Actors Who Came Dangerously Close to Playing Marvel Superheroes But Lost the Role

Casting the perfect superhero is a high-stakes process that often involves hundreds of auditions and months of negotiations. For every iconic performance that defines a franchise, there are several high-profile actors who were nearly selected for the part. Some stars were the director’s first choice but faced scheduling conflicts, while others were narrowed down to the final chemistry tests before losing out. These sliding-doors moments in Hollywood history reveal how different the Marvel cinematic landscape could have looked today.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise was long linked to the lead in ‘Iron Man’ during the film’s early development at New Line Cinema in the late 1990s. He eventually felt the project wasn’t coming together as he envisioned and opted to step away. His involvement reached the point where he was even considering producing the film himself. Cruise has since expressed great admiration for the version Robert Downey Jr. ultimately brought to life.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski screen-tested for ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ and was among the final candidates for the role. He famously joked about seeing Chris Hemsworth on set and realizing he was not the right physical fit at the time. Despite wearing the suit, the actor felt he couldn’t compete with the established ‘Thor’ star’s presence. He eventually joined the franchise years later as a variant of Mr. Fantastic.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt was the original choice to play Black Widow in ‘Iron Man 2’ and was later offered the role of Peggy Carter in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. She had to decline both opportunities due to contractual obligations with 20th Century Fox for the film ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. The actress has often expressed regret over the timing of these conflicts. Fans spent years campaigning for her to play other Marvel characters as a result.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix engaged in deep negotiations with Marvel Studios to play the title character in ‘Doctor Strange’. The actor ultimately decided against the role because he was hesitant about the multi-film commitment required by the studio. This decision led Marvel to continue their search, eventually securing Benedict Cumberbatch. Phoenix later took on a different comic book role as the lead in ‘Joker’.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa met with the creative team behind ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ to discuss playing Drax the Destroyer. He turned down the role because he wanted to avoid being typecast as a shirtless, brooding warrior after his work on ‘Conan the Barbarian’. He felt the character was too similar to roles he had already played. The part was subsequently handed to Dave Bautista.

Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård was a top finalist for the lead role in ‘Thor’ and met with director Kenneth Branagh several times. He even filmed a screen test in the full costume and with a replica of the hammer. While he was highly considered, the producers eventually decided that Chris Hemsworth was the better fit for the God of Thunder. Skarsgård later found success in other massive projects like ‘The Legend of Tarzan’.

Jensen Ackles

Jensen Ackles auditioned for the role of Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ and was a strong contender. Although he lost out to Chris Evans, the studio allegedly offered him the role of Hawkeye as a secondary option. Ackles declined the offer because the filming schedule conflicted with his commitment to the television series ‘Supernatural’. Jeremy Renner was eventually cast as the expert archer.

Sam Rockwell

Director Jon Favreau originally considered Sam Rockwell for the lead role of Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man’. While the role went to Robert Downey Jr., Favreau was so impressed with Rockwell that he brought him back for the sequel. He was cast as the rival industrialist Justin Hammer in ‘Iron Man 2’. Rockwell’s performance became a standout element of the second film.

Timothy Olyphant

Timothy Olyphant auditioned for the role of Tony Stark on the exact same day as Robert Downey Jr. He has since joked in interviews that he is still waiting for a call back from the casting department. While he didn’t secure the lead in ‘Iron Man’, his career continued to flourish with major roles in ‘Justified’. He remains a popular fan-casting choice for various comic book characters.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan originally auditioned for the role of Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. During the final rounds of casting, he screen-tested in the full patriotic suit and was heavily considered. The producers felt his energy was better suited for the character’s best friend, Bucky Barnes. This allowed him to have a long-term arc through the ‘Captain America’ and ‘Avengers’ sequels.

Wyatt Russell

Wyatt Russell auditioned for the lead role of Steve Rogers for the first ‘Captain America’ film in 2011. It was his first ever audition, and he has admitted that he was not particularly close to getting it. He eventually joined the franchise a decade later to play John Walker in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’. His character served as a controversial successor to the shield.

Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth made it to the final chemistry tests for ‘Thor’ alongside his older brother, Chris. He was actually the preferred choice of the casting director during the early stages of the search. However, after re-evaluating the requirements of the role, the studio decided to give Chris a second chance. Liam went on to star in ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise shortly after.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston famously auditioned and screen-tested for the title role in ‘Thor’. He spent weeks training to gain muscle and even filmed a test scene with a blonde wig and the hammer. Director Kenneth Branagh realized that Hiddleston’s specific charisma was perfect for the villainous Loki instead. This casting shift created one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington was a major contender for the role of Peter Quill in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. This took place during a time when the actor was one of the most sought-after action stars in Hollywood. He participated in the extensive search for the lead, but the role was ultimately given to Chris Pratt. Worthington continued his work on the ‘Avatar’ franchise instead.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a name that surfaced frequently during the casting of both ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Ant-Man’. He was considered a top choice for Peter Quill and later for the role of Scott Lang. The actor ultimately did not sign on for either project, focusing on his own directorial efforts. He had previously appeared in the DC universe as John Blake in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.

Glenn Howerton

Director James Gunn revealed that Glenn Howerton was his second choice for the role of Star-Lord. If Chris Pratt had been unable to take the role, the ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ star would have led ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Gunn has praised Howerton’s audition and later cast him in other projects. Fans often wonder how different the tone of the team would have been with his casting.

Zachary Levi

Zachary Levi was a finalist for the role of Peter Quill in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and came very close to winning the part. Although he lost to Chris Pratt, his screen test was so impressive that it helped him secure the role of Shazam in the DC universe later. Levi had previously appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Fandral in the ‘Thor’ sequels. He replaced Josh Dallas in that specific role.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde was the first choice to play Gamora in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ but turned down the offer. She reportedly decided against the project to focus on other roles and her burgeoning career in directing. The part was then offered to Zoe Saldaña, who has played the character across multiple films. Wilde eventually directed the film ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ years later.

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried was offered the role of Gamora but turned it down because she didn’t want to undergo the intense makeup process. She also expressed doubt that a film about a talking raccoon and a tree would be successful at the box office. Seyfried later admitted that she was wrong about the film’s potential but was happy with her choice. The role eventually went to Zoe Saldaña.

David Duchovny

David Duchovny was a frontrunner for the role of Bruce Banner in the 2008 film ‘The Incredible Hulk’. He was heavily considered during the pre-production phase when the studio was looking for a fresh direction after the 2003 ‘Hulk’ movie. Ultimately, the producers chose Edward Norton for the role. Duchovny continued his work on the revival of ‘The X-Files’.

Asa Butterfield

Asa Butterfield was widely reported to be the frontrunner for the role of Peter Parker in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. He reached the final stages of the selection process and participated in chemistry tests with Robert Downey Jr. After a long search, Marvel and Sony decided that Tom Holland was the better fit. Butterfield went on to star in the hit series ‘Sex Education’.

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet auditioned for the role of Peter Parker in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ but left the room feeling defeated. He has shared that he read for the part twice and was overwhelmed by the pressure of the audition. While he didn’t get the role, his career skyrocketed shortly after with ‘Call Me by Your Name’. He is now one of the most prominent leading men in Hollywood.

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey was offered the role of Ego the Living Planet in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’. He chose to decline the offer because he felt the character was being added to an already successful formula. Instead, he opted to star in ‘The Dark Tower’ because he wanted to help build a new franchise from the ground up. The role of Ego was eventually played by Kurt Russell.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson confirmed that he was approached by Marvel Studios to play the role of Odin in ‘Thor’. He turned down the opportunity, though he did not specify the exact reasons for his decision. The role was later filled by Anthony Hopkins, who brought a regal presence to the character across three films. Gibson has since directed and starred in several acclaimed independent projects.

Josh Hartnett

Josh Hartnett was pursued by Marvel for the role of Loki in ‘Thor’ and was also in the running for Spider-Man early in his career. The actor was known for turning down many major superhero roles during the height of his fame. He has stated that he wanted to avoid being defined by a single franchise at such a young age. Tom Hiddleston eventually became the face of the God of Mischief.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling met with Marvel Studios to discuss the lead role in ‘Doctor Strange’ during the development phase. While he was a top choice for the studio, the negotiations did not result in a contract. Gosling has generally avoided large multi-film superhero franchises throughout his career. He eventually starred in the action-heavy ‘The Gray Man’ for the Russo Brothers.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan auditioned for the role of Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon, in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. He lost the part to Anthony Mackie, but the audition process kept him on Marvel’s radar. This relationship eventually led to his casting as the iconic villain Erik Killmonger in ‘Black Panther’. His performance in that film is widely considered one of the best in the franchise.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman originally auditioned for the role of Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. While he wasn’t right for that specific part, the casting directors were so impressed by his audition that they didn’t require him to read for Black Panther. They offered him the role of T’Challa directly when the time came to cast ‘Captain America: Civil War’. This decision led to one of the most culturally significant roles in cinema.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan was the visual inspiration for the character of Scarlet Witch during the pre-production of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. While there were many rumors that she would be cast, the actress never officially signed on to the project. She expressed interest in the role in several interviews but the timing didn’t work out. Elizabeth Olsen was ultimately cast and has played the character for nearly a decade.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary Elizabeth Winstead was one of the finalists for the role of Maria Hill in ‘The Avengers’. She went through chemistry tests and was a favorite among the production team. Ultimately, Cobie Smulders was selected to play the high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Winstead later appeared in the DC universe as Huntress in ‘Birds of Prey’.

Morena Baccarin

Morena Baccarin screen-tested alongside Cobie Smulders for the role of Maria Hill in ‘The Avengers’. She was a strong contender due to her background in science fiction television like ‘Firefly’. While she didn’t get the part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, she eventually landed the role of Vanessa in the ‘Deadpool’ films. This allowed her to stay within the Marvel family in a different capacity.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain was in talks to play the role of Maya Hansen in ‘Iron Man 3’ but had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts. She posted on social media at the time to express her disappointment about missing the chance to work with the cast. Rebecca Hall was subsequently cast in the role. Chastain eventually joined the Marvel world as the villain in ‘Dark Phoenix’.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon was the first choice to play the lead role in the 2003 ‘Daredevil’ film. He turned it down because he was a massive fan of the comic and was worried about the script quality. His childhood friend Ben Affleck eventually took the role of Matt Murdock. Damon later made a humorous cameo as an actor playing Loki in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’.

Dougray Scott

Dougray Scott was officially cast as Wolverine in the original ‘X-Men’ film and had even begun training. However, production delays on ‘Mission: Impossible 2’ prevented him from leaving that set to join the Marvel project. This forced the studio to find a replacement at the very last minute. Hugh Jackman was cast as the replacement, launching his career into superstardom.

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen was heavily rumored and considered for the role of ‘Doctor Strange’ before Benedict Cumberbatch was finalized. Marvel was reportedly looking for an actor with his level of gravitas to ground the mystical side of the universe. Mortensen has historically been selective about joining large franchises after his time in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. He ultimately did not take the role.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves was reportedly offered the role of Yon-Rogg in ‘Captain Marvel’ but had to decline due to his commitment to ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’. Marvel executives have publicly stated that they speak to Reeves for almost every project they develop. They are still looking for the perfect role to introduce him into the universe. Jude Law ended up playing the Kree commander instead.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray was considered for the lead role of Tony Stark in an early version of ‘Iron Man’ during the 1990s. At that time, the project was being developed as a more comedic take on the character. The script went through numerous iterations and studio changes before the 2008 version. Murray eventually joined the MCU in a different role as Lord Krylar in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey was a popular choice to play Loki in a ‘Thor’ movie that was in development during the late 90s. He was also later considered as a voice actor for Rocket Raccoon in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Carrey’s high-energy acting style was seen as a potential fit for many of Marvel’s more eccentric characters. While these roles never materialized, he remains a fan favorite for future casting.

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston was considered for the role of Sebastian Shaw in ‘X-Men: First Class’ during the height of his success on ‘Breaking Bad’. The producers were looking for an actor who could play a sophisticated and menacing villain. Ultimately, Kevin Bacon was cast as the leader of the Hellfire Club. Cranston has often mentioned his interest in playing a version of Mr. Sinister.

Alice Eve

Alice Eve was nearly cast as Emma Frost in ‘X-Men: First Class’ before the role was given to January Jones. She was reportedly the top choice for the part and had entered into negotiations with the studio. After things fell through, she eventually joined the Marvel universe as the villain Typhoid Mary in the ‘Iron Fist’ television series. Eve has also been a frequent fan-cast for various ‘Fantastic Four’ roles.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson was a top choice to play the lead in a version of ‘The Punisher’ that was in development in the late 1990s. The project stalled, and Neeson eventually moved on to other massive franchises like ‘Star Wars’. When the character finally returned to the big screen in 2004, Thomas Jane was cast as Frank Castle. Neeson has since become a legendary action icon in his own right.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio was the primary choice to play Peter Parker in the unproduced James Cameron version of ‘Spider-Man’. He had meetings about the role but ultimately felt he wasn’t ready to step into a superhero suit at that point in his career. He reportedly encouraged his friend Tobey Maguire to take the role when Sam Raimi began casting his version. DiCaprio remains one of the few major stars to never appear in a superhero film.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal almost replaced Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man 2’ after Maguire suffered a serious back injury during another production. He was in pre-production and preparing for the role before Maguire was cleared by doctors to return. Gyllenhaal eventually entered the franchise over a decade later. He played the villainous Mysterio in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong was the top choice for James Cameron to play Peter Parker in his gritty, adult-oriented ‘Spider-Man’ script. This version of the film was in development at Carolco Pictures before the studio went bankrupt. Furlong was seen as the perfect fit for the angst-ridden teenager Cameron envisioned. The project was eventually scrapped, and the rights were sold to Sony.

Jude Law

Jude Law was a contender for the role of Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man’ when the film was being developed in the mid-2000s. He was also briefly considered for the role of Ant-Man during the early stages of that project’s long development. While he didn’t get to play a founding Avenger, he finally joined the MCU in 2019. He portrayed the Kree warrior Yon-Rogg in ‘Captain Marvel’.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer was a candidate for the role of Captain America during an early development phase in the 1990s. The project was separate from the low-budget film that was eventually released in 1990. Kilmer was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time and was considered for many heroic roles. He eventually played Batman for DC instead.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger was famously considered for the role of Wolverine in an early 1990s ‘X-Men’ pitch involving James Cameron. The concept art from that era depicted a version of the character that matched Schwarzenegger’s massive physique. The project never moved forward due to the complex nature of the film rights. The role would later be reimagined for a much smaller, grittier actor.

Bob Hoskins

Bob Hoskins was the preferred choice of ‘X-Men’ writer Chris Claremont to play Wolverine in a potential film adaptation during the 1980s. Claremont felt that Hoskins’ short stature and incredible intensity in ‘Dead Man Out’ made him the perfect physical match for the comic book version. This version of the film never made it past the development stage. Fans still discuss this as one of the great “what if” casting scenarios.

Jamie Bell

Jamie Bell was one of the final actors in contention for the lead role in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’. He went through several rounds of auditions and was a favorite for his physical acting ability. The role was eventually given to Andrew Garfield, who led the rebooted franchise for two films. Bell later joined the Marvel world as Ben Grimm in the 2015 ‘Fantastic Four’ film.

Miles Teller

Miles Teller was one of the finalists for the role of Peter Parker in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ before Andrew Garfield was cast. He participated in screen tests and was highly regarded by the production team. While he didn’t secure the role of the web-slinger, he was eventually cast as Reed Richards in the 2015 ‘Fantastic Four’. He has since starred in massive hits like ‘Top Gun: Maverick’.

Tell us which of these actors you think would have been the best fit for their respective roles in the comments.