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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 asThe NotebookandSpotlight, for which she received an Oscar nomination.

Rachel McAdams

Despite her talent and fame, McAdams has not always been ready to join the casts of expensive blockbusters.

Turning Down Pepper Potts inIron Man

Rachel McAdams notably declined the role of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s secretary and love interest in the firstIron Manfilm. Years later, she made a U-turn and became the female lead inDoctor Strange, co-starring with Benedict Cumberbatch and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts

What madeRachel McAdamsreconsider 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 firstIron Manfilm.

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.

Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer

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 originalIron Manmovie 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.

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Joining the MCU inDoctor 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 inDoctor 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.

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Christine Palmer, played by McAdams, is a surgeon and an ex-lover ofDoctor 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 filmDoctor Strangeearned 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 inDoctor 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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Mabel Andrady

Senior Writer

Articles Published :694

Mabel, aka MJ, is a FandomWire Sr. Writer, pop-culture fanatic, and an MA in Health Demography holder. When she’s not indulging in her guilty pleasure of penning everything Hollywood, Marvel & DC, she writes academic essays on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. With 2500+ articles published online, she brings a unique twist to entertainment writing. A jack-of-all-trades, MJ enjoys movies, writes/acts in plays, writes music, and dreams of being a successful actress. She offers a fresh perspective, making her writing a must-read for those seeking knowledge and entertainment.

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Benedict CumberbatchRachel McAdamsRobert Downey Jr.