The casting process for major superhero roles is incredibly competitive, often involving dozens of screen tests and last-minute decisions. Many talented actors come very close to landing iconic Marvel roles, only for scheduling conflicts, creative differences, or simply a different vision to lead to another choice. Here are some of the most famous near-misses:
- Iron Man (Tony Stark): Before Robert Downey Jr. redefined the character, Tom Cruise was famously considered for the role in the early 2000s when the project was with New Line Cinema. Other actors like Sam Rockwell (who later played Justin Hammer) were also in contention.
- Captain America (Steve Rogers): John Krasinski was a strong contender and even screen-tested in the Captain America suit. Ultimately, Chris Evans won the role, but Krasinski has openly discussed how close he came.
- Thor: While Chris Hemsworth became synonymous with the God of Thunder, his brother Liam Hemsworth was also a finalist. Interestingly, Tom Hiddleston (who brilliantly plays Loki) originally auditioned for Thor before being cast as the trickster god.
- Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff): Emily Blunt was the original choice for Black Widow in Iron Man 2, but she had to drop out due to a contractual obligation with 20th Century Fox for Gulliver's Travels, opening the door for Scarlett Johansson.
- Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange): Marvel pursued Joaquin Phoenix for a long time for the role of Doctor Strange. While he was reportedly interested, he ultimately passed due to concerns about the long-term commitment required for a multi-film franchise, leading to Benedict Cumberbatch's casting.
Pro tip: Many actors who don't get a specific role in the MCU often end up in other Marvel projects or even different roles within the MCU later on, demonstrating the depth of talent Marvel looks at (e.g., Mahershala Ali for Blade, having previously been in Luke Cage).