WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME
After the dramatic events of Avengers: Endgame, there was one question on the minds of many fans: will Tony Stark come back as an AI? While the possibility may seem far-fetched at first, there are some compelling reasons to believe that this could happen.
First, let’s recap what happened in Endgame. In the film’s climactic battle, Iron Man/Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) sacrifices himself to defeat Thanos and save the world. It’s an emotional moment that brings the character’s arc full circle, as he started the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a selfish billionaire and ended it as a selfless hero.
However, one of the key themes of the Marvel universe is that death is not always permanent. Characters have been resurrected, brought back to life, or revealed to have never really died in the first place. So it’s not entirely out of the question that Tony Stark could return in some form.
But why an AI? One reason is that Tony Stark was always obsessed with technology and felt a deep connection to his various machines and gadgets. Throughout the MCU, he developed a number of advanced AI systems, including JARVIS (voiced by Paul Bettany) and FRIDAY (voiced by Kerry Condon). These systems were designed to assist him in his superhero duties and provide him with information, but they also demonstrated personalities and quirks of their own.
In fact, in the comics, JARVIS actually becomes an Avenger himself, using a robotic body to fight alongside his human teammates. While this exact scenario is unlikely to play out in the MCU, it shows that Tony Stark’s AIs have a lot of potential for becoming more than just tools.
Another factor to consider is the presence of Tony Stark’s daughter, Morgan, in the MCU’s future. In the final scenes of Endgame, we see Tony’s holographic message to her, in which he tells her that he loves her “3000.” It’s a heart-wrenching moment that sets up the idea that Morgan will follow in her father’s footsteps and become a tech genius herself.
If Morgan does become a major player in the MCU, it’s possible that she could resurrect Tony as an AI. This would allow her to still interact with her father and his wisdom, while also giving her the chance to forge her own path separate from his legacy as Iron Man.
Of course, there are also arguments against Tony Stark coming back as an AI. For one thing, some fans might feel that it undermines the emotional impact of his sacrifice in Endgame. If he can simply be brought back as a machine, then what was the point of his heroic death at all?
Additionally, there’s the question of whether or not the MCU needs more Tony Stark. It’s true that he was one of the franchise’s most beloved and iconic characters, but his story arc came to a satisfying conclusion in Endgame. It’s possible that bringing him back in any form would feel like a cash-grab or a way to artificially prolong his popularity.
Ultimately, whether or not Tony Stark will return as an AI remains uncertain. It’s possible that the filmmakers and writers of the MCU have no plans for such a storyline, or that they’re keeping their options open for the future. But given Tony’s history with artificial intelligence and the potential for his daughter to carry on his legacy, it’s not an idea that can be easily dismissed.
In any case, fans of the Marvel universe can rest assured that Tony Stark’s impact will be felt for years to come. Whether he returns as an AI, a ghost, or not at all, his legacy as Iron Man and as one of the greatest heroes in cinema history will continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.
