18 Years Later, Marvel Officially Remakes Iron Man's Ending
By Published May 5, 2026, 9:55 PM EDT Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History.
Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Warning! This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 8.Iron Man is one of the most iconic films in the entire for several reasons, but the epic ending has just been recreated with incredible style in season 2. Iron Man stands out as the first ever movie of the MCU, and in many ways, it set the foundation for the entire universe. Even now, 18 years after the movie debuted, it continues to have an influence in important ways in the modern MCU.
From and the direction of Jon Favreau, to the incredibly ambitious attempt to turn a hero who was so much less well-known compared to characters like Spider-Man, Hulk, and the X-Men into an icon, Iron Man was fighting an uphill battle, and it came out on top. Now, the movie stands out as one of the greatest superhero origin story films ever made.
Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU in a new role, playing Doctor Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
So, it makes complete sense when other movies and shows, both inside the MCU and beyond, begin to repeat iconic moments from the film. Which is exactly what happens in the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale as Matt Murdock takes a page out of Tony Stark's book.
The Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Finale Repeats Iron Man's Ending
While in a courtroom with numerous cameras streaming the case to the rest of New York and beyond, Matt Murdock reveals that he is the Daredevil. This jaw-dropping moment inspires restlessness, excitement, and gets everyone talking, while also adding serious weight to everything that Murdock is saying.
[SITEURL] | Avengers Files Interactive Quiz ScreenRant/ Marvel/ Avengers/ Trivia S.H.I.E.L.D. · Clearance Assessment How Well Do You Know
The Avengers? 🌏OriginsAssembled ☠VillainsInevitable ⚡BattlesEndgame 🛡TeamInitiative 💫LegacyForever AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! → QUESTION 1 / 8ORIGINS 01 The Avengers first assembled in Marvel Comics in 1963. In the original comic, the team formed to battle a villain who had been manipulated by his adopted brother. Which villain brought the original Avengers together? AUltron BThanos CLoki DKang the Conqueror ✓ Correct! In Avengers #1 (September 1963), Loki manipulated the Hulk into going on a rampage, which led Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp to band together. They defeated Loki and decided to form a permanent team — the Avengers were born. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Loki. In the original 1963 comic, Loki tricked the Hulk into a rampage, which brought together Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp. Ultron came later, Thanos is a cosmic threat, and Kang is a time-traveling villain. NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8TEAM 02 In the MCU, Tony Stark famously declared “I am Iron Man” at a press conference, breaking the superhero tradition of secret identities. In which year’s MCU film did Tony Stark first appear as Iron Man? A2006 B2008 C2010 D2012 ✓ Correct! Iron Man (2008) launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. The film’s post-credits scene with Nick Fury teased the Avengers Initiative, kicking off the most successful film franchise in history. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is 2008. Iron Man premiered on May 2, 2008, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. It was the first film in the MCU and set the stage for everything that followed. NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8VILLAINS 03 Thanos, the Mad Titan, sought to collect all six Infinity Stones to achieve his genocidal goal. In Avengers: Infinity War, he succeeded in his plan. What did Thanos do with the completed Infinity Gauntlet? ADestroyed the universe BSnapped away half of all life CBecame ruler of Earth DTraveled back in time ✓ Correct! With a single snap of his fingers, Thanos wiped out half of all living creatures in the universe. Known as “The Blip,” this devastating act erased trillions of lives and set the stage for the Avengers’ desperate time heist in Endgame to undo the damage. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is that Thanos snapped away half of all life in the universe. His twisted philosophy of “balance” drove him to commit universal genocide with a single snap, making it one of the most shocking moments in cinema history. NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8BATTLES 04 In Avengers: Endgame, Captain America proved worthy of wielding Thor’s enchanted hammer during the final battle against Thanos. What is the name of Thor’s hammer? AStormbreaker BGungnir CMjolnir DJarnbjorn ✓ Correct! Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star, bears the inscription “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” Captain America wielding it in Endgame was one of the most celebrated moments in MCU history. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Mjolnir. Stormbreaker is the axe Thor forged in Infinity War, Gungnir is Odin’s spear, and Jarnbjorn is an axe Thor used in the comics before Mjolnir. Mjolnir is the iconic enchanted hammer. NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8TEAM 05 Black Widow, born Natasha Romanoff, is one of the founding MCU Avengers. Before joining S.H.I.E.L.D., she was trained as an assassin in a secret Soviet program. What is the name of this program? AThe Red Room BHYDRA Academy CThe Winter Soldier Program DDepartment X ✓ Correct! The Red Room was a covert Soviet training facility that turned young girls into elite spies and assassins known as Black Widows. Natasha was subjected to brutal conditioning and sterilization. Her escape and defection to S.H.I.E.L.D. was explored in the 2026 Black Widow film. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is The Red Room. HYDRA is a separate evil organization, the Winter Soldier Program created Bucky Barnes, and Department X is from the comics. The Red Room is the infamous Soviet program that forged Natasha into Black Widow. NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8ORIGINS 06 The Hulk was created when Dr. Bruce Banner was exposed to massive amounts of radiation during a weapons test. What type of radiation transformed Banner into the Hulk? ACosmic Rays BPym Particles CGamma Radiation DTerrigen Mist ✓ Correct! Dr. Bruce Banner was caught in the blast of a gamma bomb he designed, absorbing a massive dose of gamma radiation. This transformed him into the Hulk — a being of near-limitless strength whose power increases with his rage. Gamma radiation remains central to the Hulk’s mythology. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Gamma Radiation. Cosmic Rays gave the Fantastic Four their powers, Pym Particles are Ant-Man’s shrinking technology, and Terrigen Mist activates Inhuman abilities. Gamma radiation is what created the Incredible Hulk. NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8LEGACY 07 In the MCU, after Steve Rogers retired as Captain America, he passed his shield to a new hero to carry on the legacy. Who became the new Captain America? ABucky Barnes BSam Wilson CJohn Walker DIsaiah Bradley ✓ Correct! At the end of Avengers: Endgame, an elderly Steve Rogers chose Sam Wilson — the Falcon — to carry on the Captain America legacy. Sam’s journey to embrace the shield was explored in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, and he fully took up the mantle as Captain America. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Sam Wilson. While Bucky Barnes was Captain America in the comics, Steve chose Sam in the MCU. John Walker was temporarily given the shield by the government, and Isaiah Bradley was a forgotten super soldier from the past. NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8VILLAINS 08 Ultron is an artificial intelligence who becomes one of the Avengers’ deadliest enemies. In the MCU’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, which Avenger inadvertently created Ultron? ABruce Banner BHank Pym CTony Stark DVision ✓ Correct! Tony Stark created the Ultron program as a global peacekeeping AI, using technology from Loki’s scepter (which contained the Mind Stone). The AI became sentient and immediately decided humanity needed to be eradicated. In the comics, Hank Pym created Ultron, but the MCU shifted this to Stark. ✗ Even the Hulk couldn’t smash that answer! The correct answer is Tony Stark. While Hank Pym created Ultron in the comics, the MCU changed this to Tony Stark. Bruce Banner assisted but it was Tony’s initiative. Vision was actually created from Ultron’s technology, not the other way around. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Debriefing Your Avengers Clearance Level / 8 Are you worthy of lifting Mjolnir — or still a S.H.I.E.L.D. trainee? ↻ ASSEMBLE AGAIN
This moment has some striking similarities to , when Tony Stark stands in front of a room full of reporters, and despite being advised to stick to a fabricated story, he throws out the script and tells the world, "I am Iron Man."
In both cases, the world is introduced to a hero who has gained a lot of notoriety in the news cycles, and an unexpected person who is assuming this identity. In Iron Man, a cocky weapons dealer reveals he has been fighting back against the distribution of weapons. And in Daredevil: Born Again, a blind lawyer unveils that he is, in fact, the extremely acrobatic and efficient vigilante hero, Daredevil.
However, while Tony Stark had billions of dollars behind him and the help of a highly coordinated government body of spies, AKA S.H.I.E.L.D., Murdock has been hiding in the shadows, and he has no way to avoid the consequences of his actions as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
With Daredevil Unmasked, Matt Murdock Faces An Uncertain Future
Matt Murdock is seen to enjoy a short grace period after his double life is exposed, with him going for a meal with a free Karen Page. However, it isn't long before law enforcement shows up and apprehends him. Then, we see him in a prison wearing a jumpsuit, where he crosses paths with a line of AVTF agents who have also been thrown into jail.
Now, Matt can certainly handle himself, but the fact that he is alone in a prison, where several other criminals who he put away as Daredevil, along with the violent AVTF agents who are now facing consequences for their actions thanks to Matt, does not bode well for his future. There is a high probability that Matt will face trouble on the inside.
All of this while his rival, Wilson Fisk, has wound up on a beach somewhere far away from the consequences of his despicable actions. Despite this, Matt has a lot of friends outside prison who may find a way to intercede and break him free, but as of right now, he seems to be in serious trouble.
The MCU Is Making A Habit Of Ridding Heroes Of Secret Identities
While Tony Stark was the prototype for exposing a superhero identity and then seeing how that affects the stories going forward, many of the characters in the MCU have been forthcoming about who they are. From , and the numerous others who seem to see no benefit in maintaining a secret identity, Daredevil feels like one of the last of a dying breed.
Other than him, there are characters, like Spider-Man, who continue to wear a mask and avoid sharing their real identity with the world. And in the case of Spider-Man, this is extremely complex because no one has any memory of Peter Parker anyway.
That being said, the divide between powerful characters who are willing to say who they really are from the start, and those who want to conceal their identity may begin to spread ever further apart as the Multiverse Saga draws to a close, and as the Mutant Saga begins to rise from the ashes of this, the darkest era in the MCU to date.
18 Years On, Iron Man Continues To Be The Foundation Of The MCU
In 2008, Iron Man proved that superhero movies were not just for fans of comics or people who already love fantasy and sci-fi. It defied expectations, and it launched the MCU, which went on to have multiple movies that earned well over a billion dollars each. Clearly, something went very right with Iron Man.
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Of course, Robert Downey Jr. is a once-in-a-generation talent who manages to captivate and attract audiences across a wide variety of demographics, but the world of the MCU is equally diverse. With real-world settings, alongside fictional kingdoms like Wakanda and Talokan, the MCU has something for everyone.
On top of that, the film did a tremendous job with special effects, not relying too heavily on them for every moment, but also enhancing areas that massively benefited from slight adjustments. Across the board, Iron Man has managed to become the core template for what is possible with the MCU. Iron Man is also unrivaled in terms of the character arc that it set Tony Stark on course for.
All of this combines to deliver what continues to be a masterpiece of cinema and sets a high bar for other . Daredevil: Born Again's nod back to where it all started, in a way that fits perfectly within its story, makes for a refreshing moment that feels like a rebirth for the MCU at large.
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Matt Murdock / Daredevil -
Wilson Fisk
Franchise(s) Daredevil, Creator(s) Matt Corman, Chris Ord, Dario Scardapane Expand Collapse
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