Summary

• Several characters, such as Riri Williams and Rhodey, will continue Tony Stark's legacy as Iron Man in the future of the MCU.
• Characters like Peter Parker and Shuri will be influenced by Stark's scientific mind and continue his pursuit of science and technology.
• While Iron Man may be gone, his influence lives on through characters like Happy Hogan and Morgan Stark, who will carry on his legacy in different ways.

There are several characters who could continue Tony Stark's legacy as MCU following the original Avenger's death in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Robert Downey Jr. helped to kick-start the MCU in 2008's Iron Man by portraying Marvel Studios' first on-screen superhero, the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark. As Iron Man, Stark became a founding member of the MCU's Avengers, providing the team with most of their funding, technology, and equipment, and even took new heroes, such as Peter Parker's Spider-Man, under his wing. Iron Man was one of the MCU's most high-profile heroes, which made his sacrifice in Endgame that much more impactful.

Avengers: Endgame saw Stark discover time travel in the MCU, making the Avengers' Time Heist to collect the six Infinity Stones from the franchise's history possible. After embarking on this mission and facing down the Mad Titan Thanos in an epic final battle, Stark procured the Infinity Stones and snapped his own fingers, eliminating Thanos and saving the universe but sacrificing his own life in the process. This left some pretty big shoes to fill for his replacement heroes in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, though since Stark touched so many lives during Iron Man's impressive MCU timeline, there are several characters who will continue his legacy for years to come.

10 James "Rhodey" Rhodes, A.K.A. War Machine

Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes is not only Tony Stark's best and oldest friend but has also used a Stark suit to operate as War Machine since 2010's Iron Man 2. Don Cheadle's Rhodey has been an official member of the Avengers and has worked with the United States military as War Machine, though in his more recent MCU appearances, he's put his political career first. Phase 5 revealed that Rhodey had been replaced by a Skrull - potentially during Captain America: Civil War - which means Marvel Studios' Armor Wars will see him dealing with his best friend's death while trying to pave his own path as a hero.

9 Riri Williams, A.K.A. Ironheart

While Rhodey got the chance to work alongside Iron Man as an armored MCU hero, another of Stark's legacy heroes never had that opportunity. Dominique Thorne debuted as Riri Williams in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a genius MIT student who had not only developed technology capable of tracking vibranium but had also designed an Iron Man-like suit of armor using stolen Stark tech. As Ironheart, Williams has already proven how capable a hero she can be by helping the Wakandans in their war with Namor. The MCU's Ironheart series will explore her story in more detail, but Stark's legacy is certainly in safe hands with Riri Williams.

8 Harley Keener

Ty Simpkins' Harley Keener had a key role in 2013's Iron Man 3, as he helped Tony Stark devise a plan to deal with Aldrich Killian after Stark found himself stranded in Tennessee. While it could have been assumed that Keener was a one-and-done ing character for Stark, his reappearance at Stark's funeral in Avengers: Endgame sparked many theories that he could be returning as a hero in the MCU's future, especially since Iron Man 3 saw Stark gift Keener an upgraded garage workshop. Simpkins' return to the MCU's future hasn't been confirmed, but it would be great to see Stark's legacy live on through him if he does.

7 Peter Parker, A.K.A. Spider-Man

Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, is a strong enough hero to stand on his own, particularly after the shocking ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, but he would never have had this chance had he not been recruited by Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War. Stark became a mentor and father figure to Parker, even deg the young web-slinger various superhero suits, and Parker took Stark's death especially hard in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Despite Stark no longer being around, he certainly still has an influence on Spider-Man, and the MCU's future could lean further into Parker's scientific mind, taking beats from Stark's own pursuit of science and technology.

6 Happy Hogan

As one of Tony Stark's closest friends and the Head of Security at Stark Industries, there is perhaps nobody who knew Stark better than Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan. After Stark's demise in Avengers: Endgame, Happy began to fill his shoes, comforting Stark's daughter Morgan and giving aid to Peter Parker when he desperately needed help in Spider-Man: Far From Home and No Way Home. Happy is a gentle force in the MCU and will continue to represent some of Iron Man's more vulnerable and tender qualities, though it's unclear exactly when or if Happy Hogan will be returning to the MCU - potentially in Marvel Studios' Spider-Man 4.

5 Shuri, A.K.A. Black Panther

While there may not have been a direct link between Tony Stark and Letitia Wright's Shuri, it's both of these heroes' penchants for creating cutting-edge technology that proves that Shuri will certainly be continuing Stark's genius legacy in the MCU's future. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever saw Shuri adopt the mantle of Black Panther following her brother's death, meaning while she used to create tech to help her brother and advance Wakandan society, she will now be inventing equipment to better her own superhero career, just as Stark always did for himself. This perhaps means that Black Panther 3 and beyond will introduce some interesting new technology for Shuri.

4 Vision

Paul Bettany's Vision has undergone a huge transformation during the MCU's Phase 4, following his death at the hands of Thanos in Infinity War. However, while WandaVision's primary version of the character had been fabricated by the Scarlet Witch, the rebuilt White Vision is the real deal and is set to return in the MCU's future to explore his roots and who he is. This could include him understanding that it was Tony Stark who pieced him together in Avengers: Age of Ultron, allowing a piece of Stark to live inside him. Vision is a living representation of Stark's incredible intellect and his unwavering desire to protect the Earth.

3 Bruce Banner, A.K.A. The Hulk

Over the course of the MCU's history, Tony Stark built solid connections with every member of the Avengers, but his friendship with Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner was stronger than most. The pair bounced off each other perfectly, both wielding their remarkable minds to make the other better. This culminated in Stark helping Banner to fuse together the Banner and Hulk personalities over an 18-month period during the Blip, something which Smart Hulk reminisced about profusely in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Banner and Stark's connection was evident, so there's no doubt that the Hulk will continue to be inspired by his fallen friend when he returns to the MCU.

2 Doctor Strange

Since Benedict Cumberbatch debuted as Doctor Stephen Strange in 2016's eponymous Doctor Strange, audiences have noticed glaring similarities between his personality and Tony Stark's. Both have huge egos, a great deal of money, incredible minds, and a quick wit, and in the wake of Iron Man's death and the end of the Infinity Saga, Doctor Strange has adopted Iron Man's role as the key player in the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Given Strange's incomprehensible power and prior experience with the multiverse, it's likely he'll become a core member of the new Avengers team in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, just as Iron Man was for the original team.

1 Morgan Stark

Set five years after Infinity War, 2019's Avengers: Endgame revealed that, during that time, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts had married and had even had a daughter, Morgan. Although there's been no word from Marvel Studios on whether Morgan Stark will return in the MCU's future, a deleted scene from Endgame saw Katherine Langford portray an older version of Stark's daughter, and she was originally set to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home, too. Endgame proved that Morgan has an interest in her father's work as Iron Man, and she even sported the Rescue suit's helmet, so it would be brilliant to see her return to follow in her father's footsteps.