Iron Man may protect the world, but he’s no match for alcohol. However, Marvel producer Kevin Fiege has confirmed that Iron Man 3 will not focus on Tony Stark‘s descent into alcoholism, suggesting that it’s too heavy a plot to fit into the movie. “He’s not an alcoholic in the movies. Maybe one day that’s a deeper story, but we’re not going to do it unless we can make it a full-focused plot,” says Fiege. The Iron Man comics featured the legendary 1979 “Demon In A Bottle” storyline, in which Stark develops alcohol addiction after several professional and personal disasters, including accidentally killing a man. The nine-issue arc—widely considered one of the best super hero sagas of the ’70s—also portrays Stark admitting his problem and turning things around after Beth Cabe, a member of his security detail, tells him how alcoholism lead to the eventual death of her ex-husband. She then supports him through his withdrawal and recovery. Despite not being featured in the upcoming film, Stark’s alcoholism will continue to be a defining element of his character. Jon Favreau, director of the first Iron Man installment, insists “Stark has issues with booze. That’s part of who he is.”
