What's Next for Iron Man After Captain America: Civil War?

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War is breaking box office records and is on its way to a billion worldwide, but the repercussions of the fallout from the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are sure to be felt across the board.

Needless to say spoilers here on out for those who haven't seen it.

There's a lot going on to springboard from: Captain America and his team of Secret Avengers are on the run from the government. Helmut Zemo is imprisoned in the state of the art prison, the Raft. Winter Soldier is once again in suspended animation, but this time as a self-imposed exile in Wakanda. Tony Stark has made an ally with a young Spider-Man (played by Tom Holland). Jim Rhodes is paralyzed, but walking again with the help of a special harness that Tony had made, and whose future as an Avenger is in doubt. So yeah. Lots going on.

Tony had a crisis of conscience at the beginning that runs through the course of the film, and also learned that the Winter Soldier murdered his parents, who also happened to be carrying Kree blood. At the end of the film, Steve Rogers had left Tony a package with a phone that can reach him and his team of Secret Avengers anytime, so the consider this Steve's olive branch, but it's uncertain if Tony has truly forgiven everything that transpired between the two.

So where does this lead Tony now? Well for starters, it could be as the new head of S. H. I. E. L. D.. For those that remember the fallout from the Civil War comic event, Tony Stark was made director of S. H. I. E. L. D. and formed his own Avengers team. Now, originally Captain America was killed by a brainwashed Sharon Carter, but with Cap making it out alive this go around, things obviously have to be altered just a smidgen. Tony assuming the directorship of S. H. I. E. L. D. also makes even more sense in the MCU as Howard Stark was a founder or the organization and bring things full circle as it was Fury who brought Stark in to this bigger world.

Since Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we learned that S. H. I. E. L. D. was hijacked and infiltrated by agents of Hydra and on its way to a restructuring of sorts. It would make sense if following the events of the Civil War with Fury still playing dead that Tony would take the lead and assume the mantle of Director. From there, it's unclear if another Avengers team would be the right way to go since the Avengers brand would need a retooling as well, especially since Team Iron Man is pretty much disassembled. Black Widow turned rogue. Black Panther learned his search for vengeance was a severe misunderstanding. War Machine's hero career was left in doubt. The only real firepower he has left is Vision, who is at a crossroads himself with trying to assimilate a sense of humanity.

So taking that position, what next?

The big question there would be who does Tony trust this time around. It seems that Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts is taking a breather, and while he has Rhodey, it's unsure if him and Vision could coexist without some resentment. Tony has to surround himself with people who he trusts 120%. People like Peter Parker. Peter Parker/Spider-Man gets another shot at a solo film in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming, with Downey already confirmed as Tony Stark making an appearance. That would be the best bet to where they can acknowledge Tony's current situation.

It would be wise for Tony to step away from Iron Man once again, but he can't seem to stop. He is the demon in the bottle, with the bottle being the Iron Man suits. Him forming another Avengers team with him acting as leader, but more remotely would be good for him. Downey has hinted of returning for an Iron Man 4, but that has yet to be confirmed in way shape or form from Marvel. It would be interesting if somehow the Thunderbolts were thrown in the mix (I mean you do have Ross with access to Zemo and whoever might be added to the Raft down the line). In the comic event, the Thunderbolts become a government agency with Norman Osborn acting as its director. We don't have Osborn just yet in the MCU, but that could be coming very soon. Ross could as a surrogate before then and would make sense due to the name sharing between the team and the ole General.

It's hard to see where Tony will be until Avengers: Infinity War as we've seen that sometimes the MCU plays by its own rules and doesn't line up perfectly with comic canon. It's doubtful the Powers That Be would ever kill Tony Stark, but they've caught us off guard before with past casualties. Tony as the authority figure is probably the best route to go long term until the possible recasting of the role in the years to come.

Where do you see Tony Stark in the coming years? Do you think he'll retire from the superheroics and take a more backseat role, or will he always be the face of the MCU? Let us know in the comments below.