It (hopefully) won’t be long now before Marvel’s much-talked-about TV show, “Armor Wars,” hits the screen. Since Marvel Studios announced that “Armor Wars” would be made into a TV series, there have been heightened expectations for more production information.
The project was initially announced in December 2019, along with several other Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. While Marvel has since completed several projects, little has been said about what’s happening with “Armor Wars.” In this article, we’ve put together all the publicly known information about the upcoming series, including what to expect and what has been said, and where you can get the latest updates.
What Is Marvel’s “Armor Wars” About?
Marvel’s “Armor Wars” is based on the Marvel Comics series, also called “Armor Wars.” For everyone who has seen “Avengers: Endgame,” “Armor Wars” is a sequel. The upcoming series will see James “Rhodey” Rhodes (aka War Machine) return to save Tony Stark’s tech from misuse in the wrong hands.
The series will see War Machine emerge from the shadows of being Stark’s sidekick and become the object of the spotlight in his own right.
As for the plot, we know from the seven-issue comic that the story arc revolves around Stark discovering that his Iron Man technology has fallen into the hands of both heroes and villains. The original storyline reveals that Stark’s technology was actually sold by Justin Hammer, leading Stark to fear that the technology will be used for evil if it finds its way into the wrong hands.
To resolve the potentially ensuing chaos, War Machine sets out to recover the items. From what we know, courtesy of Don Cheadle, who plays War Machine, the plot is likely to follow the same thread.
Cheadle will reprise his role as Tony Stark’s best buddy and will do so as the headline character in this much-anticipated series. Cheadle will work with Yassir Lester, who is the head writer of the series. The pair have previously worked together in “Black Monday,” which Lester wrote and directed.
Where Does “Armor Wars” Take Place?
The “Armor Wars” series is a sequel to “Avengers: Endgame.” It takes place after the death of Iron Man. The series builds on events that happened before Iron Man’s death but only were revealed post-Endgame. War Machine takes up a more prominent role in this installment of Marvel’s Phase Four.
The MCU is making a transition into a new era with non-rehashed stories, especially after the intricate story that played out in the “Infinity Saga.” MCU Phase Four has been characterized by stories that take place in the aftermath of “Avengers: Endgame,” including plots in “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” “Armor Wars” is no different and is set in a post-Endgame world. This is in keeping with an obvious desire of Marvel Studio to progress the timeline of events in the MCU. The only exception so far is “Black Widow.”
While the “Armor Wars” comic series is set in Earth-616, the TV show will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, slightly different from the Earth-616 landscape. One such difference is that Tony Stark died in “Avengers: Endgame,” leaving Rhodes (War Machine) as the armor user. Another such difference is that many characters featured in the comic have either not appeared in the MCU or have died.
When Will Marvel’s “Armor Wars” TV Show Be Released?
There’s no guidance as to when the “Armor Wars” TV show will be released. Since the announcement was made in 2019, updates have been minimal. However, Cheadle has suggested that filming will likely start in 2022, meaning we may have to wait until 2023 for the series to be released. In a July interview with AP Entertainment, Cheadle was quoted as saying:
“It’s going to be interesting. We are just talking about what that show is going to be like. We probably will start filming sometime next year and are just cracking the story right now. Deciding what that journey is going to look like, what the iteration of this is going to be. Obviously, if people know ’Armor Wars,’ they know what the series is about. But it’s also figuring out how to establish and dig really deep into who Rhodey is because we haven’t really seen a lot of that in the movies.”
The possibility that filming may not begin until next year is a disappointment to enthusiasts who have faithfully tracked updates on the show’s development. There has been speculation that the storyline may have been altered from what was originally planned by Marvel. Regardless of the reason for the delay in the production start date, there will hopefully be plenty of updates soon on the progress of the much-vaunted series.
Who Are the Heroes of Marvel’s “Armor Wars”?
Very little is known about who will play the heros or villains in the upcoming series. As it stands, only Don Cheadle has been announced. But what we do know from the comic is that a handful of the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will either play a role or receive mentions.
War Machine (James Rhodes):
Better known as War Machine, Rhodey is Iron Man’s best friend. He led the mission to rescue Iron Man when he was kidnapped by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. War Machine joined Iron Man on multiple missions to combat criminal minds across the world. He’s the protagonist of the upcoming “Armor Wars” series. This role will be played by Don Cheadle.
Iron Man (Anthony “Tony” Stark):
Stark, better known as Iron Man, was a founding member of the Avengers. The former CEO of Stark Industries, Stark was a brilliant innovator. His Iron Man suit was created to escape his captors in Afghanistan. He used his new identity to fight against terrorists and relished his battles against the top con men in the world. Having sacrificed his life in “Avengers: Endgame,” Stark will not feature in the “Armor Wars” series but play a key role in the series of activities that lead to the plot’s climax.
Who Are the Villains of Marvel’s “Armor Wars”?
In the original comic book, “Armor Wars,” Iron Man fought numerous armored enemies as he attempted to track down everyone who might have had access to his technology designs. During this quest, he fought villains like Beetle, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, and an aquatic superhero named Stingray.
While none of the following characters have been confirmed to make appearances in the “Armor Wars” TV show, we do know their history as villains in the MCU. It’s expected that they’ll feature at some point or at least get passing mentions.
Justin Hammer:
Hammer is a military contractor and formidable rival to Tony Stark. Hammer’s rivalry with Stark arose from his failed attempts to ruin Stark’s reputation. Not satisfied, Hammer partners with convicted terrorist Ivan Vanko to copy Stark’s technology. Hammer is currently imprisoned over yet another failed attempt to steal from Stark.
Sonny Burch:
Burch is best known for his criminal and underhanded dealings in black-market technology. He’s also remembered for double-crossing his business associates during the “Captain America: Civil War.” Burch was last seen after being arrested by the San Francisco Police Department.
Controller (Basil Sandhurst):
Formerly known as Basil Sandhurst, Controller is a scientist who was crippled in a laboratory accident. Feeling underappreciated and superior to other genius-minds of his time like Tony Stark, Controller developed a mind-controlling technology that was directly linked to his exoskeleton. This technology allows him to move despite his disability. Like Thanos, he forged alliances with other villains and never wavered from his goal to defeat Iron Man. It’s possible that he might come up against War Machine in the “Armor Wars” series, but nothing has been confirmed for now.
Where Can You Watch Marvel’s “Armor Wars”?
Marvel’s “Armor Wars” is a Marvel Studios production. When it’s finally released, it will be available to watch on the Disney Plus platform.
BuddyTV Keeps You Updated With “Armor Wars” News and Info
News about the production and release date for the “Armor Wars” TV show might be scarce at the moment, but you can always get the latest news and information right here on BuddyTV. Check back frequently for the most recent updates about when “Armor Wars” will come to your screen and for news about your favorite Marvel shows.
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
