Robert Downey Jr.’s potential return as Tony Stark’s Iron Man in Avengers: Secret Wars would still stick to his one condition for reprising the role, according to a new MCU theory. Robert Downey Jr. debuted as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, kicking off the MCU with a bang, and setting himself up as the face of the franchise for the following decade. Iron Man sacrificed his life in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, using the six Infinity Stones to eliminate Thanos and his army, and save the universe, but this might not be the end of Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU career.

Since Robert Downey Jr.’s departure from the MCU, the actor has gone on to achieve huge success, even earning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2023’s Oppenheimer. While Downey Jr. continues to embrace new characters, there have been calls for him to return to the MCU, though there’s been no official confirmation from Marvel Studios. Previous rumors hinted at an Avengers movie with the original line-up of the titular team being developed, which would have included Downey Jr., but a new theory hints at a more convincing way Iron Man can return to the MCU.