Tom Cruise is reportedly in talks to play an alternate reality version of Iron Man for the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel.
Marvel Studios apparently wants several interesting, high-profile cameos for the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While nothing has been settled yet, the studio bosses are said to be looking with keen interest to include Tom Cruise.
According to a Marvel insider, Cruise is in consideration to play a “different version” of Tony Stark/Iron Man for the Benedict Cumberbatch film follow-up. Incidentally, Cruise was originally going to play the superhero character before Robert Downey, Jr.’s name even came up.
‘Can’t imagine anyone else’
In the late 1990s, Fox had plans to develop an Iron Man movie with scribe Jeff Vintar and creator Stan Lee. This film was decidedly more sci-fi than the current versions with Downey, and it even attracted Nicolas Cage’s interest.
But when the development plans were slowly coming together in 1998, Cruise was then starring in his own Mission: Impossible franchise. Thus, he allegedly had no choice but to pass on the chance to play Iron Man.
Cruise, however, said in an interview that he was never a serious contender for Tony Stark/Iron Man.
“I can’t imagine anyone else in that role, and I think it’s perfect for him,” Cruise shared, adding that he really loves Downey’s take on the character.
Several years and many changes later, New Line ended up doing Iron Man with a different theme and tone. But this development also didn’t pan out until the film’s rights were back to Marvel Studios, which was by then developing its groundbreaking cinematic universe. As they say, the rest is history.
Introducing Marvel Cinematic ‘Multiverse’
But after the success of MCU, Marvel is taking it a notch higher by kicking off its multiverse storylines. Mysterio hinted this in the movie Spider-Man: Far From Home, and it will be expounded in the Doctor Strange sequel.
Aside from Cruise, the studio has a shortlist of other actors who could cameo as Tony Stark/Iron Man. The multiverse idea with different versions of MCU characters isn’t a new thing. Fans have been speculating on this since the announcement of the second Doctor Strange film.
Meanwhile, the mystical film is set to begin production in the U.K. in November to hit its March 2022 theater date. The movie’s original release date was moved two times even before the pandemic crisis.
Tom Cruise, meanwhile, is still working on Mission: Impossible 7, which was delayed by the lockdowns. If he does agree to a cameo in the Marvel movie, will his schedule clear up in time for filming?
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