Despite the vast multiverse of possibilities unfolding in Marvel’s upcoming saga, the highly anticipated team-up between Iron Man and Mister Fantastic still seems out of reach. With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ gearing up to unite characters from across timelines and cinematic legacies, the possibilities seem limitless.
This multiverse chapter is shaping up to be the most ambitious crossover in comic book movie history. Here’s why fans may have to settle for alternate versions or wait for a reboot to finally see Tony and Reed cross paths.
Tony Stark-Reed Richards MCU Crossover Is Too Big To Happen, Even In A Multiverse
Even with these endless doors open, one highly desired crossover still seems unlikely: Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards. It’s a pairing that feels like it should happen. Both characters are brilliant inventors and natural leaders, two of the greatest minds in the Marvel Universe. Fans have long imagined them sharing scenes, clashing ideologies, or co-developing world-saving tech. On paper, it’s a duo with incredible potential.
However, reality has a frustrating way of taming expectations. As of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, we know Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU, not as the iconic Tony Stark we knew, but as a variant: Doctor Doom, arguably one of the most powerful and complex villains in Marvel lore. This revelation changes everything. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal’s debut as Reed Richards in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ will occur in an alternate timeline.
The team later transitioned into Earth-616, the mainline MCU timeline. Given these distinct narrative paths, the likelihood of Tony Stark and Reed Richards sharing meaningful screen time shrinks dramatically. There simply isn’t enough time or narrative space in these massive ensemble movies to give their relationship the spotlight it deserves.
How ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Sparks Hope For A Reed Richards And Tony Stark Collaboration
One can’t ignore the impact of Robert Downey Jr.’s original MCU departure. His sacrifice in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ was not just a character death; it was an emotional conclusion to over a decade of storytelling. Bringing him back as Tony Stark would, to many, dilute the gravity of that farewell. It would have to be handled with extreme care and narrative justification. That’s likely why Marvel has chosen to reintroduce Downey in a completely different role.
In case you missed it: Every Time Marvel Combined Iron Man And Doctor Doom Before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Still, it’s disappointing. In the comics, Tony Stark and Reed Richards are part of the Illuminati, a secret council of Marvel’s brightest minds who make world-altering decisions behind the scenes. They are friends, rivals, and collaborators. Their discussions alone can carry the weight of a full film. We’ve seen glimpses of this type of dynamic between Stark and Bruce Banner, or Stark and Strange. But Mister Fantastic? That dynamic remains unexplored in live action.
The only real hope lies in what might come after ‘Secret Wars’. It’s widely rumored that this movie could act as a soft or even hard reboot of the MCU. Such a reboot would create a new continuity where characters like Reed Richards, Shuri, Namor, Riri Williams, and others can coexist from the beginning with a fresh version of Tony Stark. In this scenario, we could finally see the Stark-Richards dynamic flourish, but it likely wouldn’t involve Robert Downey Jr. or Pedro Pascal.
