“That character was in the first real Marvel movie”: Alden Ehrenreich reflects on playing Ezekiel Stane in Ironheart

After years of waiting, actor Alden Ehrenreich finally made his MCU debut with Disney+'s Ironheart and his character is nothing short of a revelation.

While many might not know it, Alden Ehrenreich was in an early draft of the 2012 Avengers movie, which did not work out. Years later, the actor finally had his full circle moment and made his MCU debut as Ezekiel Stane.

It is also interesting that Alden Ehrenreich is playing such a legacy character, whose true identity is revealed in Episode 2, when Riri accidentally drops his bags of ashes labelled Obadiah S.

Eagle-eyed fans might have noticed this was a direct callback to Obadiah Stane, MCU's first-ever villain, who fought against Iron Man (and died) in the 2008 movie.

More on Zeke Stane in Ironheart in our story.

Alden Ehrenreich breaks down his Ezekiel Stane character in Ironheart

Actor Alden Ehrenreich made his MCU debut with Disney+'s Ironheart and his true identity was revealed in the first batch of episodes. Debuting as Joe McGillicuddy, it was soon revealed that he is none other than Ezekiel 'Zeke' Stane.

The last name Stane certainly holds a lot of gravitas in the MCU, with Obadiah Stane being the franchise's first-ever villain, who fought against the mighty Iron Man in the 2008 film.

While Alden Ehrenreich certainly has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, the actor is excited to play such an important role within the MCU, which he shared in an interview with ScreenRant:

''Well, it's nice to be a part of something that relates back to the whole legacy of the story, especially because that character was in the first real Marvel movie that started all of this. And I had just worked with Robert Downey Jr. when I got this part, and so I got to talk to him about it and that was nice.''

2008's Iron Man was the first major MCU movie that set the foundation of the franchise as we know it today. Ironheart certainly took things to the beginning with this Iron Man callback, which set up an interesting legacy for Tony Stark.

Ironheart: Alden Ehrenreich's Zeke Stane sets up an unconventional legacy to Iron Man

With Robert Downey Jr.'s debut as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, it is clear that the actor's Tony Stark/Iron Man character will not return in the franchise.

Considering Iron Man is one of the mightiest Avengers on Earth, the franchise surely needs another character to continue his iconic legacy. While Riri Williams' Ironheart was expected to carry forward Iron Man's legacy, Zeke Stane is surely setting up as an equally interesting candidate.

In the first batch of episodes, he spells out his mission to Riri, which is to use off-the-books technology, not for weaponry (like his father), but to help people. This mission is highly reminiscent of a certain arms manufacturer who eventually became one of the strongest Avengers on Earth.

With Downey's blessings, Ehrenreich's Zeke Stane could surely carry forward Iron Man's legacy in a completely different way than the fans might have anticipated.

Talking about the big reveal and the callback to Iron Man, head writer Chinaka Hodge noted with TVLine:

“One of the best things about the MCU is how things connect, but I think so many of the throws have been forward or to other MCUs or alternate universes, and it’s so much fun to reach back...Alden’s so great in the role and the character is so much fun.''

Ironheart Episodes 4-6 will be released on Disney+ on July 1, 2025.

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