The Mask of Zorro, released in 1998, was a critical and commercial success. 

The film starred Antonio Banderas as the titular character, 

with Anthony Hopkins as his mentor, Don Diego de la Vega. However, it turns out that Tom Cruise was originally considered for the lead role.

According to original director Martin Campbell, Cruise was a “front-runner” for the role. 

However, he ultimately decided to pass on the project due to scheduling conflicts. 

Cruise was already committed to filming Mission: Impossible, which was released in the same year.

It’s hard to say what would have happened if Cruise had starred in The Mask of Zorro. He is a talented actor, and he certainly would have brought his own unique style to the role. 

However, it’s also clear that Banderas was a perfect fit for the part. He brought a sense of charisma and charm to the character that Cruise may not have been able to replicate.

In the end, it’s all speculation. However, it’s an interesting thought experiment to imagine what The Mask of Zorro would have been like with Tom Cruise in the lead role.

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