Green Daily

Long before Scientology, Katie Holmes shopping sprees, or his civil union with Al Gore -- oh wait, that didn't really happen -- Tom Cruise was staking out a much different career path for himself.

Few people know that Tom was actually supposed to be the original voice of ecological superhero Captain Planet. At about the time he was inking the contract for the instant bomb, Days of Thunder, he was studying the script for Ted Turner's zany new show about a pollution-fighting superhero. Apparently, Tom was set to begin recording dialog when he all of the sudden backed out -- and turned to the dark side.

The Captain Planet role was eventually given to David Coburn, who did a heck of a job, btw. Since then, Tom's career has been a continuing saga of gay jokes, cult rumors, and burning more fossil fuels than we thought was possible for one man. Oh sure, he's had a few blockbuster roles, oscar nominations, fame and fortune -- but he'll never get another chance to lead the glorious Planeteers into battle against the forces of pollution -- assuming the live action movie thing never pans out. It's a tragic story of wasted opportunity.

Plenty of A-listers did get on board though, like Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Goldblum, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, and Sting -- who coincidentally played an eco-villain. Now, Sting's charity is being accused of pocketing millions donated to save the rainforests.

[thanks, Ecorazzi, for keeping us up to date on Captain Planet news]