As Robert Downey Jr is all set to return to Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Droom, fans continue to speculate and hope that Tom Cruise with step into the role of Iron Man, a character RDJ has immortalised over the decade.

After it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr will be returning to MCU as Doctor Doom, fans demand Tom Cruise to play Iron-Man (Photo: Instagram/robertdowneyjr/bluerayangel)

In 2019, with a snap of his fingers, Robert Downey Jr hung up his boots as Iron Man aka Tony Stark and bid adieu to the Marvel Cinematic Universe all while erasing the existence of Thanos. Five years later, the actor sent his fans into a frenzy, after he revealed that he is returning to MCU with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, albeit this time, as the villainous Doctor Doom. While his return to the cinematic universe has left the fans divided, the theory about Tom Cruise suiting up and stepping into the role of Iron Man has surfaced once again.

“Now that I know Marvel Studios is listening, give me that Tom Cruise Iron Man to fight Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom,” read a tweet by Bluray Angel, which followed a barrage of reactions which demanded that Tom Cruise be cast as Iron Man. The theory has been doing the rounds of the internet since the ‘90s and keeps resurfacing whenever Marvel announces a new film.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness screenwriter Michael Waldron had revealed back then that Top Gun: Maverick star was at one point considered for a role as an alternate version of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in the Marvel blockbuster. Although this casting ultimately didn’t come to fruition, Waldron admitted to Rolling Stone that it would have been an exciting addition to the film’s multiverse storyline. “As it was being talked about online, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’d be cool!’” he remarked. However, he set the record straight on the Tom speculation, stating that while the idea was intriguing, it was most likely never a realistic possibility due to his packed schedule. “I just don’t think it was ever an option,” the screenwriter explained to Rolling Stone, “because of availability.”

The absence of Tom  as an alternate Iron Man in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness crushed fan hopes, but rumours of his potential MCU entry continued to persist.  Tom had to finally address the rumours. When asked about nearly landing the Iron Man role and his interest in superheroes, Cruise was unequivocal. “Not close. Not close,” he stated, expressing admiration for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal. “I can’t imagine anyone else playing this role. It’s perfect for him,” he was quoted as saying in Hyper Beast.

Expanding on his approach to roles, Tom explained, “I look at a movie and think, you know, I don’t rule anything out, it’s what’s the story? What’s the character? Does it interest me? Do I feel this is what an audience would like to see me in? What can I learn? What can I contribute? That’s really how I look at things.”

So, the notion of Cruise stepping into the Marvel universe may have been nothing more than a fleeting fantasy, but one that nonetheless captured the imagination of fans worldwide.

Reddit users, excited to see RDJ as Doctor Doom, now want Tom to play Tony Stark. A fan art which shows Tom dressed up in an Iron Man suit sans the mask, which has gone viral and keeps appearing on the internet, also landed on the platform. “Here’s the thing about Tom Cruise being Iron Man: He would want the Iron Man suit to be practical and actually be able to fly. The budget for these movies would be OUTRAGEOUS,” wrote a fan.  “Honestly as a lifelong comic book reader, I would say Tom Cruise would make a much more accurate Tony Stark. The comics changed him a lot for RDJ’s personality,” wrote another.

According to the portal Meri Station News, before RDJ was cast as Iron Man, which resurrected his acting career, it was an “open secret” in Hollywood that Tom almost played the character. However, the actor was seen headlining the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Tom Cruise as alternate universe Iron Man by Spdrmnkyxxiii

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According to the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios,  written by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, a young Tom was “flirting with the idea of playing [Tony] Stark.” However, owing to budget constraints back then, it never happened. “Cruise’s asking fee at the time was more than even a profitable studio like Fox was willing to risk on an untested superhero property,” explained Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, while speaking to the portal. The  studios then started seeking actors like Jim Caviezel, Timothy Olyphant and finally cast RDJ.

Counterintuitive as it may seem, Marvel’s financial constraints were a blessing in disguise. The studio’s inability to cast Tom for Iron Man inadvertently paved the way for Downey Jr’s iconic portrayal. Downey Jr.’s improvisational genius, evident in the unscripted brilliance of lines like “I am Iron Man,” was a perfect match for the film’s freewheeling production style. Beyond the first film, Downey Jr’s Iron Man emerged as “hero” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the following films such as Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3 etc. Alongside Chris Evans’ Captain America, he formed the dynamic duo that propelled the Infinity Saga to unprecedented heights. It’s difficult to imagine the MCU as we know it without Downey Jr.’s indelible mark on the franchise.