The amount of money the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been able to accumulate is astronomical, but they came close to casting some iconic actors who could have potentially raised that number even higher. When the MCU began in 2008, it was kind of a last-ditch attempt for Marvel to create movies with their own characters.
Marvel Comics came close to bankruptcy several times in the previous decades, which led to them selling the movie rights for many of their characters. However, less than 20 years later, the MCU stands out as one of the most successful film franchises ever made, having earned tens of billions in its lifespan.
And one of the biggest factors behind that success has to come down to the incredible casting of heroes and villains throughout the MCU. However, there were several major actors in the running to tackle iconic roles which could have potentially resulted in even higher returns.
Tom Cruise
While it’s impossible to imagine someone else in the role of Iron Man after Robert Downey Jr. perfectly embodied the character, there was a time when Tom Cruise was considered for the role of Tony Stark, and considering the fact that Cruise’s career has gone from strength to strength, it’s likely it would have drawn in audiences.
However, it was the right call to cast RDJ, and his success in the role is an indication that the MCU didn’t need to lean on just star power alone. Despite that, Tom Cruise has had several hit films that earned hundreds of millions, and even broke the billion-dollar barrier.
With his magnetism, talent, and all-in atтιтude, Tom Cruise could have earned big money for the MCU.
John Krasinski
John Krasinski did have a brief role in the MCU when he was cast to play Mister Fantastic for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This cameo came about largely in response to the popularity of Krasinski as a fancast for Reed Richards, but evidently, Marvel Studios ultimately moved in another direction with Pedro Pascal.
This also wasn’t the first time that Krasinski was considered for an MCU role, as the actor previously auditioned to play Steve Rogers before Chris Evans was cast. Krasinski is an incredible actor, and someone who audiences resonate with. In either role, he could have been a big draw for fans, and led to potentially billions in revenue.
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig was in the running to play Thor at one point. However, due to the actor landing the role of James Bond, he chose to put his focus into playing that character rather than committing to both franchises. Chris Hemsworth has done a wonderful job as Thor, but it took time for the character to find his footing.
And even now, after having four movies in his series, the most of any original Avenger, Thor’s overall earnings per movie are considerably lower than his peers. It’s possible that casting Craig could have led to different results and higher earnings for Marvel Studios.
Zooey Deschanel
While Evangeline Lilley has done a spectacular job playing Hope van Dyne, aka The Wasp, there were plans in Joss Whedon’s The Avengers to cast a different actor in the role. Whedon had written a version of the character who was more humorous, and arrived in the MCU without an Ant-Man character, who he envisioned being played by Zooey Deschanel.
Evidently, this version of Wasp would have had more time to be developed, arriving earlier in the MCU, and could have even led to getting her own solo story. And Deschanel’s talents would have made this a charming and captivating version of the hero that could have proven profitable for Marvel.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is a spectacular actor who has played some iconic roles in his career, including Arthur Fleck in DC’s Joker. But years earlier, the MCU came close to casting Phoenix in the role of Stephen Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch has done a great job in the role, but Phoenix would have brought a very different energy to the hero.
Phoenix also has decades of experience that could have enhanced the character. There is a strong possibility that casting Phoenix in the role could have proven more profitable, and with a more well-known name in the part, the MCU may have chosen to create sequels sooner, rather than releasing just two movies in the last nine years.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is one of the most popular actors and action stars to appear in films over the last 30 or so years. Reeves has led several franchises, and established a dedicated fanbase that is extremely loyal and follows him from project to project. And that could still benefit the MCU if they cast him somewhere down the line.
However, Reeves is also someone who has reportedly come close to being cast in several MCU projects. For instance, he came close to being cast in Captain Marvel as Yon-Rogg. However, Jude Law was ultimately cast in the role.
But, if Reeves was cast to play Yon-Rogg or any other popular character in the MCU, it’s likely that it could have been a huge financial success.
Emily Blunt
Scarlet Johansson was spectacular in the role of Natasha Romanoff, but she wasn’t Jon Favreau’s first choice when he was casting the role for Iron Man 2. Instead, Favreau had his sights set on a more well-known star at the time, Emily Blunt. Blunt came close to playing the part, but due to other commitments, she was unable to join the MCU.
However, Blunt’s star status could have been the kick that Marvel needed to create a solo Black Widow movie earlier in the MCU. Which could have in turn led to billions in revenue as the character became a bigger part of the stories rather than a supporting character throughout the entire Infinity Saga.
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa proved to be the most profitable actor in the DCEU, with his role as Aquaman landing the only billion-dollar hit film of the franchise’s run. This is incredibly impressive, considering the less popular comic book character ultimately outshined Superman and Wonder Woman in their solo outings.
However, before being cast in the DCEU, Momoa almost played Drax in the MCU as part of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. While Dave Bautista was perfect for the part, Momoa’s presence could have made this a more front-facing character, and potentially enhanced the project overall.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan was outstanding in his role as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, but the worst part of that appearance is the fact that he dies, meaning Jordan’s ability to return is somewhat limited. However, Jordan did audition for a role in the MCU much earlier when he went for the role of Sam Wilson.
This would have ultimately led to Jordan taking over as Captain America when Steve Rogers retired, providing Jordan with a chance to fully explore the character. Anthony Mackie is doing a great job in the role, but it’s very possible that Michael B. Jordan could have drawn in bigger crowds.
Ryan Gosling
Finally, Ryan Gosling is a Hollywood heartthrob and action star who has also been cast to lead a variety of films. Across his career, Gosling has explored his range, and delivered stunning performances that have drawn mᴀssive crowds for everything from Barbie to La La Land.
And at one point, he was being considered to play Doctor Strange. Had Gosling been cast in the MCU to play Stephen Strange, it is certain to have been a very different interpretation of the Master of the Mystic Arts, but it also could have created excitement for the character that would have resulted in Marvel Studios creating sequels sooner.
Ultimately, all the castings throughout the MCU have led to making it into the billion-dollar franchise that it is today, but there is no telling what these variant castings could have done for the box office numbers, and if it could have considerably increased their total earnings across the MCU.
