It’s been a long and winding road for ‘Armor Wars’, the Marvel project that was once slated to be a Disney+ TV series before being reworked into a movie. Since its announcement nearly five years ago, the story of James Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine has faced countless delays.
Now, it once again appears to be stuck in development hell if insider reports are true. Following the divisive response to ‘Secret Invasion’, Marvel Studios is reportedly rethinking the direction of ‘Armor Wars’ yet again.
‘Armor Wars’ Is Reportedly Going In An “Entirely Different Direction Than Planned”
According to insider Daniel Richtman, ‘Armor Wars‘ is not canceled but has been put on hold. The project is reportedly undergoing major revisions. The insider blames this on Marvel reassessing its approach after the negative reception of ‘Secret Invasion’.
Related: ‘Armor Wars’ TV Series Writer Opens Up About Marvel’s Decision To Turn The Series Into A Movie
For many fans, the controversial reveal that Rhodey had been replaced by a Skrull since ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ undermined the character’s arc. While ‘Armor Wars’ could have built on this twist, it seems the studio is now looking to move past it. Additionally, reports suggest the film will focus on “entirely different things than originally planned.”
Marvel’s decision to rethink the project raises questions about the future of War Machine’s story. While Rhodey is a fan-favorite character, some doubt whether he has the star power to carry a movie on his own. However, despite all the setbacks ‘Armor Wars’ could become a pivotal chapter in the MCU’s evolving saga.
Don Cheadle On The Uncertainty Surrounding ‘Armor Wars’
Don Cheadle, who has portrayed Rhodey since ‘Iron Man 2’, previously weighed in on the uncertainty surrounding ‘Armor Wars’. When asked about the project’s status, the actor joked, “You can find out and let me know,” before adding, “I think things are going through a lot of changes, and we’ll see what happens, we’ll see what it is.”
In case you missed it: Is Gwyneth Paltrow Returning To MCU For ‘Armor Wars’?
Moreover, the actor also addressed the controversial Skrull twist from ‘Secret Invasion’, hinting that he wasn’t entirely sold on the idea. “Uh… you know, there was no… it wasn’t a demand. It was a request,” he said of the plotline. “What do you think about playing this? And it was to set up stuff in the following thing.”
Additionally, Cheadle’s comments reflect the broader uncertainty surrounding Marvel’s current slate. With the MCU navigating a transitional phase post-’Avengers: Endgame’, some projects, like this, have struggled to find their footing. As of now, ‘Armor Wars‘ doesn’t have a release date and likely won’t hit screens until after ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’.
