First MCU Villain Fuels Speculation of Return: Will Obadiah Stane Appear in ‘Armor Wars’?

Released in 2008, Iron Man marked the start of the MCU. It introduced not only the first superhero in the cinematic universe but also its very first villain—Obadiah Stane.

Obadiah Stane is presented as Howard Stark’s business partner and Tony Stark’s mentor. He serves as the CEO of Stark Industries and wields considerable influence over the company.

Iron Man and Stane eventually find themselves in a confrontation against each other. In the climactic battle known as the “Duel of Los Angeles,” Stane appears to be fatally electrocuted by his prototype arc reactor when it explodes underneath him, causing him to fall into it before it detonates.

But is this really the end? During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Jeff Bridges, the actor who plays Stane, suggested that there may still be a chance for Stane to return in a true comic book style. According to Bridges, an earlier version of the script indicated that Stane survived the fatal crash, leaving the door open for the villain’s return.

Well when I read the script, Obadiah Stane falls into that vat at the end. In the script that I read and agreed to do, they pulled it [the armor] out and they opened it and I’m not there.

Although Stane could always return as a variant given that we are currently in the multiverse saga, this plot twist would create a much richer story overall.

Regarding his potential appearances, there are two strong candidates for Stane’s return. The upcoming Ironheart show is rumored to feature Obadiah Stane’s son and a “17-year-old vendetta coming to light.”

However, Armor Wars seems like a more suitable opportunity for his comeback. That said, recent reports indicate that the planned movie is facing challenges, with the studio yet to decide whether it will be canceled or move into production.

Would you like to see Obadiah Stane return to the MCU? Share your thoughts in the comments below!