Deadpool 2: Why Brad Pitt Won't Be Playing Cable

CBR

By Brandon Staley

Published Mar 31, 2017

Director David Leitch confirms Brad Pitt is no longer under consideration to play the time-traveling mutant in the "Deadpool" sequel.

Marquee Hollywood names continue to gravitate toward comic book films, which year by year gain a tighter grip on the box office and on audiences worldwide. Of course, scheduling is a massive factor for many actors who, despite their interest in headlining a Marvel or DC Comics adaptation, simply can’t reconcile their previous engagements with a studio’s calendar. Such is the case for Brad Pitt, who, for the past month, has been rumored to be in the running for the role of the time-traveling mutant Cable in “Deadpool 2.”

As it turns out, Pitt won’t be lend lending talents to the Fox sequel, and the culprit is that pesky schedule of his. The film is targeted to begin production in the coming months, but the role of Cable is seemingly now just as uncertain as when "Deadpool 2" was announced. The news comes from ComicBook.com, which caught up director David Leitch and confirmed Pitt is no longer under consideration.

"We had a great meeting with Brad, he was incredibly interested in the property,” Leitch revealed at CinemaCon. “Things didn't work out schedule-wise. He's a fan, and we love him, and I think he would've made an amazing Cable."

Many assumed Pitt was the frontrunner for the role prior Leitch’s confirmation the actor had bowed out. Rampant speculation has also caught such actors as Michael Shannon, David Harbour and Russell Crowe in its wake, with Shannon believed to be the current favorite. Cable is the last major character that still needs to be cast in "Deadpool 2." At the beginning of the month it was announced that “Atlanta” actress Zazie Beetz will play the luck-manipulating mutant Domino.

Cable debuted in 1986 as Nathan Summers, the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of the psychic Jean Grey, in “Uncanny X-Men” #201. The character first appeared as an adult operating under the moniker of Cable in 1990 in “New Mutants” #87. He's known best as the leader of X-Force, which has also counted Domino and Deadpool among its members. The introduction of Cable and Domino in "Deadpool" 2 will help to pave the way for Fox's planned "X-Force" film franchise.

Arriving in theaters in 2018, “Deadpool 2” will see the return of Ryan Reynolds, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand and Karan Soni, along with newcomer Zazie Beetz as Domino.