Was Tom Cruise offered the role of Iron Man first?

Yes. I looked it up and you are correct. Cruise, Nicolas Cage and a few others were considered years before Robert Downey took it over. In a 2007 article Cruise was in discussions with Jon Favreau and Paramount Studio in 2004 for the role. read more

Tom Cruise had expressed interest in producing as well as starring in an Iron Man film in September 1998, but Nicholas Cage had expressed an interest in appearing in an Iron Man film in January 1997. However, it would be too much to say that either of them had been "offered" the role. read more