DEADPOOL 2 Director Reveals How Close Brad Pitt Came To Playing Cable And How It Led To Vanisher Cameo

Deadpool 2 director David Leitch has revealed how close Brad Pitt came to playing Cable in the 2018 movie, confirming there were talks about Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine in the sequel. Check it out!

By JoshWilding - May 16, 2024 07:05 AM EST

Filed Under: Deadpool 2

We've known for some time that Brad Pitt was eyed to play Cable in Deadpool 2. Concept art has shown the actor transformed into the time-travelling son of Cyclops and Jean Grey, but the role ultimately went to Avengers: Endgame star Josh Brolin.

While Pitt's busy schedule was to blame for that, he still found the time to make a fun blink-and-you'd-miss-it cameo as X-Force member, The Vanisher.

Talking to Josh Horowitz about his new movie The Fall Guy, Deadpool 2 director David Leitch reflected on trying to cast Pitt as Nathan Summers and explained how that ultimately led to him dying by electrocution on screen (when the invisible mutant parachuted into power lines).

"Ryan [Reynolds] and I went to pitch Brad," Leitch says in the video below. "We had concept art, and it's sort of how the Vanisher cameo came to life. Because I think he entertained it for a bit and I know his schedules wouldn't allow it to happen, so he came and did the cameo for fun."

Producer Kelly McCormick chimed in to say Pitt "looked cool as Cable," confirming Man of Steel star Michael Shannon was also in the running to play the hero. Leitch also revealed that he originally met with Reynolds to discuss an X-Force movie, only for the project to become Deadpool 2.

He also confirmed that there were talks about enlisting Hugh Jackman as Wolverine for the 2018 sequel. "Hugh and I had a great relationship, and I know Ryan always wanted to bring that relationship back together at some point, but I think it was too early on in that conversation," Leitch, who served as a Second Unit Director on The Wolverine, explained.

"It would have been amazing, I think, bringing them together," he added, sharing his excitement for Deadpool & Wolverine by describing the team-up as "genius."

In Deadpool 2, Cable is portrayed as a time-travelling soldier who, just like in the comics, wields a cybernetic arm and advanced weaponry. Born Nathan Summers, he comes from a dystopian future and seeks to prevent a tragedy that drives him to alter the past.

The mutant's main target is a young mutant named Russell "Firefist" Collins, who possesses fiery powers and poses a threat to Cable's future. Initially clashing with Deadpool, their motives gradually align as they work together to protect the young mutant from an even more formidable adversary in Juggernaut.

We still don't know whether Brolin will return as Cable in Deadpool & Wolverine, though we are expecting him to make a cameo appearance at the very least.

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15 Comments

WhatIfRickJames - 5/16/2024, 7:41 AM

Would have been cool to have Pitt as Cable but Brolin did a fine job. It was a surprising cameo for sure.

Origame - 5/16/2024, 7:58 AM

@WhatIfRickJames - I do like it when you also connect it to bullet train since Reynolds had a surprise cameo there too.

mountainman - 5/16/2024, 7:43 AM

I prefer Brolin in the role to Pitt, due to build, voice and face structure. Both could have pulled off that version of the character equally well.

Fogs - 5/16/2024, 8:05 AM

@mountainman - Well he has the right age now. :)

mountainman - 5/16/2024, 8:13 AM

@Fogs - My biggest issue with Pitt in the role is that he doesn’t have enough muscle. Cable has to have a very large build.

Fogs - 5/16/2024, 9:53 AM

@mountainman - wonder if he could get bigger at 60

Blastaar - 5/18/2024, 4:49 PM

@mountainman - Both are WAY too short for the role.

IAmAHoot - 5/16/2024, 7:53 AM

Fall Guy looks like a lot of fun from Leitch. And after Bullet Train, would definitely love to see him do another of his movies with Pitt.

TheVisionary25 - 5/16/2024, 8:04 AM

@IAmAHoot - I did like Bullet Train overall and The Fall Guy does look fun (sucks it didn’t do well at the box office).

Hope they do team up again for another project or even sequel perhaps to Bullet Train?

TheVisionary25 - 5/16/2024, 7:56 AM

Seeing Pitt as Cable could have been interesting even if I’m not sure he would have been a good fit for the more grizzled , no nonsense version we got (I could have seen Michael Shannon though moreso)…

However , it worked out for the best since Brolin did well in the role with the material he had and we got a fun & genuinely surprising cameo with Pitt in the film aswell!!.

slickrickdesigns - 5/16/2024, 8:48 AM

I think Pitt would’ve been good as Cable but Brolin was definitely great in the role. His raspy voice reminds me more of the X-men 97 cable.

marvel72 - 5/16/2024, 8:49 AM

I always wanted Clint Eastwood as Cable but sadly he is too old now,if the movie came out 20 maybe 30 years ago then perfect.

Biggums - 5/16/2024, 8:40 PM

@marvel72 - remember the bad guy actor from Avatar? He was fancasted for a min before brolin

valmic - 5/17/2024, 2:24 AM

Brolin would have made one hell of a wolverine.

Blastaar - 5/18/2024, 4:48 PM

Neither Josh Brolin NOR Brad Pitt are right for Cable. The ONLY actor that actually LOOKS like Cable is Alan Ritchson.

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DEADPOOL 2 Director Reveals How Close Brad Pitt Came To Playing Cable And How It Led To Vanisher Cameo

Deadpool 2 director David Leitch has revealed how close Brad Pitt came to playing Cable in the 2018 movie, confirming there were talks about Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine in the sequel. Check it out!

DEADPOOL 2: Rob Liefeld Confirms Brad Pitt Very Nearly Played Cable In Place Of Josh Brolin

LEGION Star Aubrey Plaza Auditioned For Domino In DEADPOOL 2: "Me And Ryan Reynolds; What Could Go Wrong?"