Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America is the heart and soul of the Avengers.
Cap has some of the most audience-pleasing scenes within the MCU, none more so than when he proves his worth by catching Mjolnir at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame.
Key to the character's popularity has undoubtedly been the performance of Chris Evans, who has not only become the perfect Captain America, but also the perfect Steve Rogers. Furiously loyal, a super soldier, and an all-round good guy, Steve was always the de-facto leader of the Avengers.
Anthony Mackie will step into the role of Captain America in Brave New World but is doing so through his Sam Wilson character.
It is now tough to imagine anyone else taking on the role of Rogers specifically apart from Evans, but there were a few well-known names in the frame when Captain America: The First Avenger was in the casting process back in 2010.
READ MORE: Five actors almost cast as Thor before Chris Hemsworth
Sebastian Stan
Everyone now recognises Sebastian Stan in the MCU as Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier, Steve's best friend, turned foe, turned best friend again.
But, Stan actually gained the role of Bucky after impressing producers in his audition for Cap. After appearing in The First Avengers, he would become a key player in the MCU with plenty of subsequent movies as well as his own TV show, Falcon and the Winter Soldier for Disney+.
“I certainly did not know that I would be playing the role for 10 years,” Stan told Vanity Fair. “I remember going in for the Steve Rogers role and not getting it. And then being told about this role and where it could go.
"But it didn’t seem like there was any commitment, really.”
Wyatt Russell
Now, we have seen Wyatt Russell as a version of Captain America. In the Falcon and Winter Soldier series, Russell plays John Walker, a marine who is chosen to be the new Captain America after the retirement of Rogers. After killing a foreign national, he is demoted, but Russell will appear as Walker again in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie.
Though Russell himself admits he was never a serious contender to play the original Cap, he did indeed audition.
"I think honestly that the first audition was really more just something to read to see if I was any good at acting or not," Russell said on Good Morning America.
"I don't think I was ever actually in competition for the role."
Chris Pratt
We might not have got the perfect Peter Quill / Starlord if Chris Pratt had been successful in his Cap audition in 2010.
Before being cast in Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt was asked to come in and read for Cap by casting director Sarah Finn. Although Pratt was unsuccessful, he stuck in Finn's mind which led to her asking him personally to read for the role of Starlord.
“James Gunn has been very generous about this in saying that I, to the point of annoying him, kept insisting that Chris Pratt was the guy for the part, but Chris didn’t want to play the part and refused to audition," Evans recalled of bringing Pratt back to audition for Starlord.
“I was really happy when I finally got them together and it was honestly one of those eureka moments that we talk about in casting when it absolutely feels right and you know it’s right."
John Krasinski
The most famous 'What If?' casting when it comes to Captain America is undoubtedly that of John Krasinski.
While in the middle of his fame-earning turn in the US Office, he was asked by Marvel to come in and audition for Rogers and he even got to wear the famous suit to see how things fitted.
Unfortunately, he was humbled by the presence of one Chris Hemsworth...
Ryan Philippe
Ryan Philippe is most known for 90s teen flicks like Cruel Intentions and I Know What You Did Last Summer. But, he has been close to superstardom on a couple of occasions and would have earned that status if a few auditions went his way.
He was one of the older actors who auditioned for the part at that time so it is unclear if he would have had the commitment that Evans displayed with his multiple-picture deal from the get go.
Phillipe wanted the role, though, as he told ScreenRant:
"No man, I would have loved it, they didn't want me. I met with them and stuff, I was way into it - especially since I have a six-year-old son - I just thought it would've been awesome thing to do... but no it didn't happen. I would love to find something like that - I want to find something physical before I get too old... I've been in martial arts since I was eight years old - I want to find something where I can use that some of that stuff."
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