Marvel’s Armor Wars series is being redeveloped as a movie

In 2020,Armor Warswas one of the big announcements during the Disney Investor Day that set the stage for Marvel’s continued expansion onDisney+. But plans have changed, and the much-anticipatedArmor Warsseries is no longer going forward. ViaThe Hollywood Reporter,Armor Warsis now being redeveloped as a feature film.

Don Cheadle remains attached to headline the movie as James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine, a role he has portrayed sinceIron Man 2in 2010. Additionally, Yassir Lester, the head writer for theArmor Warsseries, will adapt the project for the big screen.Armor Warsdoes not have a director at this time, and the shift in development will push it out of its previously planned 2023 production slot. Beyond Cheadle, no other cast members have been announced.

Armor Warsis based on the 1987Iron Manstoryline written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton, which was illustrated by Mark Bright. In that multi-part adventure, Tony Stark discovered that his proprietary Iron Man technology had been stolen and sold to many of the armored villains in the Marvel Universe. Incensed, Stark went on a vendetta to reclaim and neutralize his stolen tech even when it alienated his fellow Avengers and made him an enemy of the United States government.

Since Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man was killed off inAvengers: Endgame, it falls to Rhodey to carry on and defend the legacy of his fallen friend. The only logline that Marvel released forArmor Warswas that it explores Tony Stark’s worst nightmare as his technology falls into the wrong hands.

BringingArmor Warsto the big screen essentially makes it the fourthIron Manmovie with Cheadle in the leading role. In Marvel’s comic book universe, Rhodey was the second Iron Man before he took on the mantle of War Machine as his own. So if Marvel decides to officially make Rhodey the new Iron Man, there is a precedent for that.

For now,Armor Warsdoesn’t have a theatrical release date. But sinceMarvel has released most of its theatrical plansthrough the first half of 2026, it will likely come out somewhere in that timeframe.