Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark Gave EDITH to Spider-Man as He Knew Skrulls Have Infiltrated SHIELD, Needed a Failsafe in Case He Died – Theory Explained
An MCU theory suggests Tony Stark created EDITH because of the Skrulls.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark has created a lot of artificial intelligence devices to help him navigate the chaotic world of heroes and villains. One of his famous creations, EDITH, was passed on to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
Following his death, Stark bequeathed a pair of sunglasses to the young hero to give him access to Stark Industries’ global satellite network and its numerous arsenal of missiles and drones. Indeed, the device is a powerful weapon that can help save Earth from alien attacks.
MCU Theory Suggests Tony Stark Created EDITH Because Of The Skrulls
The idea of EDITH has long been foreshadowed as far back as Iron Man 3. It was unclear whether Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark had already created the artificial intelligence technology, but at least there was evidence that suggested its advent.
When Stark blasted Eric Savin, a friend of Aldrich Killian, he said, “That’s the thing about smart guys, we always cover our a*s.” It was not a direct reference to EDITH, but it hinted that Stark was always ahead of his game.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
An MCU theory suggested that when Stark hacked into the SHIELD system in The Avengers, he gained knowledge about several secrets, one of which was about the Skrulls. Redditor thamylkmanx postulated:
“Tony learned about Skrulls when he hacked SHIELD. Then after the Battle of New York, and the failure of Ultron, he made the drones as a first line of defense to protect the planet as a ‘suit of armor around the world.’
But in the event of his death knowing about the shape-shifting Skrulls, who would he give that power to? An Avenger? They would all be high target assets, especially Rhodie as an Air Force Colonel.”
Indeed, any of the famous Avengers would be easily suspected or traced, and there was no way he could leave such a powerful device to them. Instead, he chose someone who is cloaked from society, and one he could trust with because he believed in his sincerity and intelligence. The theory continued:
“So he picked who has a secret identity, isn’t really publicly an Avenger, someone intelligent, and with a good head on his shoulders to be responsible for EDITH. Being Peter Parker.”
The theory was agreed on by many other fans, with a few believing it was a retcon. Some also wished to see this idea brought back in future movies.
Will MCU Bring Back EDITH?
Tom Holland as Peter Parker
After Tom Holland’s Peter Parker inherited Tony Stark’s sunglasses equipped with a technology called EDITH, an acronym which stands for ‘Even Dead, I’m The Hero,’ the device’s future in the MCU remains a mystery.
One of the most feasible options for the studio to tackle EDITH is through Armor Wars, a series that will follow the events after Avengers: Endgame. Kevin Feige has confirmed it will revolve around Stark’s technology falling into the wrong hands, so this would make a perfect opportunity to bring up EDITH.
At this point, it is unknown whether Spider-Man 4 will bring back EDITH, though it seems more unlikely as the movie would focus more on Parker as a superhero than delve into Stark’s legacy again.
