When thinking of ideas for movies, creators turn to a number of influences including the fans themselves.

This is why Tom Cruise nearly donned the Iron Man suit.

It all began after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was announced, and fans started speculating whether the Top Gun: Maverick star would make an appearance as a variant of Tony Starks Iron Man.

The rumors didnt seem too far-fetched considering the actor told IGN he was approached to play the ingenious Avenger in 2005, but he ultimately conceded, As it was lining up, it just didnt feel to me like it was gonna work. I need to be able to make decisions and make the film as great as it can be, and it just didnt go down that road that way.

Robert Downey Jr. ended up taking on the role in 2008s Iron Man, which kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So audiences never got to see Cruise appear in the MCU.

On Monday, Multiverse of Madness screenwriter Michael Waldron revealed to Rolling Stone that at one point he tried to make the case for Cruise.