What if Tom Cruise, not Robert Downey Jr., snapped his fingers to save the universe? Such a wild thought! Many actors have come close to snagging iconic roles, but did not. This article discusses why Cruise never became Iron Man, even after being considered seriously.
Tom Cruise: Perfectly Tony Stark on Paper?
At first, Cruise looked to be ideal for the character. He has charisma and action skills, and the box-office appeal to boot. But was any of that enough to make him Iron Man?
The Charisma Factor: Cruise\’s Screen Persona
Cruise\’s brimming confidence and overwhelming charm on-screen would serve well for Tony Stark. Imagine his cocky-but-endearing roles in \”Jerry Maguire\” or \”Top Gun.\” The actor does a bang-up job of showcasing pride and wit, along with charm. He fits the bill for Stark perfectly.
Proven Stunt Expertise-Action Chops
This actor is mostly noted for doing his own stunts. Thus, he seems to raise stakes for realism. Such a commitment would have added a great deal of legitimacy and bludgeoning realism to Iron Man\’s fight scenes. The \”Mission Impossible\” franchise proves his dedication. One can call him a true action star.
Proven Cast Gold: Bankability of Cruise
Declaring a blockbuster with Cruise wasn\’t that a big deal in Hollywood. His movies always rake in money, and that makes him marketable for studios. They would have cast him big time for profits. Before \”Iron Man,\” though, Downey Jr.\’s box office performance was not nearly as formidable.
Behind the Scenes: The Stumbling Blocks
So, why did Cruise not don the Iron Man suit? There have been reports of some main roadblocks.
Creative Control: Plan of Vision of Cruise vs. the Marvel
Cruise mostly wants to keep a firm grip on everything involving his own movies. Marvel has got some specific formulas. It has been said that those problems mostly sprouted from this vision discord. One industry insider said Cruise likes to be heavily involved in movie development, which might have scared Marvel.
Script Woes: The Path of the Story
Rumors suggested that he was unhappy with the script, certainly on the whole direction it took with the \”Iron Man\” storyline. So was the story good enough for Cruise? Probably, he didn\’t think so.
Committment Issues: Franchise Fatigue
Huge commitment is always there for such a long franchise. And Cruise would probably think twice about signing up for many years. Did he want to be Iron Man for a decade? Maybe this point turned him off.
The Robert Downey Jr. Effect: A Stroke of Casting Genius
The one who redefined the character of Iron Man was Downey Jr. His casting was a game-changer for the character.
Imperfectly Perfect: RDJ\’s Redemption Arc
The character Tony Stark became richer, as here was a man who seemed to have it all but had vulnerabilities. They made him more relatable as a character. He has an incredible comeback story, which was directly mirrored in the life of Tony Stark.
Ad-libbing and Chemistry: RDJ\’s Performance Magic
Downey Jr.is one of the really exalted improvisers. He had amazing chemistry with his MCU co-stars; so much, that he almost always injected humor into the role, thus making Iron Man a fun movie to watch. He fit the bill perfectly.
Reinventing the Character: Lasting Impact RDJ
The archetypal Iron Man now belongs to Downey Jr. Since then, every comic book adaptation has been under its influence. He raised the bar high. No other person could imagine another actor in this role.
Alternate Realities: Thinking of Cruise as Iron Man
What if Cruise was Iron Man? The movies would\’ve been very different.
Visualizing the Suit: How Would Cruise\’s Iron Man Look?
The suit of Iron Man might have looked entirely different on Cruise. Its whole aesthetics could have probably skewed along lines of a sleeker, more militaristic design. Perhaps less bulkiness as well.
Tone and Style: Iron Man Done Differently
Effective would Cruise\’s action style change tone from the movies. The comedy might have struck a softer note, somewhat less intense than what Downey Jr. brought.
Conclusion
Thus, Tom Cruise never played Iron Man, due to creative differences and commitment concerns. But Robert Downey Jr.\’s casting proved perfect, leaving a legacy for posterity. This argument is a massive \”what if\” in movie history: \”what if?\” MCU would have probably got a whole different direction.