Here's Why Cable Wasn't In Deadpool
Sometimes you can be too popular for your own good...
When the Deadpool movie eventually (and improbably) pulled itself out of development hell, it was assumed that Fox would go for broke to try and recoup the money they were gambling on the project. After all, there might have been positive response to the test footage, but Dredd didn't exactly work as a financial concern and R Rated movies aren't generally big business.
Given how many characters were off limits to Fox, and the problems of bringing too many X-Men characters into contact with the Merc With A Mouth (not least because the timeline is all over the place), you could have bet your house on Fox pushing to get Cable in.
He's easily one of the most recognisable figures in both the X-Men and Deadpool's universes and there has been call to see him in a film almost as long as fans have wanted Deadpool too. But aside from that post-credits stinger, there was no sign of the time travelling cult hero, who will probably appear in the sequel. At least he should.
Now, Cable's co-creator Rob Liefeld - who was involved in adapting Deadpool, but plays down his influence as anything other than advisary - has said he nixed the idea of having the anti-hero involved too quickly.
In conversation with Inverse, Liefeld said he thought it was too early to go for a big name, in fear of distracting from Ryan Reynolds' performance:
"Half of us believed the movie should involve Cable. I could feel Cable breathing down my neck. I said, No. Dont put Cable in the first movie. If Cable comes later, great. Deadpool is a vehicle for Ryan to shine. Cable bogs it down, Im not sure it works as a first film with a general audience. I got in the car and I said, Did I really just kill the appearance of my other more popular character?"
Meanwhile Liefeld also blamed X-Men Origins: Wolverine's issues on the director, stating that even then it was obvious how well suited Reynolds was to the role of Wade Wilson:
" was frustrating because Ryan proved what everybody knew. The frustration fromWolverine, you see how well hes selling it, then hes given terrible direction. Why didnt you just let Ryan do his thing? He was perfect for it!"
You can't say fairer than that.
Are you excited to see Cable in the next Deadpool movie? Share your reactions below in the comments thread.