Why Did Iron Man Not Fight Thanos with Edith in 'Avengers: Infinity War'?

For many fans of Avengers: Infinity War, one question remains a mystery: why didn't Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, deploy Edith, his cutting-edge AI assistant, during the most pivotal battle against Thanos? This article delves into the in-universe and out-of-universe answers to this intriguing question, exploring the details and complexities that informed the filmmakers' decisions.

Out of Universe vs. In Universe

Out of Universe: It's worth noting that in the real world, the concept and the finished product of Edith were not fully developed when Avengers: Infinity War was being filmed. The project to integrate Edith into the film was still in progress, and the technology was not yet ready. This is evidenced by the fact that it wasn't until the summer break of the next film, Avengers: Endgame, that Peter Parker received the EDITH glasses. In a similar vein, Tony Stark, even with his vast technological resources, might not have had the necessary prototype or finalized version of Edith to deploy during the chaos of the battle against Thanos.

Unprepared for the Battle

In Universe: Moreover, in the context of the film, the battle against Thanos was a chaotic and unexpected event. At the time of the battle, the Avengers were already struggling with a war that required all of their attention. Tony, like the rest of the team, was likely focused on the immediate threats, such as the army of Chitauri and the various effects of the Infinity Stones. Edith, conceived as a solution for a more traditional alien invasion, was not a priority for the team, especially when they were wrestling with the existential crisis of the end of the world.

Unexpected Allied and Enemy

The battle in Avengers: Infinity War was further complicated by the unexpected introduction of Nebula. The fact that Nebula, turning out to be her own past version, was secretly aiding Thanos couldn't have been anticipated by the Avengers. This revelation meant that the Avengers needed to adapt their strategies on the fly, dealing with both external and internal threats for the first time. Therefore, introducing Edith into the battle would have posed additional risks, such as the potential for miscommunication or tech malfunctions, which could have led to friendly fire casualties.

Prepare Needed for Advanced Tools

It should be noted that deploying advanced tools, such as Edith, requires meticulous preparation and testing. The team dealing with imminent threats might not have had the bandwidth to focus on the deployment and integration of such tools. Furthermore, even the experience of Peter Parker, with his unique advantage in fumbling into the future, wasn't enough to foresee the complexities of the situation. Working with an untested and potentially unreliable technology during a high-stakes battle would have been too risky.

Conclusion

The decision not to use Edith during the pivotal battle in Avengers: Infinity War was a result of both practical and narrative considerations. The in-universe factors such as the chaotic and unexpected nature of the conflict, along with the complex geopolitical alliances and the technological limitations, all contributed to this decision. From an out-of-universe perspective, the timeline of development and integration of Edith into the narrative was subject to the constraints of the filmmaking process. Understanding these factors enhances the appreciation of the cinematic storytelling in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.