Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar revealed that they once worked on an Iron Man movie script long before Robert Downey Jr. made the role famous.
Speaking with Josh Horowitz, Gough explained that after they wrote the story for Spider-Man 2, Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad approached them with another major project, Iron Man.

What are the Tom Cruise Iron Man details?
“After Spider-Man 2, they say, ‘Guys, we’ve got another crown jewel – which is Iron Man,'” Millar recalled. At the time, Marvel Studios was operating out of Arad’s Toy Biz offices. Gough admitted he hadn’t heard of the character before Arad pitched him as “a billionaire who sells weapons, has an alcohol problem, suffers an accident, and is now trying to make things work.”
The duo revealed worked on multiple drafts over the course of a year, collaborating with Arad and Kevin Feige. However, at the time, New Line Cinema held the film rights, and studio founder Robert Shaye reportedly struggled with the concept of Iron Man flying because Superman could fly.
“We all sort of walked out of the meeting like, ‘We don’t think this is going to happen here,'” Gough said.

Tom Cruise Was the Top Choice for Tony Stark
Millar confirmed that Tom Cruise was Marvel’s preferred choice to play Tony Stark and that Cruise was seriously considering the role — which would have been his first superhero movie.
“They wanted Tom Cruise, and I think Cruise was interested,” said Millar.
The project eventually stalled, and the rights returned to Marvel, leading to Jon Favreau casting Robert Downey Jr. in 2008’s Iron Man, kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it.

Cruise’s Possible Marvel Comeback in Secret Wars?
For years, rumors have persisted that Kevin Feige may bring Tom Cruise into the MCU as an alternate Iron Man variant, with rumors offering Doctor Strange 2 and maybe now in Avengers: Secret Wars.
While nothing official has been announced, fans have speculated that the multiverse storyline could allow Cruise to finally suit up as Tony Stark — even if only for a cameo.
Robert Downey Jr. ended his tenure as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame, but returns as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. It’s already been confirmed some sort of MCU reboot will follow, which may mean a new younger actor will play Tony Stark going forward.