Robert Downey Jr. Returning For Captain America 4?
A photo from the set of Captain America 4, referencing Stark's rival company Roxxon, has fans wondering about a Tony Stark return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel’s Phase 5 is already in full swing with the studio counting their millions from the success of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the third and final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. With many more films on the horizon, and so much lore in the past, a new Easter egg may be pointing to the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark aka Iron Man in an upcoming feature. A recently dropped set photo for Captain America 4, which you can check out below, shows a familiar logo with ties to the Iron Man flicks of yesteryear.
While there are two other set images in the lineup, the one we’re focusing on is the sign for the in-universe company Roxxon. Not only has the studio alluded to Roxxon in shows like Loki and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the Marvel One-Shot A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer, but its initial sightings are tied into all three of the Robert Downey Jr.-led Iron Man features. Could this little Easter egg be a sign that Iron Man will be back from the dead in one way or another and make an appearance in Captain America 4?
Whether it be through a flashback that would see Robert Downey Jr. donning the iron suit and standing proudly as the leader of Stark Industries, a peek from beyond the grave, or even the very unlikely but possible scenario of bringing him back from the afterlife, it’s possible that this Roxxon sign could mean more than just a piece of set design. Dropping Tony Stark into Captain America 4 certainly wouldn’t be the strangest thing that Marvel has done over the years although it would be anyone’s guess whether Robert Downey Jr. would actually sign on to reprise his fan-favorite role.
With a studio as big and long-lasting as Marvel who have produced an unfathomable number of TV shows, movies, shorts, and other content surrounding their characters (not to mention the comics), the Roxxon Easter egg may just be another in-universe reference. With Chris Evans stepping down and passing the shield to Anthony Mackie‘s Falcon, it seems that the studio is trying to turn over a new leaf which would also point towards Robert Downey Jr. not reprising his role in Captain America 4.
While Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance in Captain America 4 may just be a rumor at this point, we know several things for sure. The feature will pick up following the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and, while we don’t have a fully fleshed-out plot at this time, we know that it will follow Mackie’s Sam Wilson as he picks up the title once held by Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers.
Even though Robert Downey Jr. may or may not appear, Captain America 4 boasts a killer ensemble cast that includes Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler, Shira Haas, and Carl Lumbly. As of right now, the MCU film is slated for a premiere on May 3, 2024, and is to be preceded by The Marvels.
