It’s wild to suppose it’s been practically six years since Marvel Studios first introduced Armor Wars, and even wilder that we’re nonetheless unsure if it’s truly taking place.
The challenge was initially arrange as a Disney+ sequence earlier than being reworked right into a characteristic movie, and since then it’s quietly drifted into that acquainted MCU grey zone the place updates are scarce and enthusiasm feels muted. Nonetheless, now and again, one thing pops up that will get followers speaking once more, and this time it comes courtesy of Sam Rockwell.
Rockwell, who performed the scene-stealing Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2, has at all times been open about wanting one other shot on the character.
Whereas speaking with ScreenRant, he was requested a couple of potential Armor Wars return and the concept of teaming up along with his White Lotus co-star Walton Goggins. Goggins beforehand appeared within the MCU as Sonny Burch in Ant-Man and The Wasp, a personality many followers suspected would possibly secretly be working for Hammer.
Rockwell responded: “Oh Armor Wars. Oh, you imply the Marvel factor? Is that being made? Walt and I might group up like dangerous guys, that type of factor. It’s undoubtedly a enjoyable character. It’d be enjoyable to play both that or a supervillain. It’d be nice.”
That uncertainty just about sums up the place Armor Wars sits proper now. Yassir Lester was introduced on as head author again in August 2021, however after a sequence of delays, Marvel introduced in September 2022 that the challenge could be retooled as a film.
Since then, it’s principally gone quiet, though Spider-Man: No Manner Residence and Secret Invasion clearly set the stage for a narrative centered on Struggle Machine, stolen Stark tech, and a attainable conflict with the Division of Injury Management.
The issue is momentum. Whereas Struggle Machine is a stable and well-liked character, the demand simply doesn’t really feel large. The Iron Man trilogy proved that audiences present up for Tony Stark, and with out him on the middle, Armor Wars has at all times felt like a harder promote.
Even Don Cheadle doesn’t appear to have a transparent image of the place issues stand. When requested about Armor Wars in October 2024, he admitted, “You will discover out and let me know. [Laughs] I don’t know, I’m unsure the place something is correct now. I feel issues are going via numerous modifications, and we’ll see what occurs, we’ll see what it’s.”
That strains up with feedback made by Nate Moore, govt producer on Captain America: Courageous New World, who just lately addressed Marvel’s shifting priorities.
“As Marvel [Studios] continues to undergo this part, we need to be certain that no matter we’re making is superior. So which means we needed to decelerate some issues that have been on the entrance burner,” Moore defined.
“It doesn’t suggest we’ll by no means make it, however it does imply we simply need to be just a little bit extra thought-about so that each trip, audiences are assured high quality.”
Waiting for a post-Secret Wars MCU, there’s at all times the chance that Marvel introduces a brand new Iron Man, which might immediately make Armor Wars really feel like a a lot greater deal. Till then, the challenge appears destined to remain on the again burner, ready for the proper angle and the proper second.
If that second ever comes, although, it’s good to know Sam Rockwell is able to placed on one other slick swimsuit, dance strikes included, assuming Armor Wars is definitely being made.
