During The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn gave some updates on the ongoing Avengers Campus expansion that will feature two new attractions, Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.
Feige and Vaughn reiterated the concepts of both attractions. Avengers: Infinity Defense will see the Avengers battle King Thanos across “multiple worlds.” The phrasing here further indicates we may see a change to the multiverse concept unless Imagineering is being cute and just trying to make “multiworld” their version of multiverse. Feige and Vaughn also confirmed Black Panther (unclear which one), Ant-Man, and Hulk will be in the attraction. Feige also teased more heroes in the attraction.
“I think it is by far the largest collection of heroes we’ve ever put into an attraction,” Feige told the SXSW crowd.
The second attraction coming to Avengers Campus, Stark Flight Lab, will put you inside Tony Stark’s workshop to check out some of the new tech he’s working on and allow you to test it yourself. Guests will sit in “gyro-kinetic pods” and roll along a track before stopping in front of a giant robot arm. This robot arm will hoist you into the air where you’ll make several high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and some other Avengers. RDJ teased that other Avengers will be featured in this attraction and he joked it will be based on who picks up his FaceTime calls on the first ring. Walt Disney Imagineering also shared a special look at Stark Flight Lab.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO OF WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING TESTING STARK FLIGHT LAB FOR DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/fTsC9h0By7
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) March 8, 2025
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO OF WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING TESTING STARK FLIGHT LAB FOR DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/fTsC9h0By7
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) March 8, 2025
However, if I could channel my good friend Kelly McCubbin. I have a way that Stark Flight Lab could be “plussed-up.” Based on the concept art and video animations this attraction won’t have a screen attached. I think that’s a miss as the technology exists. Remember EPCOT’s The Sum of All Thrills? I think adding a visual element with Iron Man and the other heroes would make this attraction stand out even more. I think visual is the better route than audio especially when it comes to this attraction.
Granted, Stark Flight Lab was a surprise and it may be a quick way to get another attraction in Avengers Campus. Also, this attraction may have been inspired and greenlit by Robert Downey Jr.’s trip to Imagineering. During the SXSW presentation it was revealed that RDJ commented on the robotic arm for Stark Flight Lab and said it reminded him of DUM-E from the Iron Man films. DUM-E will also play a role in this attraction.
“Transferring from a track to a robot arm and then back again — nothing like this has ever been done before in a theme park, and we’re so excited about it,” Vaughn told the SXSW crowd. “Usually, we hide all the tech behind the scenes so you can focus on the story. Here, the tech IS the story, so we’re putting it front and center.”
Throughout the SXSW panel, Robert Downey Jr. shared praise about Walt Disney Imagineering. At one point he called it “the living embodiment of the Stark Enterprises mission statement.” RDJ also called it “the privilege of a lifetime to be invited to participate.” He also went as far as saying that WDI headquarters is “the Area 51 of fun!”
Yet I think the quote that caught my attention the most was towards the end of the presentation.
“Even after we finish with the Flight Lab. I want to stay involved for the long haul. I want to be part of the future,” Downey told Feige, Vaughn, and the SXSW crowd, “So, this isn’t a one-time deal, and I say this will all the humility I can muster, you need more… me.”
To me, not to read through the lines too much, but it seems that Robert Downey Jr. has realized that his legacy could live on in the Disney Parks for generations. I also wouldn’t be surprised if someone as ambitious and as creative as RDJ is chasing his own version of a Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, an attraction that is the industry’s gold standard. Maybe Avengers: Infinity Defense will bring it? Maybe RDJ wants his presence at all the parks? Could Robert Downey Jr. be the guy to get Walt Disney World the Marvel rights back? Now I’m just getting silly but hey I’d love to see the man try.
I also think the final quotes from Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro sorta confirms Robert Downey Jr.’s ambitions with Walt Disney Imagineering. “Oh, you don’t have to ask us twice,” Bergman said. “Anytime you want to want to come over to Imagineering, you are welcome,” D’Amaro added. “Tony Stark lives on forever with us.”
I have a feeling this could be the start of a beautiful friendship for RDJ and WDI.
Be sure to continue to follow Boardwalk Times for more coverage of The Walt Disney Company.
Support Boardwalk Times on Ko-Fi.
Support Boardwalk Times by shopping on Boardwalk Store:
If you like this article. Subscribe to my free newsletter Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore, a monthly dose of Disney, its businesses, and the wider themed entertainment industry.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
