After last week’s whirlwind of Robert Downey Jr. announcements and retractions about the future of the Iron Man franchise and his role as Tony Stark, it almost feels like he's the boy who cried wolf when talking about his future with Marvel. But Variety is now reporting that the actor is in negotiations to appear in Captain America 3 in a move that would open up a big new storyline for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The trade mag has heard that Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark will show up in the third Cap film and butt heads with his Avengers colleague Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) over the Superhuman Registration Act, which forces super-powered types to reveal their identities to the American government. It's a policy that Stark supports but Rogers does not. Citing civil liberties, Rogers apparently goes on the run to avoid being arrested when he refuses to force others to register. The result sort-of makes Tony something of a bad guy, which could then spill over into future Avengers films.
This new plot development, perhaps not so coincidentally, ties in with the comics' Civil War storyline, which originally hit shelves in 2006. While it’s certainly a fascinating concept, it does make one wonder what will become of the Bucky Barnes story, and suggests another Captain America film where our hero is on the run from authorities he disagrees with.
Still, if they can pull this off, it could be a massive jolt for the MCU's future. The basics of the comics, however, would have to be tweaked on screen: after all, pretty much everyone knows who the heroes are in the films, with hardly any of the comics' secret identities.
According to Variety, the original plan was to have Downey Jr. simply show up for a few weeks’ work to play a small role, but he wanted Stark to have more effect on the storyline for the film, which will be directed by **Captain America: The Winter Soldier **duo Joe and Anthony Russo. Some corporate wrangling later – largely smoothed out by Kevin Feige – and the new plan is coming into focus.
Marvel has yet to confirm any of this, but it certainly sounds close to being a done deal. However it shakes out, Stark or no Stark, Captain America 3 is set to arrive here on May 6, 2016.
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