The Marvel Cinematic Universe came close to casting different actors for some very important roles, and that could have completely altered the trajectory of the shared universe. If there is one thing that Marvel is known to pretty much always get right, it is casting. Even when some projects rank among the MCU’s worst movies or shows, there is commonly a saving grace in the form of an actor or a few who turn in amazing performances.

On the other end of the spectrum, some MCU movies have become so popular because their potential was brought up by talented performers. That should continue for the upcoming projects on Marvel Studios’ slate, as casting director Sarah Halley Finn has been part of the franchise from the start and shows no signs of going away anytime soon. While Marvel has a long list of success stories, the studio did come close to casting different actors for key roles, and some of them would have completely changed the MCU.

10

Emily Blunt As Black Widow

Played By Scarlett Johansson In The MCU

Emily Blunt is a name that has been part of the MCU’s rumor mill for quite some time. More recently, she was said to be one of the choices to play Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, she never showed interest in the role, which was more due to how her husband, John Krasinski, played a Reed Richards variant in the MCU.

That said, Blunt did come close to joining the franchise in the past. The actress was offered the Black Widow role for 2010’s Iron Man, which she wanted to take, but Blunt had to turn it down due to contractual obligations. Her contract with Fox meant she had to star in another movie from the studio, Gulliver’s Travels, which made it impossible for her to be Natasha Romanoff. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2023, Blunt praised Scarlett Johansson, saying, “The best girl got it.”

9

John Krasinski As Captain America

Played By Chris Evans In The MCU

Blunt’s husband, John Krasinski, also came very close to one of the MCU’s biggest roles. After Marvel Studios approached Chris Evans to play Steve Rogers, and the actor initially turned down the offer, other actors were looked at for the part. Krasinski was one of the stars who made it really far into the process, even getting to screen test in the Captain America suit.

One of the funniest tidbits from that audition process was when Krasinski told the story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show of how Thor actor Chris Hemsworth walked by The Office star as he was putting on the Captain America suit and said, “You look good, mate,” and Krasinski immediately felt inadequate, comparing himself to Hemsworth. While the role ultimately went to Evans, Krasinski at least joined the MCU as a Reed Richards variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness after years of fans campaigning for him to get the role.

8

Tom Cruise As Iron Man

Played By Robert Downey Jr. In The MCU

Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s all-time greatest stars. As such, having him join a superhero franchise would be huge. That almost happened right from the start of the MCU, as Cruise’s near-miss with Iron Man has become one of the most famous stories related to “what could have been” in the superhero genre. Before Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Tony Stark, Cruise was approached for the role.

In the MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book (via CBR), Marvel’s president, Kevin Feige, explained why Cruise’s casting as Iron Man fell through. According to Feige, the reason was financial. Cruise simply asked for too high a fee for an untested superhero property like Iron Man at the time. Downey went on to become the MCU’s biggest star. Cruise has been rumored to appear as an Iron Man variant in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, which has yet to happen.

7

Tom Hiddleston As Thor

Played By Chris Hemsworth In The MCU

Tom Hiddleston is the first case on the list of an actor who did not get the role they auditioned for, but ended up playing another major role instead in the MCU. Hiddleston was brought in by director Kenneth Branagh for the first Thor movie, and the actor even donned a blonde wig to try and nab the top role. Hiddleston’s Thor audition was released on The Tonight with Jimmy Fallon Show.

While Chris Hemsworth was notably the best fit for Thor, Hiddleston’s audition showed Marvel Studios that the actor had the kind of talent the studio could use for another role. He was then cast as Thor’s brother, Loki, becoming the villain of the first Avengers movie and thus essential to the success of the franchise. Hiddleston now boasts two seasons of Disney+’s Loki, showing how popular his character has become.

6

Joaquin Phoenix As Doctor Strange

Played By Benedict Cumberbatch In The MCU

Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson always wanted Benedict Cumberbatch to lead the movie. However, there were scheduling conflicts, and the actor was not available for the initial period the MCU movie would be sH๏τ. Due to that, Derrickson looked at other names, with Joaquin Phoenix being the one the director spent the most time with. Ultimately, he told SlashFilm that, with time, it became clear Phoenix just did not belong in the film and the MCU.

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Disney then moved the film’s release date from summer to fall so that Cumberbatch could play Doctor Strange. Speaking about the ordeal to Entertainment Weekly, Phoenix explained his side of things. According to the actor, “It never felt like [superhero movies would] really be fulfilling.” In the end, he joined a very grounded DC franchise, starring in two Joker movies. The first was the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time for years, while the sequel was received negatively.

5

Wilson Bethel As Captain America

Played By Chris Evans In The MCU

Wilson Bethel makes for another case on the list of an actor who did not get the role they auditioned for but ended up as another important character in the franchise. Bethel was one of the actors who were up for the Steve Rogers role when Chris Evans was still unsure about playing Captain America. At FAN EXPO San Francisco 2024, Bethel opened up about losing the role.

According to the MCU actor, he “went through multiple rounds of screen testing,” saying that the Captain America suit felt incredible. However, despite seeing that things were apparently going his way, he was heartbroken when his agent called to tell him Evans got the part. After that, Bethel would be cast as Benjamin Poindexter, aka Bullseye, in Daredevil season 3. Years later, Bethel now returns as Bullseye under Marvel Studios, appearing in Daredevil: Born Again season 1.

4

Matthew McConaughey As The Hulk

Played By Edward Norton/Mark Ruffalo In The MCU

Matthew McConaughey is one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood. The star has amᴀssed awards and exciting projects throughout his career, which one would think would make him an easy yes for a superhero role. However, it turns out that Marvel does not think like that. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2020, McConaughey revealed that he threw his hat in the ring to play the Hulk, but Marvel pᴀssed.

McConaughey is a major fan of Lou Ferrigno’s The Incredible Hulk series, which is why he had a desire to play the conflicted hero. However, when he approached Marvel for the role, the answer was, “No, thank you.” 2008’s The Incredible Hulk movie starred Edward Norton, with the role being recast for 2012’s The Avengers. Since then, Mark Ruffalo has given life to Bruce Banner in the MCU.

3

Chadwick Boseman As Drax

Played By Dave Bautista In The MCU

Chadwick Boseman is one of the MCU’s most popular stars. Before his untimely death, the actor played T’Challa, the MCU’s first Black Panther, in a solo movie, two Avengers entries, and more. 2018’s Black Panther was a cultural phenomenon, becoming a major box office hit and even being nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Boseman’s performance played a huge role in that, but things could have been very different.

In an excerpt from the MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book shared by Vanity Fair, it is revealed that Boseman first auditioned for the role of Drax the Destroyer in the MCU for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Dave Bautista made the lovable brute one of the franchise’s funniest characters. Boseman’s dramatic skills were better suited for Black Panther, and his version of Drax would likely have been very different from the one the MCU ended up with.

2

Liam Hemsworth As Thor

Played By Chris Hemsworth In The MCU

One of the MCU’s most interesting behind-the-scenes facts is that a different Hemsworth brother was almost Thor. Speaking with W Magazine in 2017, MCU Thor actor Chris Hemsworth revealed that his brother, The Hunger Games franchise star Liam Hemsworth, nearly got the coveted Marvel role before him. According to the MCU star, Liam ended up getting a few callbacks for the role and ended up as one of the four or five final candidates.

Hemsworth had gone months without hearing any news while his brother was moving forward in the Thor casting process. Ultimately, Liam was deemed too young for the role, which led to the brothers’ agent suggesting Hemsworth be brought back in. From there, things started to work out, with Hemsworth playing Thor to this day in the MCU. Thor 5 is rumored to be in development.

1

Zooey Deschanel As The Wasp

Played By Evangeline Lilly In The MCU

Finally, the last entry on the list is related to the MCU’s first Avengers movie. Director Joss Whedon was thinking of using the Wasp in the film due to scheduling conflicts with Scarlett Johansson, so the Wasp would have replaced Black Widow in 2012’s The Avengers. As revealed in The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe book, Whedon wanted to cast Zooey Deschanel as the Wasp.

The Avengers producer Jeremy Latcham revealed that “The Wasp was the funniest character in the whole movie.” Deschanel’s casting as Hope van Dyne would have completely changed MCU history. The Wasp — and Ant-Man — would only join the franchise years later, in 2015’s Ant-Man, with Evangeline Lilly playing the character. If The Wasp had been part of the MCU’s original Avengers, the character’s popularity and overall role in the franchise would likely have been much bigger, fundamentally changing the MCU.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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