Armor Wars MCU Show Cancellation Rumors Addressed By Showrunner

A social media post from Armor Wars head writer/showrunner Yassir Lester addresses the show's cancellation rumors. The upcoming MCU series stars Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine and is based on the Iron Man seven-issue Armor Wars comic book story arc written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. The comic storyline sees Tony Stark battling several enemies after discovering that they have acquired his suit designs. The show will feature Rhodes as the central character after Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame. Armor Wars was announced at Disney's 2020 Investor Day alongside other upcoming MCU series such as Secret Invasion, Iron Heart and I Am Groot. 

Marvel Studios announced upcoming projects for phases five and six of the MCU and debuted several trailers, including She-Hulk and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the announcements were met with positive feedback, fans and observers noticed that Armor Wars was not a part of Marvel's showcase, although it was present on the slides shown to the crowd. This has led some to speculate whether the Cheadle-led series is moving forward. It was reported recently that Armor Wars would start filming this fall. However, no official indication has been given by Marvel Studios or Disney. While details are scarce, Lester's recent social media post has clarified the show's status.

Lester addressed the speculation surrounding Armor Wars via Instagram story, which Discussing Film captured. The writer's message, while somewhat cryptic, seems to indicate that the show is moving forward, despite its absence from Comic-Con 2022. As previously reported, Lester did not offer any additional details or confirm if the show was still being filmed in fall 2022. Lester's post can be seen below:

Yassir Lester confirms ‘ARMOR WARS’ is still coming out. pic.twitter.com/oJlpIwsr1p

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 24, 2022

With so many projects underway, it's certainly possible that Armor Wars got lost in the mix or was perhaps de-prioritized. However, Lester's post is nonetheless a promising sign. Another indicator the show is moving forward is Cheadle's casting in Secret Invasion, which is part of Marvel's phase five slate and premieres in early 2023. Marvel Studios is not done with Cheadle, and the actor has made no indication that he wishes to discontinue the role of Rhodes. While no casting details have been released for Avengers: Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars, it is certainly possible that Cheadle/Rhodes will be part of the lineups for each film.

It is no longer question of if but instead when. And at this point, it seems likely that Armor Wars will be part of Marvel's phase six slate, which has only been partially announced. Additional plot and casting details for Amor Wars have been scarce, and it remains to be seen how the show's story will be impacted by recent events in the MCU and the grander "Multiverse Saga." The show will probably be a standalone series, much like Hawkeye, Moon Knight, and the upcoming Echo. Speculation aside, Armor Wars seems to be moving forward.

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