The Marvel cameo fans don't want will reportedly happen in Avengers 6

Anything can happen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heck, this year proves that more than ever; as the franchise launched its first TV-MA series, its first R-rated movie, and it went all in on witchcraft in the newly-released Agatha All Along. Yep, literally anything.

That's particularly true in the Multiverse Saga, as the franchise has been pulling from projects way before its own existence to facilitate some of the most shocking cameos and appearances you could ever imagine. We saw multiple in Deadpool and Wolverine (and let's not forget about the return of Hugh Jackman as Logan himself!), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and that record-breaking Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The MCU surprises will continue in the run-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which will bring about the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga arc. It's quite possible that none of those surprises will be as game-changing as Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the franchise in the new role of villain Doctor Doom, but there will no doubt be some other game-changing ones along the way, too. That potentially includes this one, which will no doubt get strong responses from MCU fans.

Tom Cruise rumored to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars as Iron Man variant

Tom Cruise might be donning that iconic Iron Man armor after all. According to Marvel scooper Comics Talk, the veteran movie star is set to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars in a major role. The post was amplified by fellow scoopers Hollywood Scoops and Film News, and it also comes after a series of Tom Cruise / MCU rumors, which started up again in recent months.

The post itself doesn't say who he would be playing if he were to appear, but it is accompanied by a picture of some fan art that features Cruise suited up as the Superior Iron Man from the pages of Marvel Comics, clearly suggesting that this would be the role he could play if it all comes together and the appearance is confirmed.

Ever since the Multiverse Saga commenced, there has been speculation that Cruise might appear in some capacity as an Iron Man variant. He was rumored for an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with some claiming that Marvel wanted him to appear in the sequence involving the Illuminati, the Scarlet Witch and the Ultron Bots. Whether that was the plan or not, it didn't come to fruition, which left the possibility open.

And yet, the Tom Cruise rumors quietened down for a bit in recent years. But a number of months ago, reports claimed that Marvel wanted him to be involved in either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. It would no doubt be a major moment if it did happen, but fans have been reluctant simply because it's hard to imagine anyone else ever playing that role than Robert Downey Jr.

It would be something else if this actually happened, as Tom Cruise was one of Marvel's top choices to play Tony Stark in 2008's Iron Man before the role went to RDJ. Downey has since done a remarkable job with the character, turning him into a leader, an Avenger, and a global phenomenon. Cruise himself agrees that it would be impossible to imagine anyone else ever playing that character.

We'll have to wait and see if the rumors turn out to be true, but it would be quite the experience to see Tom Cruise portray the Superior Iron Man variant in a movie in which Robert Downey Jr. is playing a different role entirely. But hey, that's the Multiverse Saga for you!