The Marvel Cinematic Universe could have been a very different place… twice.  And the career of actress Emily Blunt could likewise have taken a major spin in a different direction.

While promoting her new Disney movie ‘Into The Woods’, Blunt briefly discussed Marvel’s courtship with her that has been going on for years.  First, the studio wanted her for the role of Black Widow, who initially debuted in 2010’s ‘Iron Man 2‘ and has since risen as a key player in ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier.’  The part, of course, eventually went to Scarlett Johansson.

Then Marvel pursued Blunt for the role of Agent Peggy Carter for ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ A number of male leads were considered for the part of the World war II era Cap, including Blunt’s real-life husband John Krasinski, which could have made for an interesting dynamic.  (But not being a fan of Krasinski AT ALL, I am absolutely relieved that this didn’t come to pass.)

Haley Atwell ended up in the role of Peggy Carter, playing both the young version in that film and an elderly Carter in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’.  Atwell also starred in her own short that appeared on the BluRay of ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ which set the stage for her upcoming miniseries ‘Agent Carter‘ to air on ABC beginning on January 7th.  (Filling in for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is on hiatus.)

Blunt points out that it wasn’t disinterest that kept her from taking the roles.  She states, “It was never the right time, really and it just didn’t work out scheduling-wise with those two… It just wasn’t the right time.”

Diplomatically, she added, “It’s always a difficult thing to talk about because it’s not fair to the actresses who ended up playing them, you know?”

But now what about the largest role so far for a female character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?  Oh sure, Black Widow’s a big name, following ‘Avengers’, especially and all of the other movies have featured major roles for women.  But so far there hasn’t been a female headliner in the MCU.  (I’m talking movies produced by Marvel Studios, that all tie together.  Yes ‘Elektra’ had a movie but that is completely unrelated and best forgotten.  Oh, you already had forgotten?  Sorry to dredge that up, then.)  That will change in 2018, when ‘Captain Marvel’ receives her own feature film.

The rumor mill has connected many actresses to the part, alleging that Marvel is considering them, including Blunt’s.  She’d probably be pretty great in the role, but she dispels any idea that she is in the running.

“No one’s offered me that officially, so it’s … [laughs] very unofficial.  I think it’s fan-casting, which is always very nice. But nothing official has been offered, for sure.”

So there you have it.  The lovely and talented British actress would probably make a great Captain Marvel, but so far, Marvel hasn’t even approached her about the part.

Would you like to see Emily Blunt as a Marvel character?  Captain Marvel in particular?  Or would she fit better as a different character?  Or do you have a better choice for Carol Danvers?

Sources: ComicBook.com and ComicBookMovie.com