Even before the announcement that Robert Downey Jr Marvel Cinematic UniverseI would come to believe that Marvel Studios needs to do something radical with the franchise: scrap its plans for the next phase and adapt the Avengers: Twilight Miniseries. Now, with RDJ back in the MCU fold, I’m even more positive that this would be the best possible move, and I refuse to be convinced otherwise.
Avengers: Twilight – written by Chip Zdarsky, with art by Daniel Acuña – is a six-issue miniseries depicting a dark possible future for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Marvel has produced some great ones Avengers Stories over the past decade, however Twilight is without a doubt one of the best. It saves every beat a classic Avengers Story needs to, and provide an emotionally resonant “end” for the team.
I read back through the entire miniseries now, I’m more confident than ever that it would make the perfect continuation of the on-screen Avengersand help to compare their cinematic legacy.
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Avengers: Twilight #1-6 РWritten by Chip Zdarsky; Art by Daniel Acu̱a
While it’s realistically too late for Marvel Studios to switch gears with its MCU plans now, in the spirit of the publisher’s tradition of asking “What if?,” it’s worth considering what might have been.
Avengers: Twilight has its share of exciting creative decisions, but at its heart is the use of the head-in-a-jar trope for the future Tony Stark, and how it allows him to be slowly drawn into the story. I immediately started thinking how This could serve to bring Robert Downey Jr. Returning to the franchise in some limited capacity; Of course, as it turned out, his role would not need to be a cameo at all, because the actor is committed to a full return to Avengers At this year’s Comic-Con – except, not in his familiar role as Iron Man.
The reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Victor Von Doom, rather than Tony Stark, was meant to shock and excite fans, and while it did that to a certain degree, it also evoked more confusion — and even scorn — than I think Marvel Expected. For the record, I have no problem with an actor, even the franchise’s most high-profile star, playing different roles in the same series. That said, if Downey Jr. were to reprise his role as Iron Man, there would be no better story than Avengers: Twilight For him to do so.
I think fans who are bothered by the idea of ​​seeing RDJ on screen, but not playing Tony Stark, will ultimately agree with me. To the extent that the actor’s return as Doctor Doom can be criticized as “stunt casting,” Avengers: Twilight would offer the most authentic, emotionally impactful alternative. While it’s realistically too late for Marvel Studios to switch gears with its MCU plans now, in the spirit of the publisher’s tradition of asking “what if?,” it’s worth considering what might have been.
The Iron Man story at the heart of “Avengers: Twilight” would be perfect for Robert Downey Jr.’s return
An epic tale of rebirth and redemption Twilight is a redemption story for James and for Tony, which is exactly what would make it an appealing follow-up to the Infinity saga for Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Studios.
Adaptation is an endlessly tricky undertaking; To a certain degree, comic book movies have been at their best when remixing and reimagining classic comic book stories loosely, allowing the live-action versions of their characters to develop their own styles while paying tribute to certain iconic ideas and tentpole moments. That said, fans will always continue to clamor for their favorite story arcs to be translated to the screen with fidelity, and I am no exception. In this sense, I think Avengers: Twilight Is perfectly scripted for adaptation.
The story of Chip Zdarsky is set in a dark future, in which the United States has passed into authoritarian control after a catastrophic defeat that led to the disbanding of the Avengers. It’s a classic story of the team coming back together to face a last, greatest threat – especially made more tense by the fact that Tony Stark’s son Jacob is a main antagonist for much of the series. Twilight is a redemption story for James and for Tony, which is exactly what would make it an appealing follow-up to the Infinity saga for Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Studios.
The arc of the series consciously parallels the origin story of ​​The Avengers in several ways, and it also contains echoes of Avengers: EndgameEspecially in the fact that the crux of the story’s revolution involves one final sacrifice by Tony Stark. I think most MCU fans would be enthralled, and in the end, satisfied, by the story of Avengers: TwilightFirst and foremost because of the emotional depth with which it handles exactly what makes Team Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
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“Avengers: Twilight” would easily translate to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Give fans the Iron Man reprise they want Admittedly, I would only want this if it was guaranteed to top Tony’s impact End game Sacrifice – and I only think Twilight would have been able to approach.
There are, of course, certain changes that adapt Avengers: Twilight would be necessary. Notably, the mother of Tony Stark’s son in the comic was the Wasp, Janet Van Dyne; This would be changed to Pepper Potts. Naturally, Stark’s MCU daughter Morgan would replace James as the Avengers’ adversary and eventual ally. After all, the series maps remarkably well onto the Marvel Cinematic Universe. An adult Kamala Khan plays a pivotal role, and versions of Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and the Hulk all feature prominently.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t devote some time to celebrating Daniel Acuña’s art, which emphasizes the weathered, tired nature of the old Avengers, along with the ominous, bleak atmosphere of the story’s fascist dystopian setting. In its history and in its visual aesthetic, Avengers: Twilight excels in delivering something that is at once familiar and fresh; That’s what I look for in any kind of iterative narrative, whether on the page or screenAnd that is what I would love for Twilight Be adapted.
I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised by Marvel Studios’ revamped plans for Avengers 5 And 6If they can release that feeling of familiar freshness. In a way, Robert Downey Jr. Playing Doctor Doom is an attempt to do that, but I can’t shake the feeling that the actor’s return is a missed opportunity to tell another definitive Tony Stark story. Admittedly, I would only want this if it was guaranteed to top Tony’s impact End game Sacrifice – and I only think Twilight would have been able to approach.
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By adapting “Avengers: Twilight,” Marvel could give the MCU’s Avengers the ending they deserve
A dark, but fitting, final ride for Earth’s mightiest heroes If Marvel wanted to provide emotionally resonant conclusions for the rest of his original Avengers List, on the level of Tony Stark End game Exit, they could not do better than Avengers: Twilight.
According to the plan, Avengers: Twilight Offers a definitive end to the history of the team. Although this relegates it to an alternate continuity story in the grand scheme of ​​Marvel Comics’ vast multiverse, It is another part of what I would argue makes it appealing as the basis for a future Avengers Film. Since the MCU has become a cultural phenomenon, and a massive commercial success, Marvel has begun to look at it as an ongoing saga, just like in the comics. As great as this sounds in theory, it simply isn’t sustainable.
Avengers: Endgame Cannot be conceived as the final Avengers movie, but it was a definitive conclusion to the story up to this point. The setup and payoff of the early MCU phases alike will be hard to top, as the last half decade of Marvel movies has already made clear. If Marvel wanted to provide emotionally resonant conclusions for the rest of his original Avengers List, on the level of Tony Stark End game Exit, they could not do better than Avengers: Twilight.
If not source material, “Avengers: Twilight” should provide inspiration for the future of the MCU
If you read one Avengers History, make it this one What I can really hope for is that, if not adapting the miniseries directly, the upcoming Avengers Films can capture the spirit of Twilight; Its despair, its drama, and at the end, its renewal of hope.
Realistically, I understand that Marvel isn’t going to throw away all of its MCU plans to adapt Avengers: TwilightBut I couldn’t emotionally shake the feeling that it would be the right move. Few Avengers Stories over the past few years have resonated with me as a reader TwilightAnd When I think about what direction I’d like to see Marvel movies go moving forward, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better possible arc than the one delivered by Chip Zdarksy and Daniel Acuña.
What I can really hope for is that, if not adapting the miniseries directly, the upcoming Avengers Films can capture the spirit of Twilight; Its despair, its drama, and at the end, its renewal of hope. If the next MCU overarching saga can deliver those things for me, I’ll be satisfied. In the meantime, I would highly recommend to all Avengers Fans, especially those looking to channel their MCU fandom into reading comics, check out Avengers: TwilightAnd think about what they would most like to witness Wonder Do with the letters next.