Wilson Bethel may be best remembered by comic book fans for his chilling portrayal of Benjamin Poindexter, better known as Bullseye, in the Daredevil universe. Yet long before he wore that mantle, Bethel came strikingly close to embodying another iconic Marvel character: Steve Rogers himself. 
In 2010, when Marvel Studios was casting Captain America: The First Avenger, Bethel was one of the final contenders for the shield before the role ultimately went to Chris Evans.
At that point, Bethel was still building his career. His notable work included HBO’s gritty miniseries Generation Kill and a run on The Young and the Restless, but nothing close to the scale of an MCU leading role. He even shared the emotional moment with fans on Facebook in March 2010, posting a bittersweet message: “O Captain, My Captain… I am not He…” – words that showed both heartbreak and gratitude.
Speaking at L.A. Comic Con after the Daredevil: Born Again panel, Bethel reflected candidly on how losing out on Cap was both painful and transformative. “It was ultimately heartbreaking,” he admitted. “I wasn’t sure I had a future in this industry at the time. But getting that close – screen testing, meeting Kevin Feige, putting on part of the costume – it forced me to take myself seriously as an actor.”
Bethel recalled the full audition process: the multiple screen tests, the conversations with Marvel’s creative team, and even donning a bomber jacket and collared shirt with the Captain America uniform visible underneath. For him, it wasn’t just an audition, it was a glimpse into what might have been. He described it as a turning point: not getting the part paradoxically convinced him that acting could indeed be his real career path. In his own words, “not getting that role was incredibly pivotal… it transitioned me into taking this career very seriously in a way I hadn’t before.”
He wasn’t alone in the race. John Krasinski, who would later appear as Reed Richards in an alternate universe version of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Sebastian Stan, who became Bucky Barnes, were also strong contenders. In hindsight, it is remarkable how many of the finalists still became embedded in the Marvel universe, even if not as Captain America himself.
For fans, it’s a fascinating “what if” scenario. Would Bethel’s Captain America have carried the same mix of stoic heroism and everyman charm that Chris Evans delivered? Some audiences can imagine it, noting Bethel’s earnestness and grounded presence, while others believe Evans was irreplaceable. Regardless, Bethel’s story adds another layer of richness to Marvel lore: even missed opportunities can shape an actor’s journey in unexpected and profound ways.
Today, Bethel embraces his legacy as Bullseye, but he carries the lessons of that near-miss audition with him. His reflection is not about bitterness but about growth, resilience, and finding his true place in an industry that often defines careers by both triumphs and failures. In a sense, missing out on Captain America made him sharper, tougher, and more determined – qualities that echo the very resilience that Steve Rogers himself embodied.
1 comment
bethel as bullseye was 🔥🔥 but yeah cap woulda been crazy