Fate has a unique way of seeping into the movie business, and sometimes, huge opportunities that don’t work out wind up being a blessing in disguise. As the old adage goes, when one door closes another one opens, and this is true sometimes when auditioning for a huge film role. Be it for Marvel, James Bond, or a television show like Friends, missing out on a big role isn’t the end of the world.
Sebastian Stan has truly blossomed in the MCU, playing the character Winter Soldier perfectly. Before landing that role, however, there would be a missed opportunity for Stan that swung the door wide open for what he is doing now.
Let’s see which character Sebastian Stan originally auditioned for in the MCU!
He Auditioned For Captain America
In the early phases of the MCU, the powers that be were laying the foundation for what we have come to know and love. After Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor got the ball rolling as the initial heroes in the franchise, it was Captain America’s time to shine. This meant that the studio needed to find the perfect man for the job.
During the casting process, a number of talented individuals were up for the job. Among those talented actors was none other than Sebastian Stan, who was looking to change his entire life by landing a massive role in a blossoming film franchise.
Prior to auditioning for the role, Stan had made appearances in projects like Gossip Girl, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Black Swan, according to IMDb. Slowly but surely, he was carving out a name for himself in the business, but after years of these roles, it was time to take on something of epic proportions.
According to Men’s XP, actors like John Krasinski, Garrett Hedlund, and Scott Porter were in contention for the role, as well. These performers all could have brought something unique to the table, and Marvel had a huge decision on their hands. This was, after all, a character who was going to play a massive role in the future of the franchise.
Eventually, the right man for the job would seize a golden opportunity and take the MCU to another level.
Chris Evans Gets The Role
After taking a look at a number of top actors to play Captain America, the folks at Marvel knew that they had to get this casting decision right. Chris Evans emerged as the best man for the job, and since that fateful casting decision, he has gone on to excel beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
In total, there were three solo films that Evans got to star in as the character while also appearing in massive crossover films. Evans, much like Robert Downey Jr., was simply meant to play the character on the big screen. As great as the other performers who auditioned could have been, Chris Evans was far and a way the best actor who could have landed the role.
One of the coolest things about Chris Evans getting the job was that this gave him the chance to get his superhero redemption. As some may remember, Evans did play Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four franchise during the 2000s. Those movies helped pave the way for what superhero movies are now, and Evans got the chance to cement his legacy as Captain America.
After the events of Avengers: Endgame, we won’t be seeing Evans in the MCU anymore, but his legacy will endure as the franchise moves forward into an entirely new era. Included in that era is none other than Sebastian Stan, whose missed chance to play Captain American opened the door for the perfect job.
Stan Lands Winter Solder
Marvel saw something in Sebastian Stan when he auditioned for them, and even though Cap ultimately went to Chris Evans, Stan would land the role of Bucky Barnes, eventually becoming the Winter Soldier and etching his own legacy in the MCU.
Winter Soldier has been a welcome addition to the MCU over time, and as we saw in movies like Infinity War and Endgame, he is going to be an integral part of the team moving forward.
The MCU is expanding to Disney+, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is easily one of the most anticipated shows on the platform. It gives those two heroes a real chance to shine on their own, and fans cannot wait to see it.
Sebastian Stan has been an MCU mainstay, and while landing Cap would have been cool, Winter Solider has been a much better fit.
