At the heart of Marvel’s cinematic universe is a fractured friendship, and it’s looking increasingly likely that it is, in fact, beyond repair.
We are, of course, referring to the bond between Steve Rogers (Captain America/Nomad) and the cocksure Tony Stark (Iron Man), who will still be feeling the full effects of Civil War by the time Marvel launches Avengers: Infinity War into theaters late next month.
That’s something Robert Downey Jr. addressed in a recent interview with Empire Magazine (h/t CBM), where the MCU stalwart acknowledged the ways in which Tony’s past – primarily his fateful encounter with Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) – has allowed a collection of nasty trust issues to fester in his mind.
To me the big question is could he ever in clear conscience pick up that flip phone Cap sent him at the end of Civil War. That is really it. For me, I think back to Obadiah and that deception, and it’s one of those things. It’s why Steve Perry never went back to Journey.
Further in the interview, RDJ then touched base on the disillusioned Captain America, who looks set to assume the mantle of Nomad when the lights go down on April 27th. Will Infinity War – or perhaps its currently untitled sequel? – spell the end of the hero, though? Downey Jr. certainly thinks so, teasing the moment when Chris Evans “isn’t Cap anymore.”
I don’t know. I feel like my instinct would be to bust his jaw. All I know is that there’s something about being on camera with Evans. I hate to say it, but I don’t know what I’m gonna do when he’s not Cap anymore. I look at him and think this is the truest, most down moral psychology I’ve ever seen and then they go, ‘Cut!’ and Chris is like, ‘Hey buddy, I gotta get out of here.’ I’m like, ‘You wanna go to dinner?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘Okay! Love you! Love you, Cap! I mean, Chris!’
Expect Stark and Steve’s wounded friendship to factor into Avengers: Infinity War (and its untitled sequel!) on April 27th.
