Tom Cruise’s one 2004 film where he plays an excellent villain proves how he would be perfect as an evil variant of Tony Stark.

One of Tom Cruise’s most definable abilities has become his versatility as an actor. He has played all kinds of roles, ranging from spies to pilots, undercover agents, and even a sports agent. Being the heartthrob of Hollywood for decades, it is not surprising that he has a huge following that adores almost every film that he is in. Despite all his talent, however, there is one film from his career that stands out due to its uniqueness.

Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick I Paramount Pictures
In 2004, the actor starred in Collateral, where he took on the rare role of an antagonist. Over the years, he has gained a reputation for playing the good guy. However, one only needs to look at this thriller and action film to realize just how talented he is as the bad guy. So much so, that he could easily play the role of an evil Tony Stark variant.

Tom Cruise in Different Hues

In 2004, Tom Cruise played the role of Vincent, who is a blood-hungry assassin on a path of destruction in Collateral. Interestingly enough, that actor played the main antagonist of the movie, being the villain to Jamie Foxx’s hero. One would assume that the role did not fit well since the actor rarely ever plays such roles. However, those who have seen the film would say otherwise.

Tom Cruise in Collateral I Paramount Pictures
In a Reddit thread, fans began to discuss Cruise’s performance in the film, and the consensus seemed to be quite simple; his fans wanted him to play the bad guy more often. Cruise’s performance in the movie was impeccable in every way, being one of the most complex characters he has ever played.
Tom Cruise in Collateral I Paramount Pictures
He brought about a presence to the screen, which put the audience on edge and made it difficult to look away. At the same time, the sheer loneliness that radiated from him throughout the runtime of the movie was not lost on its viewers. Additionally, he challenges Foxx’s character, Max, and pushes him to his moral and ethical values, making him question every belief he has ever had.

Considering how good he was in this role, fans are surprised at why Cruise does not play antagonists more often.

Villain, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist

Knowing how good Tom Cruise was in Collateral, he was able to create an extremely complex character who forced everyone around him to question their beliefs, many cannot help but wonder what more he could do. For years, fans have been wanting the actor to be a part of the MCU in one way or another.
Tom Cruise in Collateral I Paramount Pictures
It all started long before the first Iron Man film even came out and has gone on even after Robert Downey Jr. has changed faces and characters. Fans want Cruise to play a version of Tony Stark, regardless of who he is, where his morals lie, and how long he exists within the universe. While he could play a version similar to Downey Jr.’s, one cannot help but take his performance in the 2004 film into consideration.

Since it is established that Cruise is an excellent villain and fans want to see him in more roles like that, what better role to cast him in than an evil variant of Tony Stark? There have been several versions throughout the comics, and since the multiverse can of worms has been opened, the possibilities are endless.