When John Krasinski tried on the Captain America suit during his audition for Captain America: The First Avenger, he acknowledged that he was scared of “jacked” Chris Hemsworth.
Chris Evans, a fellow Bostonian who worked with Krasinski, eventually took the role and played the character from 2011 to 2019. Speaking about his $370.6 million Captain America: The First Avenger audition while on The Ellen Show, The Office star describes a fortuitous meeting with the Australian actor in mid-dress and how his build made him reconsider playing the super soldier who would later have teamed up with Thor in Joss Whedon’s The Avengers in 2012.
Krasinski was compelled to leave his Avengers role after seeing Hemsworth wearing the alluring Thor costume. Dane Cook, John Krasinski, and Ryan Phillippe were also in the running to play Captain America.
How Did Chris Hemsworth Force John Krasinski to Walk Out of the Captain America Role?
As John Krasinski was stopping by The Ellen Show to promote A Quiet Place 2, he was asked about his audition experience as Captain America in the 2011 Joe Johnston film. The actor, who is always up for a good narrative, told how he tried on the suit for the first time and how Chris Hemsworth commented on his body as he passed by. But when Krasinski saw the latter’s super-toned physique, he became more self-conscious rather than proud of himself.
Krasinski told the host Ellen DeGeneres:
“I went in and I tested for Captain America. Got to wear the suit. Which was really fun. This is a true story. […] I was putting the suit on, and I was halfway up, not wearing any other clothes other than this. […] And right at that moment, Chris Hemsworth walked by and he was like, ‘you look good, mate.’ And I was like, nope. You know what? It’s fine. We don’t have to do this. […] He was just like, jacked.”
Moreover, the License to Wed actor talked candidly about the day he learned he was not getting the part of Captain America in an interview with Variety. He clarified:
“My agent called and said, ‘They’re going to go with Chris Evans’. And I remember I said, ‘Yeah, look at him. He’s Captain America.’”
John Krasinski Remained Content Despite Losing The Captain America Role
John Krasinski was content with his decision to decline a role as Captain America that could have changed his career. He had previously said that if he had done the movie, he would not have been able to work on other movies, including A Quiet Place. When asked about his audition for Captain America, he told Total Film:
“Well, I know I wouldn’t have done it as well as Chris. At least I get to see someone good do the role. I’ve actually talked to Chris about it. Not getting it is the freedom I’ve been afforded. Had I got it my directing and writing career never would have happened. Certainly A Quiet Place never would have happened had I got Captain America.”
Even though he had lost the Captain America role to Chris Evans, Krasinski had previously declared he was open to appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, citing the Fantastic Four as one that he would love to play. In 2018, he told Screen Rant:
“Oh yeah, the Fantastic Four. I would love that. I mean listen, I’m still getting into the whole superhero thing. I didn’t read comics as a kid, not as many, I read some but not as much, but I’m a huge superhero fan, so yeah, I’d love to do something like that. If there are any left, a lot of these have been taken, but the ones that are left, yeah, I would love to do something like that. And listen, I’d love to work with her again so any chance I got would be great.”
Following years of fan casting and even interest from Krasinski himself, the actor finally made his MCU debut in May 2022 as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. We will next see him in the fantasy comedy film IF, which is set to release on May 17, 2024.
Captain America: The First Avenger is streaming on Disney Plus.
