A differentMarvel Cinematic Universeactor came very close to playing Captain America before the gig was given to Chris Evans, with a returning star opening up about almost getting the iconic role. One of the most beloved parts of the Avengers inthe MCU timelineis Evans as Captain America, as he became one of the franchise’s most defining heroes. However, it turns out that the MCU could have looked very different as another actor was close to being tapped to play Steve Rogers.
During a recentFan Expoevent, Wilson Bethel - who played Bullseye on Netflix’sDaredeviland will be reprising the role inthe MCU’sDaredevil: Born Againshow-looked back at how he was almost tapped to play Captain America in the MCU. According to Bethel, he got as far as trying on the costume through screen testing before learning how he lost the role to Evans, as he stated the following:
The hardest hit I took was…I came very close to being cast as Captain America. I went through multiple rounds of screen testing, and the suit felt incredible. Yeah [when asked if he has pictures] There were all these things that were happening that made me feel like I was getting the part. And then I remember my agent calling me one day, and they’re like, ‘No, actually, they offered it to Chris Evans’ or whatever.
What Wilson Bethel’s Captain America Audition Means For The MCU
Bethel’s Captain America audition comments make sense, as there are a lot of instances where actors get very close to being tapped for a huge role, especially in the superhero movie genre, where this is particularly commonplace. If Bethel had been cast as Captain America for Phase 1 and beyond, it would have definitely been a different experience following Steve’s journey throughout The Infinity Saga. While it would have been interesting to see what Wilson Bethel would have brought to the table, he also proved to be one of the MCU’s best castings many years later.
It’s also possible that Wilson Bethel’s Captain America audition experience was something that Marvel kept in mind when they were casting forBullseye inDaredevilseason 3. Not only did Bethel get to re-invent the character after Colin Farrell’s not-so-well-received version in 2003’sDaredevil, butthe actor also became one of the best threats against Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock in the final season. That is why it became a big deal when it was announced that Bethel would return forDaredevil: Born Again, which wouldn’t have been possible if he had been cast as Captain America all those years ago.
How Wilson Bethel Being Cast As Captain America Could Have Changed The MCU
Even though Bethel didn’t end up filling the role of Captain America in the MCU,it does raise the question of what if he had actually been hired instead of Evans. Both of them are great actors in their own right, with incredible levels of charisma, which is crucial for the Captain America character. At the time when they were casting forCaptain America: The First Avenger, Bethel had been more established in the world of television, while Evans had a bigger presence in films, which could have had an interesting impact on Bethel’s Captain America had the casting gone through.
Looking at their respective resumés,Captain America: The First Avengerwould have been Bethel’s second movie, following1968 Tunnel Ratsfrom 2008, meaning he could possibly have been seen as a riskier choice for the Marvel Studios casting department. Having an actor with less experience in film for a role like Captain America - who would go on to be one of the three major heroes of the MCU through Phases 1-3 - was a step that Marvel Studios wasn’t ready to tackle that early in building the franchise.
It’s also worth mentioning that Evans' return as the Human Torch as part oftheDeadpool & Wolverinecastwould have had less impact, had Bethel been cast as Captain America instead of him.Captain America is what led Evans' career to the heights it has reached today, and while the originalFantastic Fourmovies have their following, it wouldn’t have been as big of a deal to see him back playing Johnny Storm in 2024 without his history as Steve Rogers.
Our Take On Wilson Bethel’s Captain America Audition Story
Bethel’s story about auditioning for the MCU’s Captain America is a bittersweet one, to say the least, because whoever would have been tapped for that role would have gone on to have a lot to do in the MCU. At the same time, Bethel proved that he was the perfect Bullseye inDaredevil, making his return in theDaredevil: Born Againcastall the more exciting. While Captain America may not have been in the cards for Bethel, theMCUaudience will soon get to see him back on-screen as one of the most dangerous villains in the whole franchise.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
