Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was filled with an impressive amount of cameos and other characters making their way into the film.
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From very early on, though, fans were anticipating that Tom Cruise would make an appearance as an alternative universe Tony Stark. According to the film’s writer, there were never any concrete plans for that to happen, however, despite fans all believing that it would.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, screenwriter Michael Waldron — who served as head writer on Loki and also wrote the screenplay for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — said that although fans were extremely set on Cruise appearing as Iron Man, there is no footage of Cruise that exists anywhere. However, Waldron did note that he did try to get Cruise to appear in the film because of the many rumors.
“Yeah, that was totally made up. I mean, there’s no cut footage of Tom Cruise!” said Waldron. “But I love Tom Cruise, and I said to [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] at one point, I was like, ‘Could we get Tom Cruise’s Iron Man?’ I remember reading about that in Ain’t It Cool News back in the day, that Tom Cruise was going to be Iron Man.”
Cruise’s was linked to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for some time, with many connecting the two due to the fact that Cruise in contention for the role of Tony Stark back in the late 2000s. However, Waldron noted that no one from Marvel Studios officially reached out to Cruise, and that at the end of the day, it came down to Cruise’s schedule being so busy between both Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8, that led to him not appearing.
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“Well, I mean, he was shooting Mission: Impossible 7 and 8,” Waldron said, before being asked if anyone reached out to Cruise. “I don’t believe so. I just don’t think it was ever an option, because of availability.”
