Jensen Ackles is not a name that you immediately associate with superheroes. If anything, it harkens back to the golden age of CW, when vampires, werewolves, and night creatures dominated the airwaves, with shows like Shadowhunters, Vampire Diaries, and ofc: Supernatural.
It is well known that Ackles auditioned for the role of Captain America, a part that would eventually be immortalized by Chris Evans. However, some fans will be surprised to know that Ackles had auditioned for another character who eventually became a part of the Avengers. While it might seem that Tony Stark/Iron Man or Doctor Strange would suit him well, the answer is a bow-wielding hero.
This is the character Jensen Ackles would have played in Thor
Thor was the fourth movie in the MCU, introducing us to the God of Thunder, Thor, his treacherous half-sibling Loki, and his imposing father and ruler of Asgard, Odin, among many other important characters. Another character who was introduced in Thor, who ended up becoming an important character in the MCU, was Clint Barton/Hawkeye, the other part that Jensen Ackles auditioned for.
Ackles scored the role of Soldier Boy in Amazon’s hit web series The Boys, who served as an Expy of Captain America. Needless to say, based on appearance alone, Ackles is playing Captain America in spirit if not in reality. However, he could have played Hawkeye in the MCU. Not only did Ackles audition for the role, he ended up bagging it, with an offer from the studio to play Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Why Soldier Boy, and not Hawkeye then?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has come a long way since Thor. The franchise has grown, making the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Jeremy Renner household names. Why then, did Ackles turn down the role when it was his to take?
The answer is simple. The The Boys actor already had a long-standing commitment with CW for Supernatural. Ackles played Dean Winchester, one of the two main protagonists of the show, the other being Sam Winchester played by Jared Padalecki.
The show followed the brothers as they fought their way through demons, angels, gods, and other supernatural creatures. The show had a massive fan following, becoming one of CW’s flagship series, running for a whopping 15 seasons, with its final episode airing on 19th November 2020.
By the time Soldier Boy was cast in The Boys, Ackles was free from his contractual obligations to the show. This allowed him to take the role without having to worry about clashing schedules.
The Boys spin-off series Gen V is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
