Spider-Man: No Way Home may have been almost entirely focused on Spider-Man and his own universe of characters, but it still managed to set up the role of War Machine in MCU Phase 4. One of the first MCU films that chronologically takes place after Iron Man's death, No Way Home already gave some hints of what a post-Tony Stark world looks like. While people will no longer remember Peter Parker, Spider-Man's actions in the movie and his connections with Iron Man will continue to have consequences for the MCU.

With the end of the Infinity Saga and the Avengers' status during MCU Phase 4 still uncertain, it's hard to anticipate what role the older MCU characters will play in the franchise's future. Following the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, Rhodes' first appearance was in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in two quick cameos at the beginning and end of the series. Now, the character is set to return in the upcoming Disney+ Armor Wars series. Announced in late 2020, Armor Wars does not yet have a release date attached, but is not expected to arrive before 2023.

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At the beginning of No Way Home, right before Matt Murdock appears as Peter Parker's lawyer, it’s said on the news that Spider-Man's arrest and Mysterio's death led to an investigation of missing Stark technology. This could tie directly with the story of Phase 4’s Armor Wars, as the comic book of the same name was precisely about the search for stolen Stark technology. As Tony Stark’s best friend and often the connection between the Avengers and the government, War Machine could be at the center of this investigation suggested by No Way Home and eventually find out weapons, equipment, and armors the heroes were unaware of. Being the important figure he is both to the Avengers and the military, Rhodes would have to step up to prevent the missing Stark tech as dangerous as Spider-Man: Far From Home’s EDITH from falling into the wrong hands.

Iron Man and War Machine are surrounded by drones in Iron Man 2

As most of the adaptations of specific comic book arcs in the MCU, Disney+’s Armor Wars won’t be a one-on-one retelling of the 1987 story. The main difference is that, in the comics, Tony Start was alive during the events of Armor Wars. In the MCU, Armor Wars can instead be a story about Tony Stark’s legacy and explore both the positive and negative impacts that Iron Man left on the world. Having been at Tony's side in the "Iron Man mission" since the first Iron Man, Rhodes understands more than anyone about Stark technology, and more importantly, Tony's heart and mind when it comes to creating something.

MCU's Armor Wars may be still far away, but Spider-Man: No Way Home has already planted the seed of what will be War Machine's main story in the MCU Phase 4. With Iron Man dead and Spider-Man heading for a lonelier superhero life, the mission to protect Tony Stark's armors and weapons from the likes of Justin Hammer is now that of James Rhodes. It remains to be seen whether War Machine will succeed, and more importantly, at what cost.

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