RDJ as Batman & Ben Affleck as Iron Man in Epic Marvel/DC Crossover Art

In a stunning new piece of fan art, Robert Downey Jr. of the Marvel Cinematic Universe trades in his Iron Man suit for the iconic cape and cowl of DC's Batman, while Ben Affleck steps into the role of Tony Stark. As the MCU hits its stride in Phase 5 with The Multiverse Saga, the DC Universe is gearing up for a fresh start with The Flash, which promises to reboot the entire franchise.

Looking back at the last 20 years of superhero casting, it's clear that the choices made by both universes have had a profound impact on the landscape of comic book movies. Instagram artist Pablo Ruiz has created a bold new vision of what might have been, with his latest work depicting a world where Downey Jr. and Affleck trade places as the Dark Knight and Iron Man, respectively.

When it comes to superhero roles, Ben Affleck is no stranger to the game. He previously played Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, in the 2003 film before the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced the Devil of Hell's Kitchen with Charlie Cox. Interestingly, Affleck was also rumored to have been considered for the role of Iron Man in the MCU. While he never got to don the iconic suit, Robert Downey Jr. has yet to make an appearance in a DC film. However, after he sported a shaved head in 2022, there was some major buzz about him potentially playing the role of Lex Luthor. It remains to be seen if more actors from the MCU will join James Gunn's DC Universe in the future.

As James Gunn steps away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and focuses on his role as co-CEO of DC Studios, fans are wondering if he'll bring any of his former Marvel colleagues with him. In fact, even before his new position, Gunn had already recruited several actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise to join his new endeavors at DC. With so many exciting projects in the works at DC Studios, it's no surprise that fans are eagerly anticipating what Gunn has in store for the future of the DC Universe.

After announcing the official cast for Creature Commandos, Gunn wasted no time in bringing MCU stars over to the DC Universe. In fact, Gunn has already confirmed that there are Marvel actors in Superman: Legacy, his current project scheduled to begin filming in 2024. While the director has yet to reveal any further casting news, it's clear that more MCU actors will be making their way to DC, with many expressing interest in joining the franchise.

With Gunn's impressive track record of working with talented actors in the MCU, fans can expect to see some exciting additions to his DC Universe films and series. And considering that only half of Chapter 1, "Gods and Monsters," has been revealed, there are bound to be more projects in the works that could feature some beloved Marvel faces. As big events like San Diego Comic-Con approach, we can only hope for more exciting announcements regarding the expansion of Gunn's DC Universe franchise.