In a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sam Rockwell addressed the persistent fan speculation surrounding his potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Justin Hammer in the upcoming film Armor Wars.
Responding to the rumors during the interview, Rockwell revealed that he had not yet received a call from Marvel or Kevin Feige regarding his involvement in Armor Wars. When Jimmy Fallon jokingly brought up the possibility of the phone ringing that very evening, Rockwell responded with enthusiasm, stating, “I’ll take it, man.” He also emphasized his readiness to reprise the role, saying, “Listen, I’m in, dude.”
The speculation about Sam Rockwell’s return to the MCU intensified after his recent appearance as Justin Hammer in the What If…? animated series. In an alternate reality depicted in the show, Hammer seeks revenge against Tony Stark and steals a sample of Hulk/Bruce Banner’s blood.
While Armor Wars was initially announced as an MCU Phase Five Disney+ series, it has since been reimagined as a feature film. The movie, led by Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes/War Machine, draws inspiration from a popular Iron Man comic book storyline from the 1980s.
The MCU’s adaptation of Armor Wars is expected to deviate from the comics, especially following the death of Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame. In the original comics, Tony confronts armored villains using his stolen designs, involving characters like Crimson Dynamo, Shockwave, and Doctor Doom. Teaming up with Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Iron Man investigates the illicit use of his technology.
Sam Rockwell, a two-time Oscar nominee and winner of Best Supporting Actor in 2017 for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, recently appeared in the Matthew Vaughn spy comedy Argylle alongside Dua Lipa and Samuel L. Jackson.
Looking ahead, Rockwell’s 2024 project includes the Netflix comedy/fantasy movie Imaginary Friends, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by A Quiet Place star John Krasinski. As the speculation continues, fans eagerly await official word on Rockwell’s potential reprisal of the iconic Justin Hammer role in Armor Wars.