Ryan Reynolds managed to convince Brad Pitt and Henry Cavill to make hilariously unexpected cameos in ‘Deadpool 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘. If you missed them, don’t feel bad; the cameos were deliberately designed to be subtle, blink-and-you-miss moments.
However, the story behind how these A-listers joined the irreverent superhero sequel is just as entertaining as the cameos themselves.
The Payment For Brad Pitt’s Millisecond Cameo In ‘Deadpool 2’ Was A Cup Of Coffee
In ‘Deadpool 2’, Brad Pitt appears for all of one-third of a second as the Vanisher (a member of X-Force who is invisible for most of his screen time). Meanwhile, Henry Cavill made his MCU debut by portraying a Wolverine variant in the latest ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘.
Related: Ryan Reynolds Hints At Next Deadpool Appearance, Reveals He Is Pushing For Supporting Roles
Unlike Pitt’s cameo, Henry’s Wolverine had a whole scene and even some dialogue. Both cameos are ingenious examples of how far Reynolds was willing to go for a laugh. Initially, Pitt was rumored to play the time-traveling cyborg Cable, a role that eventually went to Josh Brolin.
“We had serious talks with him about Cable,” director David Leitch told Collider. “There was even some artwork leaked online. But for whatever reason, it didn’t work out.” Even though the role of Cable fell through, Pitt kept the door open for a future collaboration.
Leitch recalled Pitt saying, “If you guys ever need anything, give me a call. I’d love to be involved.” It was Reynolds who came up with the idea of casting Pitt as the Vanisher. The absurdity of getting one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for such a fleeting gag sealed the deal.
Additionally, Reynolds revealed that Pitt’s payment for the role consisted of nothing more than a cup of coffee. “We thought, ‘What’s the most wasteful way to use the biggest movie star in the world?’ And Brad loved it,” Reynolds said, laughing.
Director Shawn Levy On How He Persuaded Henry Cavill For ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Cameo
Director Shawn Levy also shed light on how he and Ryan Reynolds managed to secure a star-studded cast for their upcoming film, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Moreover, one of the most exciting inclusions is Henry Cavill as a Wolverine variant.
In case you missed it: How ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’s Controversial Deadpool Came To Be?
In an interview with Variety, Levy revealed that convincing Cavill for the cameo was surprisingly straightforward. “If we’re going to talk about him, we must call him by his actual credited name, the Cavillerine, which Ryan coined,” Levy explained. “I knew it was undeniable as soon as Ryan came up with that term. He said ‘yes’ right away because he knew it would be subversive and playful.”
The cameos also highlight the playful energy that defines ‘Deadpool’ films. From Brad Pitt’s microsecond appearance to Henry Cavill’s unrecognizable transformation, the films continue to surprise and delight audiences worldwide.
