robert Downey, Jr. will be hanging up his Iron Man armor isn't changing. And with Doctor Strange's final words, and the claim that Downey would be up for "one last Iron Man adventure," the answer is clear. Downey's last Iron Man story... is quite possibly the last Iron Man story there can be.

We think it's time for fans to prepare to see Tony Stark die in Avengers 4 - and accept that it's the best possible ending for the character to not just meet, but embrace.

Tony Stark's Story is Ready For An Ending

Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland in Spider-Man Homecoming

In no uncertain terms, it was the arrival of the first Iron Man that sparked the newborn Marvel Universe into existence. Ever since, the story of Tony Stark has paralleled the growth of the MCU from infancy to adulthood. The first Iron Man saw Tony rise from irresponsible adolescence to adulthood, choosing a place in the world, and a mission. Iron Man 2 was something of a midlife crisis, grappling with his mortality, looking past those who loved him, and realizing his role in a larger peer group. The Avengers made him obsessed with avoiding-- no, preventing his own mortality, and what danger might come to those he loves once he's gone.

The introduction of Spider-Man has shifted Tony into a phase never before thought likely for the billionaire genius playboy philanthropist: fatherhood. It started in Civil War, blossomed in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and has now taken center stage (in heartbreaking fashion) with Infinity War. Tony's desire to fan the flames of genius and heroism in Peter Parker was clear from the start. And his confessed hope that Peter wouldn't just follow in his footsteps, but "be better." In other words, be able to protect the world once Tony no longer can. And his indelicate way of teaching this lesson may be the perfect culmination of Tony's love/hate relationship with his own father.

But things have taken a turn. With the arrival of Thanos, it's the son who has died... leaving the father with no future to prepare him for.

Doctor Strange May Hint at Tony Stark's Coming Death

It may seem like the death of Tony Stark won't fix anything for the better - the world will be more vulnerable without Iron Man, and Peter won't have his example to follow any further. But Infinity War shows the real endgame Tony has been preparing for since The Avengers: there are no good choices left, and alive or not, the Tony dreaming of raising a child with Pepper in the film's first scenes is not the one left shaken in its ending. There may be only one possible course of action for Tony Stark to take... and Doctor Strange may have already revealed the price it will cost.

Some fans have already noticed that Doctor Strange's plan is deeper than it seems. With little respect or reverence for Tony on their way to the planet Titan, Strange seems to grasp the threat of Thanos more than anyone. A point he makes clear when stating that he would allow death to claim all other heroes before he ever gave up the Stone.

Until he looks into the future, and reveals to Tony - in carefully considered, somber words, and we would argue with seemingly higher regard for Tony from that point on - that of the millions of failures, there is "just one" path that doesn't end in total defeat. In turning over the Time Stone to keep Tony alive, Strange reveals Iron Man is - given his previous claims - the most important person to this story going forward. And as Strange turns to dust, it isn't advice or insight into the future he offers with a quip or dig.

Doctor Strange gives a heartfelt, grim apology to Tony... Reiterating that "there was no other way."

Tony Stark Must Die So The Universe Can Live

Avengers Infinity War - Doctor Strange and Iron Man

Our theory, which we believe is supported by both Tony's character arc thus far, and the clues offered by Doctor Strange, is that only Tony can undo the actions of, and eventually defeat Thanos. That's what Strange saw when looking into the future, and why he suddenly stopped when finally seeing the one way for the heroes to win: Tony Stark can defeat Thanos, but it will cost him his life to do it.

By the end of Infinity War, the filmmakers give a strong case that Tony would give his life for Peter's, if not based on logic or strategy, then as a fatherly sacrifice for the closest thing he has ever had to a son. How poetic it would be, then, that Thanos would sacrifice the child he loves to do the impossible, only to be beaten by the man who would sacrifice himself for the friends, the family, the future, and the child he loves.

And so we return to that Avengers scene in which Steve Rogers realized that Tony Stark would never make "the sacrifice play" and lie down on the wire so his friends could crawl over him. Tony fired back by claiming he would instead "cut the wire." If he were able to travel back in time for Avengers 4, and engineer the future to allow his own death to save half the universe, Tony will manage to do both.

Giving Tony, and Downey, the chance to go out a hero, leaving the future bright for the next generation of heroes aspiring to his greatness. It would make so perfect a conclusion to Stark's story, we're already coming to term with the loss.

Let us know what you think of our theory, and whether Tony should sacrifice his life come Avengers 4. If you have your own theory, we want to hear it!