In the Avengers: Endgame featurette, Casting the MCU (out now on Disney+), casting director, Sarah Finn discusses the casting process for the Marvel movie franchise. It turns out that the MCU's Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt, auditioned for the role of Captain America before Chris Evans got the part.
Finn was initially very much behind Pratt auditioning for the part but later decided that he wasn't quite the right fit. He wasn't the only surprising star that was considered for the role, either; there were a few other interesting choices that might have made for a very different MCU. And, having seen Chris Evans pull off the part so convincingly in multiple movies, most of these choices are pretty hard to picture.
KELLAN LUTZ
Kellan Lutz is best known for playing one of the sparkly vampires in the Twilight Saga's Cullen family, and the forgettable Hercules in 2014's The Legend of Hercules. But many may not be aware that he once had his eye on a superhero role too -- just like his co-star, Robert Pattinson, who will be appearing as the title character in the upcoming The Batman. But while Lutz was very keen on playing Cap, by his own admission, he was turned down, not only for the Captain America role, but also for Thor.
RYAN PHILLIPE
'90s heartthrob and Reese Witherspoon ex, Ryan Phillippe, was also up for the role, commenting in 2010, "I would have loved it, [Marvel] didn't want me. I met with them and stuff, I was way into it -- especially since I have a six-year-old son -- I just thought it would've been an awesome thing to do... but no it didn't happen."
So, Phillippe, like Kellan Lutz was disappointed that he wasn't cast. And if Chris Evans hadn't been up for it, it's entirely possible that both Lutz and Phillippe could have played a convincing Cap, though they never got the chance.
DANE COOK
Comedian and actor Dane Cook announced on social media that he had auditioned for the role in 2010, and got into some serious hot water with the studio, who wanted the information to remain out of the public domain. He even wrote an apology letter to Sarah Finn. But his faux pas obviously didn't do him any favors.
KEVIN AND JOE JONAS
Yes, that's right: Two Jonas brothers wanted to play Steve Rogers. Hollywire reported in 2010 that both brothers had read for the part. Perhaps the fact that the Jonas Brothers actually won a Razzie award for bad acting had something to do with neither Kevin nor Joe getting the part. The choice certainly would have sent fans into a foaming frenzy, so it may not have been a wise choice for the studio in the end.
ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD
Like Kellan Lutz, Alexander Skarsgård was reportedly rejected for both Thor and Captain America -- not even making it on the shortlist. Perhaps it was the slight hint of a Swedish accent that put him out of the running for Cap, but that wouldn't have been a problem for Thor. Nonetheless, neither part went his way.
Scott Porter, Mike Vogel, Chace Crawford, Wilson Bethel and Michael Cassidy were among those shortlisted, as well as the more famous choices below.
GARRET HEDLUND
Hedlund is about as "All-American" as they come, having starred in 2004's Friday Night Lights, 2010's Country Strong, and 2019's Triple Frontier. But he passed on the role due to his involvement with Tron: Legacy.
JOHN KRASINSKI
The Office and Jack Ryan's John Krasinski emerged as a controversial frontrunner. In 2010, he wasn't really regarded as much of an action hero, more a lovable average Joe. According to Krasinski, though, while at the audition, Chris Hemsworth walked past him wearing his full Thor costume. And when Krasinski spotted him, he thought: "I'm good. This is stupid. I shouldn't. It's okay, I'm not Captain America. It's fine."
SEBASTIAN STAN
Bucky Barnes also came close to the Captain America role and, initially, Stan wanted the part. But when he didn't make the cut as Cap, he was offered the role of Cap's friend Bucky, who later became the Winter Soldier. Stan has since admitted that, in hindsight, he's happy with how it all turned out.
CHANNING TATUM
Tatum said in 2009 that he would "definitely think about it" if he was in the running for the Cap part. But perhaps fan opinion won in the end, as many believed that Tatum didn't have the acting chops to pull off the role.
JENSEN ACKLES
Ackles is a long-time fan favorite because of his role as Dean Winchester on Supernatural alongside Jared Padalecki so he would probably have been quite a popular choice had he been cast rather than Chris Evans. It was also reported that Ackles was up for the role of Hawkeye at one stage.
CHRIS EVANS
It's hard to imagine anyone other than the Captain America fans have come to know and love after appearances in seven MCU movies. Casting Director, Sarah Finn, attributed Evans' casting to a "moral fiber" that Captain America naturally has. She says, "That really isn't something that you act. It's something you need to possess."
She believed that Chris Evans "inhabited all those qualities" and that's why he got the role. Perhaps that's what MCU fans see shining through. It's the reason Evans has been so convincing as the First Avenger and what must have been the spark that the other actors were missing.