It's long been rumoured that a much earlier version of Iron Man was set to star Tom Cruise and potentially even include a talking toaster (or one that would transform into Tony Stark's armour).
Unsurprisingly, Morbius and Venom producer Avi Arad was overseeing that project, though it would later morph into the Iron Man movie released in 2008 starring Robert Downey Jr. That was where the MCU began, and while Downey made the hero his own, many fans have been unable to get the image of Cruise as the Armored Avenger out of their minds.
Even last year, there were rumblings that the Top Gun: Maverick star had shot a cameo role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while theories continue swirling that Cruise will be part of Avengers: Secret Wars.
In a recently resurfaced interview with Phase Zero, Cruise was asked how close he really came to playing Iron Man. "Not close, not close," he confirms. "I love Robert Downey Jr. and I can’t imagine anyone else doing that role..I think it's perfect for him."
As for whether he'd be open to playing a superhero, Cruise would add: "I look at a movie and I don't rule anything out. 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 and what can I contribute? That's really how I look at things."
Cruise is notoriously picky with his projects and doesn't allow his likeness to be used in merchandise, so that might close the door on him ever playing an Iron Man Variant.
We can't help but wonder if Marvel Studios might do something to make it happen, though, especially as those Ultron drones suggested Earth-838 might count an Iron Man among The Illuminati's ranks.
Would you still like to see Cruise suit up as Iron Man?