MCU’s Darkest Iron Man Theory Is About To Get Even Worse In 2025

Summary

• Rhodey’s absence after being replaced by a Skrull impacts Ironheart’s story and leaves crucial events unattended.
• The Skrull reveal in Secret Invasion changes Rhodey’s timeline, affecting his role in Iron Man’s legacy.
• Armor Wars will delve into Tony Stark’s fears as Rhodey faces the consequences of Stark’s tech falling into the wrong hands.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga has made some shocking reveals that have changed the history of various characters and the future of others. One of those made way for a dark Iron Man theory that is only about to get worse in 2025 with the TV series Ironheart. The Multiverse Saga has introduced a variety of characters while also continuing the stories of already established ones, but it has made some wild changes and retcons to many of the latter that will have a direct impact on other characters.

The Multiverse Saga is also covering TV shows that are directly linked to the movies of the MCU, thus expanding this already extensive connected universe. Some of these TV shows have had a huge impact on the rest of the MCU, and others have been used to make shocking reveals and retcons that change everything the audience thought they knew. Among them is Secret Invasion, which covered the Skrull invasion of Earth, revealing that many characters were Skrulls in disguise, including Rhodey (Don Cheadle) – and this will have a direct impact on the upcoming TV series Ironheart.

Ironheart’s MCU Series Makes War Machine Missing Iron Man’s Death Worse

Secret Invasion Made A Devastating Reveal About Rhodey

If Rhodey was replaced after Civil War and before Endgame, then he has missed some of the biggest events in MCU history, such as the “blip”, Thanos’ defeat, and Tony Stark’s death.

Among the characters who were revealed to be Skrulls in Secret Invasion was Rhodey, who at the end of Secret Invasion was rescued along with Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) and many others. However, Secret Invasion left a massive mystery as it never revealed when exactly Rhodey was replaced with a Skrull, but all the clues have made way for theories about Rhodey being replaced after Captain America: Civil War and before Avengers: Endgame. The main clue is that Rhodey is wearing a hospital gown and can’t walk, suggesting he was kidnapped while recovering from his spinal injury.

If true, then Rhodey has missed some of the biggest events in MCU history, such as the “blip”, Thanos’ defeat, and Tony Stark’s death. Before the reveal of a Skrull posing as Rhodey, he was expected to serve as some sort of guide to Riri Williams (Dominque Thorne) a.k.a. Ironheart, who will star in her own miniseries in 2025 to close Phase 5.

Riri was motivated by the works of Tony Stark with the Iron Man armors to create her own, and with Tony gone, Rhodes was expected to be the link she was missing with her “mentor” – but as he missed so many years during his kidnapping, Ironheart’s presence makes this even worse and makes it hard for him to be of guidance to her.

Rhodey’s MCU Timeline Makes Iron Man An Even Bigger Part Of Ironheart & Armor Wars

Secret Invasion Completely Changed Rhodey’s MCU History

Armor Wars
will see Rhodey confronting one of Tony’s biggest fears when Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands.

Rhodey’s next confirmed appearance in the MCU is the movie Armor Wars, set after the events of Secret Invasion and thus following the real Rhodey. Armor Wars will see Rhodey confronting one of Tony’s biggest fears when Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands, meaning that, even though he’s gone, Iron Man will still have a strong presence in the future of the MCU. As mentioned above, Iron Man was Riri’s biggest inspiration, giving him a place in Ironheart, which is now even more important given Rhodey’s long absence.

Rhodey will have to learn about everything that happened to Iron Man since his kidnapping, which can be a bonding experience with Riri, and in Armor Wars, it will make his story more complicated. Secret Invasion will have a much bigger impact than initially believed, and it’s only a matter of waiting for confirmation on when exactly Rhody was replaced with a Skrull.