Tom Cruise reveals how close he got to playing Marvel Studios’ Tony Stark in Iron Man, the role that ended up going to Robert Downey Jr.
Tom Cruise opens up about almost starring in Iron Man and reveals how close he was to landing the role as Marvel Cinematic Universe’s inaugural hero. It has been almost 15 years since Marvel Studios launched its interconnected universe with Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau’s Iron Man. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else other than Downey playing Tony Stark, but had things panned out differently, Cruise would have played the genius, billionaire Avenger.
In a new interview with Phase Zero, the Top Gun: Maverick star reveals how close he was to playing MCU’s Iron Man. Watch the clip below:
While Cruise doesn’t deny being once attached to play Iron Man, he also revealed he was never really close to portraying the character. Unsurprisingly, he has nothing but great things to say about Downey’s performance as Tony Stark, saying:
Why Robert Downey Jr. Was Perfect As Iron Man
It’s no secret that making Iron Man was a big gamble for Marvel. The company used its remaining character rights to secure the funding for the project. Had it failed, not only would the MCU not exist, but it would have effectively lost the company the rest of its catalog. Luckily, Iron Man succeeded, effectively laying the groundwork for the franchise.
There are several factors that played into the movie’s success, but Downey’s performance as Tony Stark was one of the most significant. Admittedly, Marvel Studios was skeptical about the casting, with Feige saying that choosing Downey for Iron Man remains the biggest risk Marvel Studios have taken thus far. For more than a decade, the actor was one of the MCU’s biggest draws, highlighting just how consistently good he was in the role.
So, while seeing Cruise play Iron Man poses some intriguing possibilities, it’s safe to say Marvel Studios made the best call when they chose Downey as Iron Man. The actor will remain synonymous with the role for years to come. But perhaps with the introduction of the MCU’s multiverse, Marvel Studios can explore the idea of an alternate universe where Cruise is Iron Man.
Why Thor Wasn’t Distraught By Iron Man’s Endgame DeathBYANA DUMARAOGPUBLISHED 4 DAYS AGO
Iron Man’s Avengers: Endgame death is one of the most tragic moments in the MCU and yet, Thor didn’t seem to be distraught about it. Why?
There’s an interesting reason why Thor wasn’t distraught about Iron Man’s Avengers: Endgame death, and it has something to do with his heritage. As part of the original Earth’s Mightiest Heroes roster, Tony Stark and the God of Thunder had been in many battles together. While they didn’t get many one-on-one conversations, they still developed some kind of friendship born out of their shared experiences. So, it’s curious why Thor didn’t look as distraught as the other Avengers did when Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame.
Thanos’ Avengers: Infinity War snap randomly snuffed half of life in the universe out of existence. Miraculously, however, all six original Avengers survived the ordeal, sending them on one final mission together — undo to the Decimation and bring back everyone affected by it. While they successfully achieved that goal, Iron Man still had to sacrifice his life to ensure a future that wasn’t threatened by the Thanos. Stark’s death beautifully wrapped up his MCU arc, but it was still tragic.
Thor Wasn’t Grieving Iron Man’s Death Because He Died In Battle
As MCU’s inaugural hero, seeing Iron Man die was the emotional gut punch that Avengers: Endgame needed to fully become the fitting end to the Infinity Saga. In a deleted scene, his fellow heroes paid tribute to the character, including Thor. He was also present during the viewing of Iron Man’s final message and the rest of his funeral service. However, the God Thunder wasn’t as distraught as his fellow Avengers, and it may have something to do with his Asgardian roots. Since Iron Man died in battle, Thor may have thought that it meant he was going to Valhalla, making it easy for him to accept his death.
There are stipulations to entering Valhalla, including being an Asgardian, which Iron Man wasn’t, rendering the whole idea moot. That being said, it doesn’t mean that this dissuaded Thor from finding comfort in the idea that the afterlife would be a place of peace for his fallen fellow Avenger. After everything he has lost in the last few years, he has likely found a way to cope with death, and this would have been the most plausible option considering its ties to his Asgardian heritage.
Thor’s Reaction To Iron Man Dying Will Make His Own Death Easier
