In three different ways, Doctor Strange 2 makes some major errors about Marvel’s Iron Man. The latest blockbuster in the MMCU continues Doctor Strange’s personal story beyond the Infinity Saga. As a result, Doctor Strange’s new adventures in the Multiverse of Madness endanger the MCU legacy of Tony Stark.

Adapted from a novel by Michael Waldron and adapted by Sam Raimi, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness delves deeper into the multiverse concept introduced in the first Doctor Strange film and subsequently explored in a number of MCU projects. America Chavez is the MCU’s newest hero and has the unique ability to travel between universes easily. The titular sorcerer is tasked with protecting her. After the events of WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch returns to Marvel as she tries to reunite with her children, Tommy and Billy.

No direct ties to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for Iron Man, unlike some Phase 4 projects. There is no doubt that the franchise has been trying to move on from his involvement since his death in Avengers: Endgame so that new leaders can emerge. Despite this, his legacy, including his heroic snap that defeated Thanos, continues to loom large. Besides that, his ties to Spider-Man, Nebula, and Vision have shaped the MCU in a positive way so far. Doctor Strange 2, on the other hand, fails Iron Man in a number of ways inadvertently.

Error #1: Iron Man Is Ignored by Doctor Strange 2’s Illuminati

The Illuminati were introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness because of its multiverse narrative. As depicted in Marvel Comics, the Illuminati is a secret organization comprised of super-strong superheroes who have the ability to make important decisions. Tony Stark serves as a delegate for the Avengers and represents the group’s various superheroes in the printed version of the comics: Black Panther, Black Bolt, Namor, Professor X and Mister Fantastic. Earth-838’s Illuminati, on the other hand, was introduced by Marvel Studios with a slightly different lineup. Black Bolt, Mister Fantastic, and Professor X are all back in the revamped lineup, along with Captain Carter, Mordo, and Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel.

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati team assembled by Doctor Strange was noticeably missing Iron Man. According to Doctor Strange, Tony Stark should be included on his list of Illuminati members because of his role in the Avengers, not to mention his long history with the group in Marvel Comics. Unlike Captain Carter, who could have represented the Avengers as a whole, Captain America serves as the team’s moral compass. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have always relied on Iron Man’s intellect.

When it comes to making tough decisions for the greater good, Tony is a worthy member of the Illuminati. Although no official confirmation has been made, it’s reasonable to assume that Marvel Studios considered including Tom Cruise in the Illuminati as an alternate Iron Man in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, they eventually discarded the plan.

Doctor Strange 2 Error #2 Ultron’s Iron Man link was ignored

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Illuminati employs Ultron robots as security personnel. As a result, the film didn’t reveal where they came from. Hank Pym was actually the leader of the Ultron Initiative in the Marvel Comics, but in the MCU he has always been associated with Iron Man. A major factor in the development of Tony Stark’s Phase 3 storyline in the Avengers franchise was his guilt over the damage caused by the corrupt artificial intelligence in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Despite this, the Ultron Initiative appears to have been a success in Doctor Strange’s Multiverse of Madness’ Earth-838. He should have been part of the Illuminati, as this shows.

However, taking this narrative route would have less impact on MCU’s interconnected storytelling, as only those who are well-versed in Marvel Comics would know about the possibility that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Illuminati from Earth-838 was created by Pym. Because the film did not reveal the Ultron bots’ origins, the general public assumed that Tony was responsible for their creation. Iron Man’s creation of Ultron and his sentries in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness strengthens the case that he should have been part of the secret group and may require an explanation in Doctor Strange 3 if the story allows.

Error 3: Doctor Strange 2 Confirms That Thanos can be defeated in other ways

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arguably failed Iron Man the most by explicitly establishing that there were other ways to defeat Thanos than the hero’s sacrifice in order to defeat the villainous being.. Using the sorcerer’s ability to see into the future, the Avengers were able to find a way to defeat the Titan in Infinity War. As he saw it, there were more than 14 million possibilities, but only one way to defeat the villain. He then led the Avengers down that one path, and in Avengers: Endgame, it was suggested that Iron Man sacrifice himself in order to defeat Thanos.

Iron Man’s sacrificial snap defeated the purple alien in the end. In Doctor Strange 2’s Earth-838, Professor X and the Illuminati defeated Thanos. Iron Man could have survived the events of Avengers: Endgame and witnessed Thanos’ defeat, even if Marvel Studios won’t reveal how exactly they defeated the Titan.

Even if other considerations, such as Downey’s contract and future Marvel Studios stories, played a role in the decision to kill Iron Man in the MCU, there were still ways to conclude the story without Stark’s death. Endgame could have ended with Tony Stark retiring like Steve Rogers did in the previous film.

The presence of Morgan might finally persuade him to give up being a superhero after he had previously tried and failed to do so. In any case, he’d already done it in the five years following Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War’s conclusion. Since his superhero career began with Iron Man’s death, Doctor Strange’s death in the Multiverse of Madness trivializes his sacrifice by uncovering that it wasn’t quite as special as first thought.