Rachel McAdams is one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood because of her impressive range and ability to give life to nuanced characters on screen. McAdams has established herself as a major player in Hollywood with roles as diverse as The Notebook and Spotlight, for which she received an Oscar nomination.
Despite her talent and fame, McAdams has not always been ready to join the casts of expensive blockbusters.
Turning Down Pepper Potts in Iron Man
Rachel McAdams notably declined the role of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s secretary and love interest in the first Iron Man film. Years later, she made a U-turn and became the female lead in Doctor Strange, co-starring with Benedict Cumberbatch and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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What made Rachel McAdams reconsider her decision not to join the MCU? Let’s take a deeper dive into her experience. In the early to mid-2000s, Marvel Studios was a fresh face in the film. They weren’t the proven powerhouse they were now when they started casting the first Iron Man film.
Director Jon Favreau originally wanted Rachel McAdams to play Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s assistant and love interest, but McAdams ultimately declined the role. When this film was released, McAdams was already a successful actress with a long resume.
She might have been apprehensive to join the cast of a superhero film since the studio making it had not yet established itself as a credible player in the superhero film market. The original Iron Man movie was a smashing success thanks largely to the casting of Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts. It catapulted Robert Downey Jr. to stardom and laid the groundwork for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Joining the MCU in Doctor Strange
After some time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the most profitable film franchises ever. The MCU has established its longevity with movie office success after success and a devoted fan base.
In 2016, Rachel McAdams was given the female lead in Doctor Strange, but she declined. It is not known what prompted her to alter her mind about joining the MCU. Benedict Cumberbatch played the title role, while Scott Derrickson helmed the movie.
Christine Palmer, played by McAdams, is a surgeon and an ex-lover of Doctor Strange. McAdams offered depth and nuance to the role, which was important even if her character was not a superhero.
The critically acclaimed and financially lucrative film Doctor Strange earned over $677 million worldwide. Fans were pleased to see McAdams co-starring with Cumberbatch, and her performance was well-received by both critics and moviegoers.
The question now is what made Rachel McAdams reconsider her decision to join the MCU. It’s hard to know, but maybe the franchise’s popularity impacted it. Marvel had already produced several great films when she was offered the role in Doctor Strange, and the opportunity to join such a vast and potentially lucrative franchise may have been too tempting to pass up.
Another possibility is that McAdams preferred the role of Christine Palmer to that of Pepper Potts. For this reason, McAdams’s arrival in the Marvel Universe serves as a sobering reminder that not even the most popular and financially stable brands are guaranteed to obtain what they want.
Source: CinemaBlend
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