The Fantastic Four: First Steps formally introduced Marvel’s First Family to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with the Jack Kirby-inspired universe Earth-828. Yes, technically, we met a version of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness played by The Office alum John Krasinski, but he kind of felt like an impasta if you ask me. You know, because Wanda Maximoff turned him into spacetime spaghetti? Jokes aside, the real question is whether First Steps also teased the arrival of another Tony Stark variant. And we’re not talking about Robert Downey Jr, who will next appear in Avengers: Doomsday as Doctor Doom.
We’re talking about an easter egg that could set up the arrival of another Iron Man variant in the MCU. This could also validate many a fan theorist out there. Especially those who have been feverishly speculating since the lead-up to Multiverse of Madness. We’ll explain in just a moment, but tread carefully if you haven’t seen The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
How Did Fantastic Four Tease a Tony Stark Variant?
With its ’60s-inspired Space Age aesthetic, The Fantastic Four: First Steps both felt like a breath of fresh air in the MCU and like it was connected to the wider story of the Multiverse Saga. The post-credits scene teased the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, and the movie gave us cameos from other Fantastic Four variants (in the most pedantic sense possible). However, our hunt for another Tony Stark focuses on a detail so small that you might have missed it without the aid of Pym Particles.
Early on, Sue Storm confirms that she is pregnant with the baby who would become Franklin Richards. While Franklin’s arrival has massive implications for the future of the MCU, the way Sue learns she’s pregnant could too. The pregnancy test that Sue uses is labeled “Stark Sure,” which many fans believe is a reference to Stark Industries. The existence of Stark Industries in Earth-828 implies the existence of presumably Howard Stark and possibly Tony Stark as well.
Given the 1960s setting, it’s highly likely that Tony Stark isn’t born yet in this particular timeline. Although the Fantastic Four and Tony Stark are contemporaries in the comics, we’re used to seeing a more modern Iron Man in the MCU. But this is a different universe than Earth-616 (or Earth-199999, depending on your preferred nomenclature). That means, there’s a non-zero chance we could meet a very different version of this wealthy industrialist-turned-armored Avenger. Especially in light of Kevin Feige’s revelation that Avengers: Doomsday will return to Earth-828 to explore more of that universe.
Who Could Play the Iron Man Variant in Secret Wars?
However, this won’t be a simple case of Robert Downey Jr. being in two places at the same time. His tenure as Tony Stark has presumably come to a close and now he is inexplicably playing Victor Von Doom. (I mean, for a reported $600 million, it’s pretty explicable, but you get what I’m saying.) Much like John Krasinski as Reed Richards in Multiverse of Madness, this could be a cheeky way to bring in another superstar that fans have been dying to see play Tony Stark since the late ’90s: Tom Cruise.
That’s right, folks, Ethan Hunt himself. Tom Cruise was connected to an Iron Man movie in development way back in 1998, but it never panned out. The reason why Cruise never built his own armor in a cave with a box of scraps is actually fairly innocuous. As revealed in Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards’ book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, it was a matter of money: “According to [Kevin] Feige, however, Cruise’s asking fee at the time was more than even a profitable studio like Fox was willing to risk on an untested superhero property.”
Of course, that was a very different world than the MCU is today. While Marvel seems to be changing course from hiring A-list stars to anchor its upcoming properties, they probably wouldn’t flinch at shelling out for a cameo to close out the Multiverse Saga with a bit of long-overdue fan service. Better late than never, right? Especially since Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron already tried and failed to get Cruise to appear as an Iron Man variant in that film.
Could Tom Cruise Actually Appear in the MCU?
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Waldron said, “I love Tom Cruise, and I said to Kevin, Could we get Tom Cruise’s, Iron Man? Unfortunately, as cool as that could’ve been, Mission Impossible seemingly got in the way. I just don’t think it was ever an option, because of availability.”
But now that the Mission: Impossible franchise has had its Final Reckoning, perhaps Cruise could make the time to suit up as Tony Stark and do righteous battle with RDJ’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Secret Wars. Only time–and multiversal timelines–will tell. For now, we’ll just keep frantically theorizing over every crumb and morsel we spot in the background. Because it worked out for Mephisto, so why not Tom Cruise too?
Content shared from nerdist.com.