While we’ve now long become accustomed to seeing Chris Evans as Captain America himself Steve Rogers in Marvel’s increasingly successful Cinematic Universe, it was almost oh so different.
In fact, Evans had to fight rather hard for the role, as Ryan Phillippe, John Krasinski, and even Sebastian Stan, who would eventually be cast as The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes opposite Evans, were each considered for the leading part.
Evans ultimately won out, but during John Krasinski’s recent appearance on Conan over on TBS to promote The Hollars , which he has also produced and directed, the former star of The Office admitted that he got so close to being cast that he actually put on the famous costume and screen-tested for the role.
John Krasinski says he might’ve played Captain America if it weren’t for Chris Hemsworth: https://t.co/ma6Zo0v69v pic.twitter.com/LfYKGTptbu
— Vulture (@vulture) August 24, 2016
Marvel was so undecided on who to cast as Captain America that they asked him to don his attire while holding the shield. But while he was trying to adjust to the suit and see if he could become more comfortable so that he could impress Marvel’s powers that be, Krasinski was instantly reminded and shown that he just wasn’t meant to be Captain America when Chris Hemsworth walked by dressed as Thor.
Speaking to Conan , Krasinski admitted that as soon as he saw the muscle-bound Aussie strolling past him dressed as the Nordic God, he said to himself, “I’m good. This is stupid. That’s okay, I’m not Captain America.”
Of course, thanks to monumental success of The First Avenger , as well as its follow-ups Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War , as well as his appearances in The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, it’s safe to say that Chris Evans’ casting as Captain America proved to be a resolute success. Especially since all of those films combined have grossed around $5.151 billion.
It also doesn’t sound as though Chris Evans has any real plans to quit as Captain America, too. While it’s widely believed that Evans actually only has one movie left on his Marvel contract, and he’d previously made it clear that he wouldn’t mind burgeoning his cinematic horizons at some point and moving away from the superhero genre, the actor has also proudly admitted that if Marvel wanted him to return then he’d quickly jump at the opportunity.
Speaking to Gay Times Magazine , via Cinema Blend , last summer, Evans admitted that he was already reconsidering his previous declaration that he wanted to retire from acting once his Marvel contract was finished so that he could focus on directing.
“I think it’s almost like high school,” Evans explained. “You’re kind of always looking ahead, about when you’ll graduate, but then when graduation day arrives you kind of don’t want to leave. I AM gonna try and focus on directing a bit more, but by no means am I done acting. And if they’d have me back, yeah, I’d probably consider it.”
. @johnkrasinski reveals why he didn’t get to play #CaptainAmerica : https://t.co/GnZB4eZsqL???????? pic.twitter.com/PmIUGTBSBh
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 24, 2016
There’s plenty room left for Chris Evans to strut his stuff once again as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, too. Most likely we’ll get to see Captain America again in Avengers: Infinity War , which is due out on May 4, 2018, but there’s also another Avengers sequel planned for release the following summer, too, which could easily include Evans’ talents.
Of course, following the success of the Captain America trilogy, there’s every chance that Marvel will ask him to return for a fourth outing as the superhero, too. But that might just be pushing it.
[Image via Marvel Entertainment]
