Here's what the Tom Cruise was cast as Iron Man instead of Robert Downey Jr. It's no secret that Marvel Studios took a massive gamble in hinging their plans of not just being able to build a sustainable franchise but also retaining the rights to their remaining characters when they tapped Downey Jr. to play Tony Stark. While the actor has unquestionable acting talent, he was bogged down by a deeply problematic past that included a stint in prison. Still, director Jon Favreau was adamant that he was perfect for the role.
12 years and the Infinity Saga later, taking a huge risk on Downey Jr. has clearly paid off big time. Iron Man became a surprise hit, laying the foundation for the 23-film MCU that has now earned more than $22 billion at the global box office. Much of the franchise's trademark characteristics came from what worked in the 2008 film including its signature quippy humor. Iron Man has also remained the gold standard when it comes to origins stories, with subsequent films like Doctor Strange mining inspiration from it. After his first foray as the genius, billionaire, Downey played the character 10 more times in varying degrees but with the same level of commitment he had since day 1. In 2019, he ended that remarkable run through Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Endgame where Iron Man sacrificed himself for the greater good, solidifying his story as one of the best character arcs in modern cinema.
It's now very difficult to imagine any other actor playing the role of Tony Stark. Downey Jr. has become synonymous with the role, earning him the privilege and responsibility as MCU's poster boy. Things almost played out differently, however, as Tom Cruise was also considered for the role first.
Tom Cruise Was Almost Cast as Iron Man
The idea of Tom Cruise almost playing Iron Man has been an open secret in Hollywood, although the specifics of why it was never pushed through remain unclear. Various rumors claim different reasons why. At this point, it's difficult to imagine any other actor playing the role of Tony Stark. Downey has become synonymous with the role, earning him the privilege and responsibility as MCU's poster boy. Things almost played out differently, however, as Tom Cruise was also considered for the role.">Cruise ultimately ed on the role of Tony Stark, but in 2018, he finally addressed the matter, revealing that while he was once in talks for the part he wasn't as close to being cast in the role as everyone presumed. Unfortunately, Cruise didn't give any more specific details on what went wrong with his bid to play Tony Stark. But, he went on to say that Downey Jr. is great in the role, and like the general viewing public, he can't imagine anyone else bringing that character life other than the Iron Man star.
Interestingly, Iron Man wasn't the only role that both Downey and Cruise were considered for. In the 1980s, the former was supposedly on the list for the role of Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun, which became a career-defining part for the latter. Recently, Downey revealed that Cruise was the original pick to play Charlie Chaplin in director Richard Attenborough's critically-acclaimed film, Chaplin. He ultimately got the gig which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
Tom Cruise's Iron Man Would Be Very Different (& Less Popular)
Tom Cruise was undoubtedly the more bankable artist than Downey Jr. in the 2000s. Unlike the latter who was plagued with personal issues, the former has consistently worked since his debut in the '80s and has produced an impressive acting resumé. While Tom Cruise has seen his own scandals, his professional life was stable, arguably making him the safer choice to play Tony Stark in Iron Man. That doesn't mean that he would have been the right choice in the long run, however.
Much of Downey Jr.'s effectiveness in the role stems from his ability to relate to the character as a troubled soul. While this was not intentional, the fact that Downey Jr. had some serious issues in the past helped him bring a nuanced take on the character. Interestingly, they are similar in a way that both are so charismatic that it's difficult to truly hold them able for their behavior. Cruise's approach, on the other hand, would be simpler; although that's not a bad thing, it's also not how Tony Stark was intended to be when Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber, and Don Heck created him in 1968. The character is supposed to be complicated, which is why he's always juxtaposed against a more straightforward man in Captain America (Chris Evans) — at least earlier in the MCU. In addition to that, Cruise would also prioritize action sequences for the movie. While this works for characters like Mission: Impossible's Ethan Hunt and Top Gun's Maverick, Tony Stark is not known to be particularly physically capable, hence why he relies on his armor to do much of the heavy-lifting in battles. Instead, he's a cerebral figure and Downey Jr. effectively portrays this, in part thanks to his command of words.
Other MCU Castings Would Probably Be Different Too
Iron Man not only defined some of the best MCU storytelling tropes, but it also helped Marvel Studio establish its general creative process. For starters, improvisation is encouraged as actors are given the space to innovate with Downey Jr. known to improvise a lot. Away from the screen, the success of casting Downey as their first superhero only emboldened Marvel Studios to look at outside-the-box options when hunting for other actors to inhabit their subsequent leading roles. Had Cruise been cast, Marvel Studios would've probably been more conservative in their actor choices — potentially going for more well-established names than taking on seemingly-odd-but-ultimately-right-actors for the job. Not everyone is a fan of the MCU, but it's difficult to argue against their solid casting record.
Iron Man's Arc Would Be Different (& Even More Heroic)
Typically, Tom Cruise loves to portray heroic characters as proven by his films in recent years, but Iron Man isn't simply a good-doer. He starts self-centered, justifying the immoral practices of Stark Industries because he wants to believe that they're doing the world service through their work and they're getting properly compensated for it. His perspective only changed after he saw first-hand how his weapons were used against the very people he created them to protect.
Even after he had his epiphany during his captivity with Ho Yinsen (Shaun Toub) in Afghanistan, Stark continued to make mistakes — some of them with massive repercussions like the creation of Ultron. It's not like he was inherently bad, he was just flawed, susceptible to making wrong choices like everyone else. Ethan Hunt, on the other hand, who is arguably the quintessential Cruise role, is almost always principled and dignified. He operates more like Steve Rogers when it comes to his commitment to his responsibility as a super agent. Since Cruise is mostly drawn to these types of characters, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he would be inclined to make the Iron Man more like his other heroic roles.
Would Iron Man's Death Happen Earlier?
Iron Man's arc was fleshed out in a span of 11 years, with his story continuing even after his trilogy of films ended in 2013 via Shane Black's Iron Man 3. This was made possible because of Downey's prioritization of the MCU over other projects, which saw him only make five non-Marvel films over the last decade. It's difficult to imagine Cruise putting the same on the MCU considering he's also starring in the Mission: Impossible film series wherein he's the sole lead star over the same period.
Had Cruise taken on the role of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his less flexible schedule would've obviously played a part in how Tony Stark was incorporated into the universe. Assuming that the hero's arc would be relatively unchanged, that doesn't necessarily mean that his death would have taken place earlier than it did in Avengers: Endgame. Instead, Marvel Studios would have less time with the character, perhaps limiting the character's involvement in non-Iron Man series projects like Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming — two films that may not have Iron Man front and center but were pivotal in the journey to his final fate.
