Last time the Russo Brothers brought Tony Stark and Steve Rogers together under the one roof, the superpowered duo didn’t exactly see eye to eye. And so began Marvel’s Civil War.
The fallout was fast and furious. Friends became enemies, and dark secrets from MCU past – particularly the one involving Bucky and Stark’s parents – were dragged into the light. Many believe the damage is irreparable, and that Iron Man and Captain America’s friendship will never be the same again.
That being said, desperate times call for desperate measure, and with Avengers 4 on the horizon, it’s nigh on certain that Steve and Tony will be forced to iron out the differences before mounting one final counter-attack against Thanos. But had things panned out differently, that fabled reunion would’ve occurred during Avengers: Infinity War, as co-director Joe Russo revealed on the film’s commentary track (h/t Screen Rant):
Now, what’s interesting about these characters is that they are all heroes. And that, irrespective of the events of Civil War, and the fact that they caused physical damage to Rhodey, when aliens show up with the intent to destroy the Earth, he does not hesitate, as a hero, to invite in other heroes who can help him defend the planet. And I think it will be a much different situation if Tony were here. If Tony and Steve had to see each other for the first time, it would be much more complicated.
Co-writer Stephen McFeely went on to reaffirm that, if Steve and Tony’s proposed reunion made its way into the script, Infinity War‘s overall pacing would’ve fallen flat, as there are simply too many plates to keep spinning.
Which is why we didn’t do it. We tried in a few drafts and it ground things to a halt.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that the Russo Brothers will blindly ignore the chasm between Iron Man and Cap; Avengers 4 is right around the corner, after all, and with it, an expanded role for one Steve Rogers.