Marvel is generating buzz after its official recasting of Iron Man steps into the spotlight through the new Avengers series, LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails, highlighting the ongoing legacy and evolution of the iconic character that Robert Downey Jr. helped to establish. While Downey is not returning as Tony Stark for this outing, fans of Robert Downey Jr. Iron Man will recognize the lineage through his successor’s role in the animated project now streaming on Disney+.
Mick Wingert Revives Iron Man in the Latest Avengers Adventure
On November 14, Marvel debuted LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails on Disney+, introducing audiences to a new chapter in the Avengers saga. This two-part television event centers around Hawkeye, who faces the daunting task of assembling a fresh Avengers lineup to battle their mind-controlled predecessors and the new villain orchestrating the chaos. In a nod to continuity, Mick Wingert reprises his role as Iron Man, serving as the character’s voice in this installment.
Mick Wingert is already familiar to Marvel audiences for his voice work as Tony Stark in the multiversal What If…? series on Disney+. Across three seasons, he has portrayed various versions of Iron Man from divergent universes, effectively taking the torch from Robert Downey Jr. for animated Marvel properties. While LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails exists outside the mainstream Marvel Cinematic Universe, it maintains a connection by employing the same voice talent who redefines the Iron Man legacy onscreen.
Iconic Armor Returns: The Hulkbuster’s Special Appearance
In LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails, Wingert’s portrayal of Iron Man marks a significant moment, as he is not counted among the mind-controlled heroes but instead allies with Hawkeye to confront the new adversary, Meryet Karim. To defeat the antagonist and save the day, Iron Man turns to one of Stark’s most formidable creations for the climactic showdown—the Hulkbuster armor.
This memorable armor invokes the only instance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark wore the Hulkbuster suit, during the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron. In that movie, Iron Man grappled with the Hulk, who was sent on a destructive rampage under the manipulation of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. The Hulkbuster later resurfaced in Avengers: Infinity War, but this time it was worn by Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, distinguishing Downey’s unique turn with the suit in the earlier film.
Continuing Iron Man’s Story Outside the MCU
The new Avengers series keeps the Iron Man tradition alive by giving Mick Wingert, Robert Downey Jr.’s animated replacement, the opportunity to “don” the Hulkbuster in LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails. While this show is separate from the main Marvel continuity, its attention to past storylines and signature moments, such as this iconic piece of Iron Man technology, strengthens the sense of shared history among fans of the franchise.
Marvel’s decision to recast and continue Iron Man through Mick Wingert’s performances ensures that Tony Stark’s role remains robust in the evolving universe. As LEGO Avengers: Strange Tails reaches audiences, interest builds in how future projects—including not-yet-detailed live-action appearances or new animated series—could further expand on these legacies, especially given the enduring popularity of Robert Downey Jr. Iron Man and the complex Marvel multiverse.
