If “Iron Man” (the 2008 movie) had flopped, how different would the cinematic landscape be today?

https://www.quora.com/If-%E2%80%9CIron-Man%E2%80%9D-the-2008-movie-had-flopped-how-different-would-the-cinematic-landscape-be-today/answer/Ken-Miyamoto

Robert Downey Jr. doesn't sign a four picture deal with Marvel. While his career likely continues, the stigma of his past mistakes (drug arrests) continue to haunt his professional career, having proven that he can't open a studio movie. That said, he likely finds an Indie role because of his talent, perhaps one that garners him an Oscar. Or perhaps not.
Robert Downey Jr. isn't worth the hundred million or more he is worth now.
Robert Downey Jr. doesn't star as Sherlock Holmes, which garnered the studio tens of millions in profit.
Robert Downey Jr. doesn't start his production company Team Downey with his wife. The upcoming film The Judge is never produced, at least not with Downey Jr.
Marvel doesn't garner the $6.3 billion that the 10 Marvel movies have made globally.
Marvel doesn't partner with Disney, costing Disney billions in profits, merchandising, and stocks.
Disney likely doesn't buy Lucasfilm as a result, thus we have no upcoming Star Wars franchise revitalization...
...Thus, there will be no upcoming Star Wars land at Disneyland (No!!!)
The careers of Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth (among others to a lesser degree) are vastly different.
Batman vs. Superman and Justice League movies never come to because The Avengers may never have been made. The Multi-franchise phenom of Marvel isn't there to prove that such prospects would be possible, let alone be a success.
Cowboys and Aliens isn't made, at least not by Jon Favreau.
The Superhero genre is likely sequestered to the likes of Batman, Superman, X-Men, and Spider-Man.
Joss Whedon is likely still most remembered for that Buffy show and that failed Firefly thing that's turned into a cult hit.
The directors of all 10 Marvel Phase movies have very different careers.
If The Amazing Spider-Man is made, the sequel ends up being MUCH better, considering the fact that it was rushed and overly written to create a multi-franchise property like Marvel.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is likely never made or conceived of, due to the lack of proof that a multi-superhero movie of that scope was possible.
Because of that, there's a good chance that there is just a direct sequel to X-Men: First Class with that cast only, thus we don't see Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in their iconic roles again.
The superhero genre doesn't become such a tentpole for studios. The big character names still have films, however, studios likely look elsewhere for tentpoles. Perhaps we see even more reboots of 80s movies. Perhaps more sequels of them. Something would have to fill in for these films that generate billions.