With its unforgettable impact on the comic book world, Watchmen holds a timeless significance, making the long-awaited movie adaptation an epic event. Thus when the Zack Snyder live-action version finally graced the screens in 2009, the world erupted in excitement. The film’s famously released in three cuts and quickly cemented its status as a cult classic, adored by fans far and wide throughout the years.

Matthew Goode portrayed the iconic Ozymandias, widely considered the brainiest DC character in the entire universe. However, there was a fascinating revelation from Snyder in a 2007 interview that Tom Cruise was also in the running, which could have marked the long-awaited superhero debut for the renowned star of the Mission Impossible film saga.

Watchmen movie by Zack Snyder

Also Read: “‘Snyder ruined DC’ narrative isn’t wrong”: DC Fans Claim Zack Snyder Destroyed DC as He Raised the Bar So High James Gunn Can Never Catch Up

Zack Snyder Revealed Tom Cruise Was Supposed to Be Ozymandias

Just before the talented director Zack Snyder took on the iconic Justice League, in his hands, there was Watchmen to serve as a testament to his work in the superhero genre. And in a 2007 interview, the director revealed, Tom Cruise was in consideration for a role that would have been his perfect debut in the superhero world.

Tom Cruise

Despite his huge success, the actor has never delved into the world of superhumans ever in the span of his illustrious career, and thus fans think it would have been interesting to witness the star in a never before seen avatar. Snyder revealed Cruise was in talks to play the smartest hero in the DC universe. He said,

“He was interested–I did talk to him about it for a while.”

And after the interviewer enquired, “And would the role he wanted be Ozymandias?” The director further confirmed,

“That would be the role,” 

Although Tom Cruise is no short of a superhuman, being the master of life-threatening stunts, the actor did not end up in the movie due to reasons that are yet to be uncovered. Matthew Goode was cast instead, who was also a pretty good choice at the end.

Who Is Ozymandias, and Why Tom Cruise Would Have Been Prefect For It?

At the heart of the Watchmen franchise stands Adrian Veidt, famously known as Ozymandias and acclaimed as ‘The Smartest Man in the World’. Throughout the comic book miniseries Watchmen and its 2017 sequel, Doomsday Clock, he assumes the role of the primary antagonist but later has a change of heart according to his character arc in comics. He was first brought to life on the silver screens by Zack Snyder in 2009.

Ozymandias

Although Tom Cruise’s portrayal of a villain like Adrian Veidt would have been unconventional for him, fans were eager to witness the star in such a position as soon as the news got out. His portrayal of Ozymandias could have been a captivating departure from his usual role of an ideal hero who saves the day, showcasing his versatility and acting prowess once again. While the film was already well-received, Cruise’s potential involvement adds an exciting “what if” element to its history.

Matthew Goode as Ozymandias in the 2009 movie

Fans now can only imagine a version of Watchmen where Tom Cruise joined the cast. The film would likely have experienced a surge in mainstream media coverage, thanks to Cruise’s status as one of Hollywood’s top stars.