Jeremy Strong almost lent his body (no, not his face) to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Strong, who stars in the Emmy-winning show “Succession” as Kendall Roy, revealed the nugget to The Sunday Times in an interview, in which he told the story behind what could have been. He tried out for the part when he was “broke” and “needed money.”
“OK, f— it, I will tell you this story,” the actor began, revealing that he was offered a part in “Captain America” after he lost a role for “Cowboys & Aliens.”
Before Captain America, there was Steve Rodgers, an underdeveloped soldier who made up for his size with his big heart and unrelenting effort in training. A scientist offers to test a powerful serum on Rogers, which eventually matches his physical strength with his internal spirit.
“They needed someone to play Captain America’s young body, before he turns into a superhero,” Strong said. “They said they needed a transformational actor and would use CGI to put the actual actor’s face and voice over my own.”
Strong “considered it,” but he didn’t end up accepting the role.
“But that’s my story of L.A. It was just never going to happen for me here,” Strong continued. “It didn’t feel like what I had to offer was valued. And the next day I went back to New York and did a play about a veteran from Afghanistan in a wheelchair during the blackout of 2003.”
Strong and Evans attended the same high school together in Massachusetts. For the Times, Evans reacted to his former classmate’s revelation in appreciation.
“Oh no! It just goes to show the industry is so unpredictable,” he said. “But I’m so happy things worked out, because I don’t think there was ever plan B for Jeremy.”
Strong has established himself as a star through “Succession,” winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2020 for the character. He also appears in the recently released “Armageddon Time.”
