Of all the myriad cameos touted for Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) himself.
One of the most popular rumors gleaned from the latest Multiverse of Madness trailer is the presence of Superior Iron Man, with the Marvel comics villain teased via a glowing goateed silhouette. Given Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man iteration famously perished snapping Thanos (Josh Brolin) out of existence in Loki, variants across the MCU's myriad universes can look different, allowing Marvel Studios to recycle the beloved character of Iron Man in Doctor Strange 2 via the multiverse.
In this way, Tom Cruise's Iron Man can perfectly honor Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU legacy in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Cruise appearing as Iron Man as part of the Illuminati has long been on MCU fans' wishlists, with Cruise close to both the Iron Man role and Robert Downey Jr. at various points in his career. Here's how Tom Cruise can perfectly honor Downey Jr.'s Iron Man legacy in Doctor Strange 2, as well as why MCU fans want Cruise to play a Tony Stark variant.
Why MCU Fans Think Tom Cruise Will Replace Robert Downey Jr. As Iron Man
Due to its multiverse-centric narrative, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness represents the perfect opportunity to explore alternative scenarios in the MCU with little to no effect on the Sacred Timeline that Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man is so prevalent in. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' latest trailer looks to be setting up the introduction of Marvel's Illuminati, in which the Avenger is an original, albeit evil member known as Superior Iron Man. Any Iron Man variant used to portray this Superior version needs to be aesthetically different from Downey Jr.'s iconic character to avoid confusion, leading to calls for Tom Cruise to step into the nanotech suit.
MCU fans have chosen Cruise to replace Downey Jr. since the The Mandalorian creator adamant Downey Jr. could connect so effortlessly with Iron Man's characterization due to both of their personal redemption arcs being eerily similar.
Although Cruise ed on the role of Iron Man in 2007, the idea of the Hollywood star donning Iron Man's suit has never quite left the MCU fandom's collective consciousness. The Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer has reignited this long-dormant "what if" scenario, with several fan art renderings superimposing Cruise's likeness on the MCU's Iron Man. Since Marvel Studios have a clear penchant for fan service, as evidenced by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness offers the perfect opportunity to explore what could have come to if Cruise was Iron Man - a fact not lost on MCU fans in the build-up to Doctor Strange 2.
Tom Cruise & Robert Downey Jr.'s Competition For Roles Over The Years
Aside from their competition for the role of Iron Man in the late 2000s, Cruise and Downey Jr. have enjoyed an amicable rivalry for other parts over the years. Robert Downey Jr was considered to play the role of Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in director Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin. In this instance, the part went to Downey Jr., who received his first Academy Award nomination for the film in 1992.
Why Tom Cruise As Iron Man Honors Downey Jr.'s Legacy
Although on the surface Cruise and Downey Jr. share a rivalry for acting roles, Cruise as Iron Man still honors Downey Jr.'s MCU legacy. Cruise as Iron Man is perhaps the only casting choice that could actually do justice to Downey Jr.'s legacy in 2022, with the character Iron Man is in contemporary culture, with Cruise one of the few actors whose pedigree and enduring talent still rival Downey Jr.'s.
It must also be stated that Tom Cruise as Superior Iron Man would not be a replacement for Downey Jr.'s version, but rather a malicious Iron Man variant thoroughly differentiated from the Avengers character. As a result, Cruise's Iron Man would act as a foil for Downey Jr.'s heartfelt portrayal rather than attempting to emulate the character on which the bulk of the MCU's first three phases' success has been built upon. In this way, Tom Cruise's long-touted Iron Man portrayal would perfectly honor Robert Downey Jr.'s character legacy in Doctor Strange 2.
