When Edge of Tomorrow came out in 2014, it landed with a thud at the box office. While it eventually recouped its budget for a solid profit, it was still a disappointment for a film starring Tom Cruise. Luckily, the film found a solid fan base and has already become something of a cult sci-fi classic. It inspired enough love that, according to Deadline, a sequel is in the works that will bring back Cruise, director Doug Liman, and the film’s breakout action star Emily Blunt.
Of course, Emily Blunt was already a beloved fixture by 2014. The actress has been a huge name since her delicious turn in The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, where she stole the limelight from none other than Meryl Streep. Prada proved Blunt’s talent, and she spent the next decade starring in an eclectic mix of films, from Charlie Wilson’s War to The Young Victoria to Sunshine Cleaning.
But despite turns in The Adjustment Bureau and Looper, she was never associated with action films until Edge of Tomorrow showed off her impressive knack for body transformations and physical action acting. That she was once again able to be the big talking point of a movie opposite one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and stalwart icons was proof of her pudding. (Also proof: her arms, because holy cow.)
But Edge of Tomorrow wasn’t the first sign that Blunt had action chops. She was also Jon Favreau’s first choice to play Black Widow in Iron Man 2, a role that eventually went to Scarlett Johansson. No knock to Johansson, but imagine a world where Blunt was an integral part of the biggest action franchise in the world. Then again, her involvement would have likely meant missing out on some of the the best roles of her career, like Edge, Sicario, and possibly A Quiet Place, the 2018 horror film that introduced her to yet another genre she excelled in.
It’s possible that Blunt doesn’t want to get stuck in the franchise machine—she allegedly also turned down the role of Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger—but if she changes her mind, there are a number of possible opportunities now that Marvel is entering its next phase and will soon acquire more properties when Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox is complete. Blunt would be an excellent member of team X-Men, for instance; on the other hand, we would also love to see her take on the role of Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four. What if her husband, John Krasinski, even joined her as Reed Richards? He was also almost cast in the Marvel franchise as Captain America, and has also spent his time since beefing it up for action roles in projects like 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi and Jack Ryan. They’d make a great onscreen action duo.
In any case, we hope Blunt continues to seek out action roles like Edge of Tomorrow, unique properties that user her star-power to make an impression. We already know Krasinski is at work on a sequel to A Quiet Place, where it’s likely she’ll continue kicking alien ass. We’d love to see her star in a Christopher McQuarrie film or work with George Miller. Anything that capitalizes on her unique acting talents and her incredible physical prowess. More Blunt is never a bad thing.
Images: Warner Bros. Pictures
