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Long before he took over the reins as the curator of the DC Extended Universe with the Henry Cavill starrer,Man of Steel,Zack Snyder had already made his mark felt with 2009’sWatchmen. Unlike his other DC movies, this particular iteration was neither connected to a vast universe nor had any obligations to fulfill in terms of building up a long chain of movies, allowing the director to unleash his full creative potential.
Moreover, in another departure from the rest of his flicks with the studio, this movie also had a few members of the cast that reached out to him for a role, instead of the other way around.
One of those names was none other than Tom Cruise, the undisputed face of Hollywood. Despite boasting acclaim that resonated with audiences across the globe and a bankability that even the best of today’s stars fail to achieve, the actor failed to land a place in Snyder’s outing, in what could have been a monumental moment for the franchise going ahead.
Zack Snyder reveals why he did not cast Tom Cruise in Watchmen
Exploring complex themes such as the nature of power, the moral ambiguity of heroism, and the impact of vigilantism on society,Watchmenproved to be a decent enough outing forZack Snyderand for DC despite itsless-than-expected performanceat the global box office, which may not have taken place had a face as popular asTom Cruisestarred as one of the leads. Yet, the director had his own set of reasons for turning down an upfront offer from the actor to be cast.
In talks with Josh Horowitz on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, theArmy of the Deaddirector revealed that theMission Impossiblestar had put forth a personal request to star as Rorschach, whereas he envisioned him as Ozymandias. Additionally, the asked role had already gone to Jackie Earle Haley.
“I was like, ‘Oh, Tom already told me’”: Tom Cruise Gave a Surprise Call to Zack Snyder for Another Movie Before Their Watchmen Collaboration That Never Happened
Unable to find mutual ground, the talks never went ahead despite Snyder insisting that he would have considered the job had the casting not been finalized.
I wanted Tom Cruise for Ozymandias. Tom wanted to play Rorschach. He wanted to play Rorschach, which I mean, obviously he could have done. But yeah, we had Jackie already, and Jackie is like, unbelievable. But I certainly would have considered Tom, in retrospect if I hadn’t had Jackie.
All hope is not lost, yet. FollowingJames Gunn’s takeover of DC Studios, unpredictability runs supreme and a renewed reprisal project can see the light of the day owing to one crucial interest of DC Studios.
James Gunn can fulfill Tom Cruise’s wish for entry into DC
Soon after his takeover as the co-chief of the comics book live-action studio, James Gunn swiftly axed the existing canon that started with Zack Snyder with 2023’sThe Flash,doing the dirty work for him. Meanwhile, even as a new canon tries to set its foot on the ground with hisDavid Corenswetstarrer,Superman,The Suicide Squaddirector is unwilling to let go of famed solo outings such asJoaquin Phoenix’sJokerorRobert Pattinson’sThe Batman,thelatter of which just received a crucial update.
James Gunn Reveals the Truth Behind The Batman Rumors and It Won’t Make Robert Pattinson’s Fans Happy
The plan is to let these projects continue under theprobable banner of DC Elseworlds, set in a different timeline. As such, a fresh take on theWatchmenwith Tom Cruise as Rorschach can well move ahead. Moreover, the creative potential of the project also lies limitless as the multiverse allows for completely separate franchises to exist healthily outside the main universe, marking a win-win situation for both the studios and the fans.
Watchmenis available to stream on Max or Max Amazon Channel.
Imteshal Karim
Articles Published :120
Bearing a penchant for writing in multiple forms, I love telling a good story and hope to tell impactful ones about the fandom’s side of the Entertainment industry. I found the movie of my life in Christopher Nolan’s 2014' s Interstellar, which fascinated me with the perfect blend of science and cinema, leaving me curious about Hollywood. In my leisure time, you will find me indulging in photography, gardening, and cycling.
