The Mandarin

Okay – so this won’t be a spin-off, but rather a fourth Iron Man film. Or it needn’t be that – the Mandarin can face any others if Robert Downey, Jr. doesn’t want to do a fourth installment in the franchise. It would be a wasted opportunity if this doesn’t happen.

Maybe after HYDRA is finally defeated, the Mandarin can emerge as the ultimate threat on Earth. He has the power, so why not?

Obviously, you also know that the supervillain has been teased before. And you also know that Marvel actually tried to apologize for the twist from Iron Man 3 by making All Hail the King. A better apology would be if the studio actually brought the villain to life.

Here’s an idea – have Black Widow and Hawkeye (who are, basically, useless in fights with superhumans) follow the trail (you know, Steve Trevor being kidnapped from prison) and find the real Mandarin. And then establish him as a true threat.

That’d be great, wouldn’t it?