She Was Almost in Iron Man 3 — What Emilia Clarke Said She’d Do Instead Will Leave Marvel Fans Reeling

Long before Emilia Clarke joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Secret Invasion, the Game of Thrones star came close to making her superhero debut in one of Marvel’s biggest franchises: Iron Man 3.

Known worldwide for her fierce, dragon-commanding role as Daenerys Targaryen, Clarke’s career after Game of Thrones has included everything from sci-fi blockbusters like Solo: A Star Wars Story to romantic hits like Me Before You. But for years, she remained absent from the superhero scene—until now.

It turns out that absence wasn’t for lack of opportunity. In a throwback Instagram post, Iron Man 3 screenwriter Drew Pearce revealed that Clarke had been in talks to join the 2013 hit alongside Robert Downey Jr. The role didn’t work out, but Clarke’s own take on the missed chance may surprise Marvel fans.

Asked in a past interview with The Sunday Times (via ComicBook.com) how she felt about losing the role, Clarke admitted she wasn’t exactly crushed:

“I think, if I did, it would be me having a giggle. I want to do something absolutely stupid and silly, like, you know, The Avengers or whatever. Something where I got to have a giggle with mates.”

That lighthearted attitude would eventually lead her back to Marvel—albeit in a very different capacity. In 2023, Clarke joined Disney+’s Secret Invasion as G’iah, a Skrull rebel and the daughter of Talos, a character central to Marvel’s alien-infiltration storyline. Starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Kingsley Ben-Adir’s Gravik, Clarke’s role placed her squarely in the middle of the MCU’s cosmic intrigue.

But while Secret Invasion carried high expectations, the six-episode miniseries received mixed-to-negative reviews, with many critics citing thin character development and deviations from the comics. Whether Clarke’s G’iah will return in future Marvel projects remains unconfirmed.

As for what’s next, Clarke’s schedule is as varied as ever. She’s set to voice Pippa in the animated musical comedy The Twits and star in the romantic comedy Next Life. Television fans can also expect to see her in the upcoming series Ponies and Criminal.

For Marvel fans still wondering “what if” about Iron Man 3, Clarke’s easygoing take offers some closure. She might have missed her shot at suiting up alongside Tony Stark, but if her own words are any indication, she’s always been more interested in the fun of the gig than the franchise bragging rights. And knowing Clarke, that’s exactly the kind of energy she’ll bring to whatever universe she conquers next.

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