20 Years Ago, a Pre-MCU Iron Man Movie Nearly Hit Theaters (Could Marvel Give It a Second Life?)

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Look, let’s be real – the MCU is still the place to be for superhero movies, no matter what the critics say. Each new release makes a huge splash, rakes in tons of money, and everyone’s instantly buzzing about where the story is going next, all thanks to Kevin Feige and his team. Right now, all the excitement is building for Avengers: Doomsday – it’s going to be massive! They’re finally bringing the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four together, and the villain? Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr.! It’s been six years since we’ve seen him in a Marvel movie – it’s going to be incredible to see him back, especially after the sacrifice his character, Tony Stark, made in Avengers: Endgame.

Marvel Studios made a bold move by choosing Robert Downey Jr. to star as Iron Man in their first film. He had faced personal struggles previously, and it wasn’t certain he could carry a major movie franchise. But he proved them right, becoming the defining face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and helping to redefine cinema. Interestingly, he almost missed out on the role, as another Iron Man movie was previously being developed.

New Line Cinema Had Its Chance to Turn Iron Man Into a Household Name

Most fans know Marvel had to license out the rights to many of its popular characters. 20th Century Fox famously obtained the X-Men, creating a successful, though sometimes uneven, film series. They also cast Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, a role he continues to play. Sony also saw success with the original Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi and later Marc Webb, eventually partnering with Marvel Studios for future Spider-Man movies. Often overlooked in these discussions is New Line Cinema, which produced the Blade trilogy.

Back in the early 2000s, New Line Cinema briefly owned the rights to make an Iron Man movie. Tom Cruise was reportedly considered for the main role, and Nick Cassavetes, known for directing The Notebook, was lined up to direct. However, the project was cancelled in 2005 when a New Line executive, Bob Shaye, decided Iron Man couldn’t realistically fly due to the weight of his suit. While a strange reason, it’s likely a good thing the film never happened, as it could have interfered with Marvel Studios’ later success. Despite this, the idea wasn’t a complete failure, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe might revisit it in the future.

The MCU Is Going to Reboot Iron Man Eventually

Tony Stark, or Iron Man, feels like a character who shouldn’t be replaced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to his complete and impactful story. Despite his death, Marvel’s Kevin Feige has indicated plans to bring the character back, potentially through recasting. The multiverse offers many possibilities – like evil or zombified versions of Iron Man – but one particularly interesting idea is to introduce a version of the hero played by Tom Cruise.

As a big MCU fan, I’ve seen them acknowledge us before – bringing in actors like John Krasinski as Mister Fantastic and Henry Cavill as Wolverine. So, I really don’t think Tom Cruise is out of the running to play Iron Man! Plus, it sounds like the Mission: Impossible movies might be wrapping up, which would free up his schedule for a superhero role. While Robert Downey Jr. was really hitting his stride when he first got the part, Cassavetes still has a great track record and would be fantastic to work with Cruise. If not him, Cruise often collaborates with Christopher McQuarrie, and I know he’s a comic book fan! Honestly, revisiting Iron Man after all these years could be exactly what the MCU needs to stay fresh and exciting.

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2025-10-26 18:13