As the MCU’s Multiverse Saga takes shape, it seems that one of Avengers: Endgame’s biggest and most speculated fake leaks will appear in an unknown project. Hiding spoilers is hugely important at Marvel Studios, and following one of modern cinema’s most extraordinary cliffhanger endings, in Avengers: Infinity War, the secrecy around Avengers: Endgame went even further. In fact, as Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani later confirmed, Marvel actually leaked fake information about Endgame to keep the media and fans in the dark about the plot and details of the movie.

The end of the Infinity Saga and the heroic deaths of Black Widow and Iron Man, along with the retirement of Captain America, caused MCU Phase 4 to take a variety of new paths. There has been an examination of the origins and nature of the multiverse in Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There has also been a focus on introducing new heroes in Ms. Marvel, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. However, perhaps most importantly, MCU Phase 4 has addressed the legacies of the original Avengers in Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Related: Original Avengers 5 Plan Would've Solved Multiverse Saga's Endgame Issue

When considering the legacy of Iron Man, his technological inventions are hard to ignore. One example is his Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing (BARF) technology, which was referenced in a recently leaked photo from an unknown Multiverse Saga project. Obviously, this would be BARF’s first appearance in the MCU since Quentin Beck used it to deceive Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, its return has been heavily rumored before. Iman Fellani’s confirmation of Marvel faking leaks was referring to a photo of a BARF tech case on the set of Avengers: Endgame that was planted by Marvel security (via Reddit). As such, while it can’t be guaranteed that BARF will return to the Multiverse Saga, it’s unlikely that Marvel would try the same fake trick twice.

BARF’s Return Fits With The Multiverse Saga’s Iron Man Plans

IIron Man and War Machine - Iron man 2

The return of BARF tech makes sense given what is known about the ongoing plans for Iron Man's legacy in the MCU. The most obvious link appears to be to War Machine’s Disney+ show, Armor Wars. This series will be based on the comic book story of the same name, which originally followed Tony Stark’s attempts to prevent his inventions from falling into the wrong hands. Naturally, Iron Man’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame calls for a different storyline, but the assumption is that James Rhodes will take up the same challenge on behalf of his departed friend. There is currently no release date for Armor Wars and Marvel made no mention of it at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, but the show's head writer, Yassir Lester, recently assured fans that the show will be going ahead (via CBR.com).

A Marvel show with a more concrete release schedule that is also likely to delve into Iron Man’s legacy is Ironheart. With a scheduled late 2023 release, Ironheart will center on Riri Williams, a teenage girl who gains Tony Stark’s tech before ultimately becoming Iron Man’s MCU replacement. Before that, Riri Williams will be seen studying at MIT in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is fitting because MIT is the school where Tony first presented BARF, in Captain America: Civil War.

Like Iron Man, BARF’s backstory can be interpreted both positively and negatively. It has served as therapeutic technology and a means of manipulation, and it remains unclear what other uses there are for it. Nevertheless, the reappearance of BARF tech in the Multiverse Saga does seem to highlight the ongoing importance of Tony Stark in the MCU. In this way, there appears to be an increased willingness to embrace the past, including the events and faked rumors that came about in the making of Avengers: Endgame, even as the MCU moves forward through Phase 4 and beyond.

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