Theories aboutMarvel’s last chance to bring Robert Downey Jr. back asIron Manmay have been debunked byIronheart’s trailers ahead of the series' June release. Riri Williams is stepping into the spotlight inthe MCU’sIronheartseries, which marks a major evolution for the young hero following her debut inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. Despite never meeting Iron Man in the MCU, Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams inherits Tony Stark’s legacy through her technology and her heroic stand against villains like the Hood.
Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU in a completely new role.Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom rolemarks a huge shift for Downey, whose portrayal of Tony Stark carried the Infinity Saga from 2008’sIron Manto 2019’sAvengers: Endgame. Doctor Doom will allow Downey to explore the complete opposite of his original MCU character inAvengers: Doomsday, perhaps with little to no direct ties to Iron Man.
Tony Stark Serves As Ironheart’s Equivalent To JARVIS In The Comics
In Marvel Comics, Tony Stark falls into a coma in the second Civil War. Stark, who had already met and approved Riri Williams as his eventual successor, had an AI version of himself delivered to Riri. From that point,Riri Williams' Tony Stark AI system served as her mentor and helped her design her next Ironheart suits of armor. Riri’s AI also piloted the realTony Stark’s Iron Man suits of armorand joined forces with other Avengers to save the world while Stark recovered.
While Riri never got to meet Stark in the MCU, she could have found a prototype AI duplicate of Stark at Damage Control, the Avengers HQ, Stark Industries, or MIT
After Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams made her MCU debut and received tech and resources from the Wakandans inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, it would make sense for Riri to receive posthumous support from Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man.Spider-Man: Far From Homerevealed that Tony Stark left Peter Parker an inheritance in the form of EDITH, the Stark drones, and the Iron Spider. While Riri never got to meet Stark in the MCU, she could have found a prototype AI duplicate of Stark at Damage Control, the Avengers HQ, Stark Industries, or MIT.
Marvel Revealed Riri Williams' AI System Is NATALIE
The MCU Reimagines Riri Williams' Childhood Friend
Ironheart’s second full-length trailer reveals that Riri Williams has created her own AI system.Unlike Tony Stark’s JARVIS and FRIDAY, Riri’s AI has an anthropomorphic appearance, taking the form of a young woman named Natalie. The secondIronhearttrailer hints at initial uncertainty in Riri’s relationship with Natalie, but also suggests that they’ll soon develop a strong bond. Natalie is played byThis Is Usstar Lyric Ross, who joined theIronheartcast early in the show’s development.
Natalie is likely an adaptation of NATALIE a.k.a. “Neuro-Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory Intelligence Entity” — an AI modeled after Riri’s late childhood friend, Natalie Washington. In the source material, a young Riri witnesses the tragic deaths of Natalie and her stepfather in a drive-by shooting, and she later designs an AI resembling an older Natalie to honor her friend’s memory. Riri’s step-father also makes a brief appearance in the secondIronhearttrailer, which suggests the MCU show will adaptRiri Williams' origin storyaccurately.
Why It’s Good That Robert Downey Jr Won’t Appear In Ironheart
Robert Downey Jr. Shouldn’t Reprise His Iron Man Role After Endgame
Avengers: Endgamegave Iron Man the best possible conclusion, with Tony Stark sacrificing his life to save the universe. Unlike their comic book counterparts, MCU characters require well-defined endings, as actors cannot reprise their roles indefinitely.While MCU canon technically leaves enough room to explore untold chapters of Tony Stark’s past, a new Robert Downey Jr. cameo would undermine Iron Man’s emotional farewell in the eyes of audiences. For example,Tony Stark was considered forDeadpool & Wolverine’s Earth-616 flashback scene, but a small comedic appearance would have felt out of place after the gravity of Iron Man’sAvengers:Endgamesacrifice.
An Iron Man AI would definitely overshadow Riri Williams in her own MCU show
Robert Downey Jr.’s return as an AI version of Iron Man inIronheartwould also undercut the significance of his Doctor Doom role inAvengers: Doomsday, which relies heavily on the mystery surrounding Downey’s villain casting andDoctor Doom’s potential resemblance to Tony Stark. Riri Williams' Tony Stark AI works in the comics because the real Stark would inevitably come back, whereas Downey’s return as an AI in the MCU would send the wrong message, as Downey may never reprise his Iron Man role after playing Doctor Doom. Not to mention, an Iron Man AI would definitely overshadow Riri Williams in her own MCU show.
