Perhaps the most interesting component of Jeff Wadlow’s pitch is the hypothetical casting of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Captain America. In the late 2000s, Johnson started to embrace his A-lister status as an actor, starring in films like “Get Smart” and “Race to Witch Mountain.” By the 2010s, he emerged as a superstar thanks to appearances in franchises like Fast and Furious and Jumanji. It’s unknown if Wadlow’s Johnson-centric “Captain America” pitch went further than the conceptual stage, but it stands out as an intriguing “what if?” for Marvel Studios. The superstar eventually stepped into the shoes of Black Adam for DC, a film he admits fizzled.
Hiram Garcia, Johnson’s creative partner, discussed how the actor is always interested in stepping into Marvel’s world. “DJ and [Marvel Studios President] Kevin [Feige] have a great relationship and we’ve flirted around a few ideas before, but nothing serious,” he told Collider. “There’s a mutual admiration for what we each have been doing and what Kevin has built over there is truly incredible.”
In a way, Wadlow’s “Captain America” pitch was prescient. After Evans retired from the role following “Avengers: Endgame,” the mantle was passed to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), making him the first live-action African-American Captain America. Wilson embracing his new role is a key part of the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and the character headlines the movie “Captain America: Brave New World.”
