Marvel Studios’The Falcon and the Winter Soldierhad an ample stock of Captain America wannabes when they were looking for someone to play John Walker, it just turns out Wyatt Russell was among the best in that first bunch. As fate would have it, Walker’s many Marvel identities now mean Russell finally gets to suit up as Cap inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, 10 years after first auditioning for the role.
Though Marvel Studios had been trying to make aCaptain Americafilm for many years, by the timeThe First Avengercame to be in 2011, the film already had the benefit of riding the superhero wave thatIron Manhad started. Still, the shortlist of actors hoping to land the role didn’t include the household names an MCU feature would attract nowadays and this is perfectly shown by Chris Evans' eventual casting, who up to that point had enjoyed a somewhat modest acting career.
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Just like John Walker, Russell shared his anecdote on Good Morning America, telling the hosts he was motivated to audition for a chance to play Steve Rogers mostly at a time when he still wasn’t sure acting was a thing for him or that he was any good at it, never really thinking he was “ever actually in competition for the role.” A full decade later, Russell recalls auditioning forThe Falcon and The Winter Soldierwithout even knowing what part he was up for, though it’s best to hear the story straight from him.
Of course, prior to his second MCU audition, his father Kurt Russell had already wound up starring as Ego the Living Planet inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2., so Marvel had already become a family thing. His casting strikes as a perfect choice givenhow impactful John Walker’s first full appearance wasinThe Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ssecond episode, signaling a character that could stay on for years in the MCU.
Russell wasn’t the only prominentCaptain Americareject who would end up basking in superhero success as the Winter Soldier himself Sebastian Stan was also turned down as a potential Steve Rogers, though he later ended up being repurposed as Cap’s best friend.A Quiet Placemastermind andDeepfake Reed Richards John Krasinskialso auditioned to wield the shield and so did Jensen Ackles, who ironically will now play Soldier Boy inThe Boys' third season.
Even if Russell knows he is destined to give up his Captain America identity sooner rather than later, there’s a chance he can play someversion of the Super Patriot or U.S. AgentbeforeThe Falcon and The Winter Soldieris over, or in a future Captain America movie. It seems it’s a thing of destiny for him.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldieris now available on Disney Plus.
