Long before Robert Downey Jr. became the iconic Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a different vision for Iron Man was in development, with Tom Cruise considered a leading candidate for the role. The original creators working on the Iron Man script revealed these early efforts happened years prior to Downey Jr.’s involvement, highlighting a very different path for the character.
The initial concept of Iron Man emerged soon after the success of Spider-Man 2, as Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad approached writers Al Gough and Miles Millar to develop the story. According to Gough, Arad introduced Iron Man as
“a billionaire who sells weapons, he’s got an alcohol problem. There was an accident, now he’s trying to make it work, make it better.”
These foundational elements set the tone for the character before he gained widespread recognition.
Obstacles in Bringing Iron Man to the Screen
Despite the promising storytelling, the project faced significant hurdles. The rights to an Iron Man movie were held by New Line Cinema, not Marvel Studios, similar to how Spider-Man’s film rights were licensed to Sony. This ownership complicating matters meant the original script and plans were eventually abandoned, clearing the way for other versions later on.
Gough described how New Line’s founder, Robert Shaye, raised concerns about the superhero concept, particularly Iron Man’s ability to fly, drawing parallels to Superman.
“We all sort of walked out of the meeting like, ‘We don’t think this is going to happen here,’”
Gough recalled, signaling a missed opportunity in that early phase.
Tom Cruise as a Potential Tony Stark
Had New Line’s vision prevailed, Tom Cruise might have been the first actor to portray Tony Stark on the big screen. Miles Millar confirmed this possibility, stating,
“They wanted Tom Cruise, and I think Cruise was interested.”
This alternate casting choice would have dramatically changed the character’s portrayal and the course of the MCU.
Eventually, Marvel Studios regained the rights to Iron Man, paving the way for Robert Downey Jr.’s transformative performance that launched a franchise spanning over a decade and reshaped superhero cinema.
The Lasting Impact and Future Marvel Projects
The early struggles and casting possibilities emphasize the unpredictable nature of superhero adaptations and how close Marvel came to a very different Iron Man debut. Meanwhile, current Marvel projects continue to build on this legacy, with new stories like Avengers: Doomsday and Marvel Phase 6 expanding the universe.
Additionally, the Netflix series Wednesday, created by some of the same minds behind the initial Iron Man script, remains a popular choice among viewers, showcasing the wide range of talent involved in Marvel and related franchises.
“[Marvel Studios founder] Avi Arad had come to us after [we wrote the story on] Spider-Man 2,” —Al Gough
“After Spider-Man 2, they say, ‘guys, we’ve got another crown jewel – which is Iron Man,'” —Miles Millar
To be honest with you, I hadn’t heard of Iron Man. Avi said, ‘Perfect. Here’s what he is: he’s a billionaire who sells weapons, he’s got an alcohol problem. There was an accident, now he’s trying to make it work, make it better. —Al Gough
So, we did a draft, several drafts. We worked on that for probably a year. We went in with Kevin [Feige] and Avi, and I guess [New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye] had read it. It’s an interesting thing with generations trying to still connect with what a superhero is. He got all tied up that Iron Man could fly, because Superman could fly… we all sort of walked out of the meeting like, ‘We don’t think this is going to happen here.’ —Al Gough
They wanted Tom Cruise, and I think Cruise was interested, —Miles Millar
