Time Travel

A digital artist who goes by the name Mat envisioned what the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have looked like had it been made 20 years ago, at least in terms of the actors cast in the roles. I think these things are almost always fun, even if they sometimes have some inexplicable choices.

For one, I don't know why you trade Tom Cruise for Robert Downey, Jr., as Iron Man, given that Downey and Cruise are just a couple of years apart in age. The only real reason, I guess, is that Cruise was hitting new fame heights during the '90s and Downey was busy serving time and trying to get clean. That idea overlooks that while Downey had kicked his addictions and was working steadily when he starred as Iron Man in the movie of the same name in 2008, he had not yet hit the superstar status he would later enjoy. It was the Iron Man role, in fact, that helped put him on that level.

I also can't buy Leonardo DiCaprio as Captain America. He simply does not project the right image for the role. But I do think Denzel Washington as Black Panther would have been cool to watch, as well as David Duchovny as the Hulk.

I'm hoping Mat continues his reimaginings and carries them back beyond the '90s; trying to see what classic Hollywood talent would have made the super-hero role their own could be even more entertaining than this exercise.