A recently published book about the creation and production of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals why Tom Cruise never played Iron Man.

“MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios” (written by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales and Gavin Edwards) includes a section about how the film industry superstar was interested in playing Tony Stark in a film. According to the book and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, the fees demanded by the actor were deemed too high.

“Years earlier, when the rights to ‘Iron Man’ were held by 20th Century Fox, Tom Cruise, then 34 years old, had flirted with the idea of ​​playing Stark.”you read in the book. “According to Feige, however, Cruise’s fee at the time was more than even a profitable studio like Fox was willing to risk on an untested superhero property.”.

Although Cruise never played Tony Stark, the screenwriter of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” announced last year that it wanted to include a multiversal take on Iron Man played by Tom Cruise, but that ultimately didn’t happen. The one who brought Iron Man to life was Robert Downey Jr., who masterfully interpreted the character “Hombre de Hierro” (2008) to “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).