17 Actors You Didn't Know Almost Played The Avengers

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Almost Captain America

Though Steve Buscemi's almost casting as the Hulk was very nearly the oddest example on this list, that particularly inauspicious accolade must go to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was yet another candidate to play Captain America for the awful 1990 film that eventually starred Matt Salinger.

With similar concerns to when he ran for the American Senate seemingly getting in the way of his playing a genuine American icon, Arnie eventually missed out on the role because of his thick accent. It's curious that two foreign stars were up for the role of Captain America, considering the fury that initially met the casting of an English Superman, and he doesn't even come from Earth originally.

Considering the atrocity that was Arnie's Dr Freeze, it's probably best he wasn't able to turn Cap into a quip spitting action cliche, but he was probably the only actor in the history of films who could have competed with Rob Liefeld's barrel-chested vision of Captain America.

Which of these stars do you wish had made it through to the Avengers movies? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.