Armored Warfare Could Reinvent 1 Forgotten Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Character
Marvel Studios is keeping details of Armor Wars under wraps, but the film could see the return of an unexpected Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. character.
A forgotten character from Marvel Television's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may be recast in the MCU's upcoming film, Armor Wars. Not much is known about Marvel Studios' Armor Wars project, other than that the story will pick up after the events of Phase 5 of the Secret Invasion series, following James "Rhodey" Rhodes, aka War Machine, on a mission to keep Tony Stark's technology out of the wrong hands. While Marvel Studios is keeping the movie's details under wraps, it's assumed that several Armored characters will appear, including an obscure Marvel Comics character, which could signal the return of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. villain.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired on ABC as an MCU partner show from 2013 to 2020, filling a void between earlier Marvel Studios films by focusing on the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D. The series sees the return of Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson after the MCU's death and TAHITI's resurrection program, as well as an elite team of S.H.I.E.L.D. specialists. Several characters from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have since become characters in Marvel Comics, though their stories in the two mediums vary widely. One such character can see Back to Armor Wars, as his Marvel Comics storyline has him as an armor-wearing villain.
Marvel Studios' Armor Wars, starring Don Cheadle, will debut as a feature film. Read more: https://t.co/3T9zVe2l5t pic.twitter.com/YfvaXRwvIJ— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) September 29, 2022
How Can Grant Ward Return In Armor Wars? Iron Thief Explained
Grant Ward, played by Brett Dalton, appeared as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in the first season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but was soon revealed to be a Hydra double agent. After being killed by Coulson, Ward's body was taken over by the Ancient Inhuman Hive. While Ward saw a bitter end in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the character got a chance to be revisited during Armor Wars, as Ward saw him don a Stark-style suit in Marvel Comics. Iron Man suit, and played Iron Man briefly.
First appeared in 2016's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, the comic shows Grant Ward's gradual alienation from S.H.I.E.L.D. after accepting the task of infiltrating HYDRA from within but realizing he agrees with their ideology. After Iron Man's suit design was leaked, Ward became the Iron Thief and used his armor to steal the Quantum Drive, a device containing a comprehensive list of countermeasures that could be used against Earth's Mightiest Heroes . Despite his short time as Iron Rogue, this narrative would make Grant Ward the perfect Perfect for Marvel Studios' upcoming Armor Wars project.
Could Iron Thief Be Agents Of SHIELD’s Ward’s Variant?
Since the end of the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios has been delving into the concept of the multiverse, which may provide an answer to how Grant Ward made his way into the MCU. While the canon of the Marvel TV show has yet to be confirmed, the fact that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. deviates from the MCU's overarching storyline suggests it takes place in an alternate reality of the multiverse. This could mean that if Ward plays the Iron Bandit in Armor Wars, it could be a variant that Ward audiences are already familiar with.
Characters such as Matt Murdoch (Daredevil) and Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) have made their way into various MCU Phase 4 projects, and they have marked departures from previous Marvel TV characters, including new costumes and Enhanced capabilities. Marvel Studios could have used the multiverse to craft these now-defunct series canons without really trying to weave their storylines into the already established MCU universe. This creates a perfect opportunity for Grant Ward and other Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters to return in future MCU projects.
Which Other Armored Characters Will Appear In Armor Wars?
Initial Billing As a Disney+ limited series, Marvel Studios confirmed that Armored Warfare will be adapted into a feature film, leading many to speculate that the project will feature a host of big names. In addition to Don Cheadle reprising his role as Gears of War in the film, Armor Wars will likely include armored characters from previous MCU projects, including Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, and possibly Pepper Potts in her Rescue armor. With Kang the Conqueror becoming the main villain of the multiverse saga, it wouldn't be surprising to see the debut of his younger self Nathaniel Richards, aka Iron Kid.
Marvel Comics' Armor Wars by Tony Stark compiled a list of armored criminals that included Shockwave, Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, and even Doctor Doom, so the live-action project could see the ways of various lesser-known armored villains to the MCU. Many have also speculated that Sam Rockwell could return as Stark's commercial rival Justin Hammer, who was previously absent in Iron Man 2 and Marvel's One Shot, Long Live the King of Glory. Armor Wars is sure to feature plenty of armored heroes and villains, so the door is wide open Grant Ward will be the next character to move from Marvel TV to Marvel Studios.
