Ever since Robert Downey Jr. said his famous "I am Iron Man" line, the character has always been associated with the actor. This makes fans wonder if Robert Downey Jr. is in What If…? Season 2.
Now that the second season of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's What If…?series has aired, avid fans are wondering if the Iron Man actor has returned to his roots. Here's what we know about the show.
Why Did Robert Downey Jr. Exit the MCU?
In the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr.'s character sacrifices himself to beat Thanos (played by Josh Brolin). This marked the end of an era as Downey's tenure as the beloved superhero came to a close, thus forever changing the fate of the MCU.
Following the film's release, Downey said in an interview with Hindustan Times:
"Playing Tony/Iron Man was hard and I dug deep. I had an incredible 10-year run that was creatively satisfying. I've done all I could with that character and can do other things now. Now, being middle-aged, you start looking at the back nine and realize this is all part of the journey and things end. I am fortunate and eternally grateful to have wound up where I have."
In follow-up interviews, Downey said that he was "all done" with Marvel movies and is instead focused on his philanthropic work.
So, Is Robert Downey Jr. in What If…? Season 2?
But considering that What If…? is an animated series, would that mean Downey has decided to reprise his role, at least with his voice?
Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Downey has decided not to do What If…? Season 2, and he's not the only one from the original cast who's missing in this series.
In the first season of What If…?, it was noted that Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson did not reprise their roles in the show.
Since these actors already finished their obligations with Marvel Studios, they were not required to return.
But in What If…? Season 2, other cast members were replaced, such as Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Dave Bautista, and Brie Larson.
Some of the actors who lent their voices to the show include Rachel McAdams, Danai Gurira, Karen Gillan, Jeremy Renner, and Don Cheadle.
Who Voices Tony Stark in What If…? Season 2?
So, if Robert Downey Jr. isn't in What If…? Season 2, who voices Tony Stark in the show? The answer is Mick Wingert, who also voiced the character in the first season.
In What If…? Season 2, Iron Man appears in a couple of episodes, namely Episode 3 (What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas) and Episode 4 (What If… Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster).
Meanwhile, he voiced the character in four episodes of What If…? Season 1.
In an interview with Discussing Film, Wingert shares:
"I love playing Tony Stark/Iron Man. To be honest, my opportunity to play him came out of the right risk-taking in the audition meeting the perfect opportunity to get into the Marvel Animation family.
"Full disclosure: I was only ever a marginal Iron Man fan as a kid. While I liked the idea of the suit, I had no idea who Tony Stark really was growing up. I know, it’s sacrilege – but bear with me… then Robert Downey Jr. immortalized the character on screen in 2008 – and for the first time I ‘got’ Tony Stark.
"Robert Downey Jr’s performance was, in my mind, the DEFINITIVE Iron Man. So, when the chance to play the animated version came around in the form of a direct-to-video project called Marvel Superheroes Frost Fight, I really wanted to try to bring that RDJ essence to the read when I created my audition.
"Thankfully for me, the higher-ups at Marvel Animation really liked what I did for the character and invited me into the fold to lend my vocal performance to him in both the direct-to-video project and some other assorted pieces, at which point, I was brought in to voice him regularly."
Wingert also voiced Slappy in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween and Po in Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny.
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