Deadpool & Wolverineboasted a bonanza of brilliant cameos fromMarvelmovie history, but, amazingly, there were many more considered that didn’t come to fruition.Deadpool & Wolverinewas one of the most anticipated superhero films in recent years, bringing together two of Marvel’s most beloved characters and introducing them tothe MCU timeline. The movie largely functioned as a celebration of the early era of Marvel movie history, and as such featured a swathe of iconic cameos. However, some more notable cameos were planned but, because of numerous issues, did not occur.
Deadpool & Wolverinereunited Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the eponymous Marvel antiheroes. Given Deadpool’s tendency to break the fourth wall and Wolverine’s long cinematic history,Deadpool & Wolverinewas the perfect opportunity to revisit past iterations of characters from early Marvel movies.Deadpool & Wolverinefeatured cameosfrom a wealth of characters, including Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Channing Tatum’s Gambit, and Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm. Yet, due to scheduling conflicts, creative differences, or budgetary constraints, several notable actors ultimately didn’t reprise their roles.
8Nicolas Cage As Ghost Rider
Originally Appeared In Ghost Rider (2007)
Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Ghost Rider in the mid-2000s left an indelible mark on Marvel’s cinematic history. Cage brought the gruff and distinctive antihero to life with flair and his trademark charm. Given the character’s cult following, there wasconsiderable interest in reintroducing Cage’s Ghost RiderinDeadpool & Wolverine.
Early drafts of the film included sequences featuring Ghost Rider, and concept artistRodney Fuentebellaeven created illustrations depicting Cage’s character.Ghos Rider appears fighting alongside other Marvel heroes, which Fuenebella later released on Instagram. Ryan Reynolds, who not only stars as Deadpool but also serves as a writer and producer, confirmed these plans, stating,“We did talk to Nic Cage. We tried to get him, but he was a no-go… I would’ve loved him”(viaEW).
The inclusion of Ghost Rider would have added a supernatural element to the film, potentially expanding the narrative’s scope. Despite the enthusiasm from the creative team, logistical challenges and possibly Cage’s prior commitments led to the cameo’s exclusion. Reynolds specificallypointed toDeadpool & Wolverine’s budget, which was already stretched as far as it could go.
7Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut
Originally Appeared In X-Men: The Last Stand
Vinnie Jones’s portrayal of Juggernaut inX-Men: The Last Standintroduced the formidable mutant with unstoppable force. He starred insome of the movie’s most memorable scenes, including the thrilling confrontation with Kitty Pryde. After a CGI rendition appeared inDeadpool 2,the character’s potential return inDeadpool & Wolverinewas explored.
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Director Shawn Levy considered various approaches, including bringing back Jones or opting for a CGI representation. Jones, however, declined the opportunity,citing the physical and mental challengesassociated with the role. He explained in an interview withYahoo! UK,“It’s such a drama putting that suit on mentally and physically… it had its mental toll as well because you’re in it, and you may’t do anything all day; you can only drink through a straw.”
Additionally, Jones reflected on his previous experience, describing it as a “shambles” due to changes in direction and dilution of his character’s role. Despite his appreciation for theDeadpoolfranchise, these factorscontributed to his decision to pass on the cameo. This scenario highlights the importance of actor comfort and the practical considerations of costume design in film production.
6Walker Scobell as Kid Deadpool
Originally Appeared In The Dama Project
Walker Scobell, known for his role inPercy Jackson and the Olympians, was a strong contender to portray Kidpool, a youthful variant of Deadpool, inDeadpool & Wolverine. His primarily came from the fact that Scobellplayed a younger version of Ryan Reynolds’ character inThe Adam Project.As such, Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds saw potential in Scobell.
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However, as Levy explained toEW,the natural progression of Scobell’s growth presented challenges. Levy noted,“If Walker Scobell had stopped evolving right before puberty, he absolutely would’ve been Kidpool.“However, as Scobellgrew taller and his voice matured, it became evident that he no longer fit the envisioned portrayal of Kidpool.
Understanding the situation, Scobell graciously accepted the decision. Scobell must have been disappointed though, as he is a notedDeadpoolfan. Levy explained,“It was his dream. Ryan and I reached out to him once we realized he was now going to be too old, both too tall and with his voice too low.”Instead, Kidpool wasplayed by one of Ryan Reynolds’ children.
5Ben Affleck As Daredevil
Originally Appeared In Daredevil
During the development ofDeadpool & Wolverine, co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick considered bringing back Ben Affleck as Daredevil. Affleck originally portrayed the blind superhero in the 2003Daredevilfilm, a project that hasgained a mixed reputation over the years. Nevertheless, it represents a significant moment in Marvel movie history.
According to director Shawn Levy, Affleck’s version of the character was"on the list"of potential cameos, but the idea never came to fruition (viaVariety). He was, however, considered long enough to be included in Fuentebella’sDeadpool & Wolverineconcept art (above). The decision to exclude Daredevil came down tomaintaining a streamlined storywhile focusing on characters that better fit the film’s narrative.
Ultimately, it was decided that Jennifer Garner’s Elektra proffered a morecompelling representation ofDaredeviland the movie’s legacy. Meanwhile, a recast Bullseye appeared as part of the villain line-up. Affleck was referenced, however, when Deadpool joked about Affleck’s real-world divorce from Garner, ensuring his presence was still felt in the movie.
4Danny DeVito As Short Wolverine
Originally Played The Penguin In Batman Returns
Danny DeVito is an iconic actor who is best known in the superhero realm for playing the monstrous Penguin in Tim Burton’sBatman Returns.For years, people have humorously suggested that Danny DeVito would be a perfect Wolverine, citing his short stature, gruff voice, and intense screen presence. An online petition advocating for DeVito’s castingin the role even gained over 63,000 signatures onChange.org.
Consequently, DeVito was considered briefly toplay comic-accurate height WolverineinDeadpool & Wolverine.In an interview withTHR, writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese discussed the numerouscasting rumors that swirled aroundDeadpool & Wolverine. Reese confirmed“It was pitched, yeah. And ultimately it was thought it was just funnier to see Hugh. A short version of Hugh was funnier.”
Indeed, the reveal of “Short King” Wolverine’s height as he hoped off the stool was exceptionally funny. Nevertheless, the idea of DeVito playing a wild, exaggerated take on Wolverine is a hilarious concept. He would have been ideal for the movie’s irreverent tone, and itsplayful romp through superhero movie history.
3The Fantastic Four (2015) Cast
Originally Appeared In Fantastic Four, Sytlized As Fant4stic
One of the most unexpectedDeadpool & Wolverinecameo rumors was the cast of 2015’sFantastic Four: Miles Teller (Reed Richards), Kate Mara (Sue Storm), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm), and Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm).Fant4sticrebooted Fox’sFantastic Fourfranchise and is widely considered a complete flop. Nonetheless, Ryan Reynolds confirmed that featuring theill-fated version of Marvel’s First Family was discussedduring the script’s development.
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In an interview withCollider, Reynolds explained that theFant4sticcast was part of discussions but noted several obstacles. He cited budget concerns and the complexities of character licensing in an R-rated movie. Furthermore, theFant4sticcastcould never have had the same impact as Chris Evans.
Chris Evans made a thrilling return as Johnny Storm(AKA the Human Torch) from Fox’sFantastic Four(2005) and its sequelFantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer.The mislead inDeadpool & Wolverinethat Evans was the MCU’s Captain America made for a wonderful entrance andproduced one of the movie’s most memorable scenes. That said, the notion of Deadpool acknowledging one of Fox’s most notorious superhero flops is very entertaining.
2Rob McElhenney As A TVA Agent
Own A Soccer Team With Ryan Reynolds
Rob McElhenney is an actor best known for his role as Mac onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Friends in real life, McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought a Welsh soccer team together called Wrexham AFC, leading to the award-winning documentaryWelcome to Wrexham.It was thereforefair to predict that McElhenney would receive aDeadpool & Wolverinecameo.
Indeed, McElhenneydid film a cameo inDeadpool & Wolverine, but the scene was ultimately cut. As confirmed on Reynolds' Instagram (vancityreynolds), McElhenney appeared as a TVA agent, posting images of the actor in his full costume and behind the scenes. However, Reynolds explains that the sequence wasn’t working and ultimately had to be cut from the movie.
In his charming post,Reynolds tributes McElhenney’s performance, stating,“Rob was the only reason it stayed in the cut for as long as it did, because even under a TVA mask and helmet, you’re able to feel him smoldering with a raw and almost infinite reservoir of talent, writerly wit and “I create hit tv shows” swagger.”Reynolds notes that McElhenney’s cameo will hopefully live on in digital releases, and hinted that it involved a confrontation with Alioth.
1Robert Downey Jr. As Iron Man
Originally Appeared In Iron Man
The possibility of Robert Downey Jr. returning as Tony Stark/Iron Man inDeadpool & Wolverinewas heavily speculated, and for good reason. The original plan was to have Iron Man appearalongside Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan during the movie’s opening scenein which Wade Wilson applies to be an Avenger. Ryan Reynolds himself penned the scene, with the assumption that Downey would appear.
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In an interview withIndieWire, Wernick and Reese confirmed that Reynolds“gave [Downey] the hard press”and were surprised that anybody would say no to him. However, RDJ did indeed decline -and the reason why didn’t become clear until later. Unbeknownst to theDeadpool & Wolverinefilmmakers, RDJ was about to be revealed as the MCU’s Doctor Doom.
RDJ’s surprise Doctor Doom casting stopped him from appearing inDeadpool & Wolverine.As Wernick explained,“We didn’t know about the Doctor Doom. And there’s no way he was going to do both.”Marvel and RDJ presumablydidn’t want to undermine his returnfor a short cameo inDeadpool & Wolverine, no matter how satisfying it would have been for audiences.
Sources:Rodney Fuentebella,EW - Nicolas Cage,Yahoo! UK,EW - Walker Scobell,Variety - Ben Affleck,Change.org,Collider,vancityreynolds,IndieWire
