Harley Keener: The Original Iron Lad?

There is a fan theory floating around the interwebs surrounding Harley Keener, the child character from "Iron Man 3." It posits that he was originally intended to assume the role that Peter Parker (Spider-Man) eventually took in the MCU. The theory suggests this based on several factors, such as actor Ty Simpkins reportedly signing a three-film deal in the MCU, implying a more significant role than a one-off appearance. Harley's portrayal as an intelligent and skilled tinkerer, coupled with the evident father-son relationship developing between him and Tony Stark, seemed to set the stage for a significant character arc.

However, the theory argues that the landscape of the MCU changed when the Sony deal allowed Spider-Man to join the MCU. Spider-Man became a pivotal character, particularly in Tony Stark's storyline, impacting "Infinity War" and "Endgame." Notably, early development for these films began in mid-2014, before the Sony deal was finalized. Therefore, the theory suggests that Harley Keener was initially intended to fill the role of Iron Lad but was later superseded by Spider-Man.