It seems that Iron Man‘s main villain was by no means alleged to die, and I can not assist however marvel how his survival would have modified the face of the MCU. Iron Man’s film villains had been reasonably underwhelming as an entire, particularly when in comparison with his fellow Avengers. Whiplash and Aldrich Killian had been enjoyable, and Justin Hammer stays a fan-favorite, however it’s secure to say that they are not almost as memorable or threatening because the villains of different Avengers, just like the Winter Soldier and Hela.
However, Iron Man bought off on a superb foot. 2008’s Iron Man launched Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark’s enterprise associate and interim CEO of Stark Industries, as portrayed by Hollywood royalty, Jeff Bridges. As a friend-turned-villain with a real air of menace, Stane was the proper instance of high quality MCU villains debuting on the very begin of the franchise. Sadly, regardless of how compelling Ironmonger was, his tenure was woefully transient. Iron Man ended with Ironmonger’s loss of life after being uncovered to an overloading arc reactor – however this wasn’t at all times alleged to be the case.
Obadiah Stane Actor Jeff Bridges Said In 2015 That His MCU Villain Did not Die In The Unique Iron Man Script
Jeff Bridges Signed On To The Film When His Destiny Was Completely different
Jeff Bridges partook in a Q&A virtually a decade after starring in Iron Man. IGN orchestrated the Q&A on its Fb web page in 2017, the place Bridges was requested about varied roles, together with his iconic tenure because the Dude in The Huge Lebowski. When addressing his function as Obadiah Stane, nonetheless, Jeff Bridges revealed that his character wasn’t initially alleged to die, stating that the script initially had Stane escape within the nick of time. His full quote is as follows:
“After I was employed on, it was scripted that Obadiah would reside, that after they opened his Iron Monger swimsuit…he was not in it. Then, they determined to kill my a** off. Telling me ‘it is a comic-fantasy, so who is aware of, your character may come again.’ I suppose we’ll see…”
Jeff Bridges addressed the identical level in September 2024, revealing that he’s nonetheless open to returning to the MCU.
Bridges is suggesting that the scene by which Stane seemingly takes the total brunt of an exploding arc reactor whereas uncovered in his Iron Monger swimsuit could be adopted by a shot of his swimsuit being empty, implying his survival. He additionally asserts that Marvel Studios recommended comic-fantasy guidelines may facilitate his character’s revival. This might, after all, be potential within the Multiverse Saga, the place an MCU variant may exchange the Earth-616 authentic, like Loki‘s titular villain-turned-hero. Nonetheless, that is much less doubtless for a minor character like Obadiah Stane.
The MCU’s Development Of Killing Off Its Villains In Their Film Debut Arguably Begins With Iron Man
Many Iconic Villains Are Swiftly Killed Off
Obadiah Stane’s loss of life is rendered all of the extra tragic by the truth that he’s an iconic Iron Man villain. This could go on to turn into a pattern within the MCU, with Captain America: The First Avenger following swimsuit by banishing the Purple Cranium, arguably Cap’s most iconic nemesis, away from the MCU to by no means work together with Cap once more. Different traditional villains who had been outright killed of their motion pictures embody:
- Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther
- Killmonger in Black Panther
- Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder
- Kaecilius in Physician Unusual
- Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From House
- Hela in Thor: Ragnarok
- Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Associated
10 MCU Villains Who Have been Shockingly Killed In Their First Marvel Film
The MCU has killed many villains that had the potential for extra appearances of their franchise debut, and that pattern would not appear to be stopping.
What makes this really feel extra egregious is the truth that Iron Man missed out on going through his most iconic nemesis, the Mandarin, earlier than dying himself. It appears as if Iron Man established an unlucky pattern that has a minimum of slowed down in current MCU installments, with Purple Hulk and Sentry each surviving their tenures as arch-villains of Captain America: Courageous New World and Thunderbolts*, respectively. Whereas these characters are actually able to impacting the way forward for the MCU, I can not assist however marvel how Iron Monger’s survival might need executed the identical.
How Iron Monger Surviving Iron Man Might Have Modified The MCU
Obadiah Stane Might Have Been Tony Stark’s Darkish Reflection
Obadiah Stane could not have been a genius like Tony Stark, however he was a formidable and exceptionally highly effective businessman. Having a company nemesis like Stane looming all through Tony Stark’s MCU arc would have enriched his story, present as a darkish reflection of Tony Stark and what he may have turn into. This might need both ousted Justin Hammer totally, with Stane proving to be a extra fearsome rival to Tony Stark, or seen them be part of forces, doubling the risk ranges Iron Man confronted in his second film.
With Tony Stark being the financier of the Avengers, Stane may have likewise supported the villainous efforts of shady characters like Ulysses Klaue or Darren Cross.
Stane’s survival would have additionally helped enrich the interconnection of the MCU. With Tony Stark being the financier of the Avengers, Stane may have likewise supported the villainous efforts of shady characters like Ulysses Klaue or Darren Cross. Nonetheless, wanting an Iron Man reboot in a potential delicate reboot of your entire MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars, Ironmonger’s survival can solely be regarded as a What If…? story for now.
Iron Man
9/10
- Launch Date
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Could 2, 2008
- Runtime
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126 minutes
- Writers
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Matt Holloway, Artwork Marcum, Hawk Ostby, Mark Fergus
Supply: IGN