Deadpool and Wolverine: Characters Who Didn't Return

As a die-hard fan of the Marvel Universe who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless characters, I find it quite disheartening to see some of my favorite heroes missing from the third installment of everyone’s favorite antihero, Deadpool, and Wolverine. It seems that role in the upcoming film alongside Hugh Jackman’sure if this decision was made, but I suspect it might have something to do with budget cuts or scheduling conflicts with other projects.

After being available for download, DVD, and Blu-ray earlier, Deadpool and Wolverine‘s movie has now made its way to Disney+. The film has been exceptionally successful, holding the title as the highest-grossing R-rated movie, one of the top earners of the year, and currently ranking among the 20 highest-grossing movies ever made.

In contrast, devotees of the films might observe that some well-established characters from earlier films are no longer present in the current narrative, despite having significant roles in Deadpool and Deadpool 2. While it’s reasonable to expect a shift with the introduction of crossover elements, limiting focus on the universe, the absence of Deadpool’s friends as a driving force for his world-saving mission is noticeable. Surprisingly, even when other characters appeared in the film, some of Deadpool’s friends were notably absent.

5 Weasel

Deadpool’s “Best Friend”

Deadpool and Wolverine: Characters Who Didn't Return

In the movie “Deadpool,” Weasel served as a bartender at Sister Margaret’s School For Troubled Soldiers, a bar frequented by mercenaries seeking employment. Deadpool was one such regular, earning his name due to the betting pool (or “dead pool”) where people wagered on when specific mercenaries would meet their demise. Weasel served as a confidant for Deadpool and assisted him in certain missions, like evaluating potential X-Force recruits in “Deadpool 2.” However, he was also somewhat fearful, preferring to avoid direct confrontations and even provided information to Cable to shield himself from harm.

It’s not entirely clear why Weasel wasn’t present in the movie “Deadpool and Wolverine”. One possible explanation could be related to his actor, T.J. Miller, who has a history of controversy. This includes legal issues, allegations of sexual assault, misconduct accusations, and more. Previously, Miller claimed that Ryan Reynolds disliked him, which might have been a factor in his absence from the third movie. However, more recently, Miller stated that their relationship had improved, suggesting he might be open to reprising the role in future projects. The implications of this for the character remain uncertain.

4 Bob

More Important in the Comics

Deadpool and Wolverine: Characters Who Didn't Return

In the comics, Bob, who was once an agent of the terrorist group Hydra, now serves as Deadpool’s sidekick. Originally, he was a member of Hydra, but he eventually turned against them to aid Wade. Similar to other Hydra agents, Bob doesn’t possess great power, but he shares a strong connection with Deadpool. The name Bob Dobalina may be a nod to the Monkees’ song “Zilch” or Del the Funkee Homosapien’s track “Mistadobalina,” which samples the former.

In the movie “Deadpool”, although Marvel Studios owned the rights to Hydra at that time, a character had a fleeting role. This character was not associated with Hydra but was portrayed as an agent of Ajax, the film’s main antagonist instead. Bob, played by Rob Hayter, is not so much a sidekick, but rather a long-time friend of Wade Wilson. In a humorous scene, Bob identifies Wade amidst him eliminating Ajax’s agents. Most of them are killed after rejecting Deadpool’s terms for surrender, but due to their friendship, Deadpool spares Bob by knocking him unconscious and taking him to safety instead.

In simpler terms, given Deadpool’s close friendship with Bob (his comic character), it seemed fitting that Bob would make a brief appearance as a friendly cameo, similar to how friends of Wade Wilson usually do in these films. However, it appears that the version of Bob used in this movie is not significant enough for even a cameo, and his on-screen presence was indistinguishable from other ordinary soldiers in the film, much like his comic character.

3 Firefist

A Pyrokinetic Mutant

Russell Collins, an orphan with mutant abilities, experienced cruelty and mistreatment at a facility disguised as an orphanage but functioning also as a “mutant correctional institution.” The harsh treatment he endured eventually led him down a dark path, culminating in a series of killings in the future that took the lives of Cable’s wife and daughter. This tragedy spurred Cable into traveling back in time to prevent Russell’s wrongdoings as a child.

As a gamer, I’m totally convinced that I gotta help Russell out, not just saving his hide from Cable, but also keeping him from turning into a future mass murderer. The problem is, Russell’s got Juggernaut on his side, and he’s ready to use him as a weapon against the headmaster of his orphanage. After I sacrifice myself to save Russell, an event later changed by Cable. In the end, Russell is talked out of becoming a killer, with the headmaster meeting his end after my buddy Dopinder runs him over with his cab.

Julian Dennison, who portrayed Firefist, stated he won’t be reprising his role for the sequel. It remains undisclosed why Russell chose not to appear, not even for brief scenes where Deadpool’s companions gathered. It’s speculated that after a six-year gap between the two films, Russell and Wade may have drifted apart, but this is just conjecture since the character isn’t mentioned in “Deadpool and Wolverine“.

2 Cable

Deadpool’s Frenemy

In a future timeline, Cable is the mature form of Nathan Summers, son of Scott Summers (Cyclops). He was born from a time when an older Firefist, as portrayed by Sala Baker, brutally killed his family and many others. To prevent this tragedy, Cable travels back to the present, intending to eliminate Russell before he turns evil. However, this places him at odds with Deadpool, who aims to reform the boy instead of taking his life.

Eventually, they reach a consensus when Cable understands that the instant Deadpool wants to stop is the one leading to Russell’s corruption. After Deadpool’s efforts to calm down Russell fall short, Cable attempts to kill him with a gunshot. Deadpool absorbs the bullet and perishes, prompting Cable to go back in time to change this outcome. Having given up what he thought was his sole means of return, Cable decides to stay put for now in the current timeline.

In the thrilling world of Deadpool and Wolverine, there was a fleeting mention of ol’ Cable, linked to the tragic X-Force. The significance of this reference for his character remains hazy. You might recall Josh Brolin, who brought Cable to life, also donned the gauntlet as Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Initially, it was said he had a four-picture commitment for Cable, but the implications of this deal after the merger, and any upcoming films where we’ll see Cable again, are still shrouded in mystery. Given the ensemble cast of Deadpool and Wolverine, it might be challenging to fully savor Cable’s appearance.

1 Domino

Sole Survivor of X-Force

In one of the characters Deadpool enlists for X-Force, there’s Domino who possesses an ability to control or shape luck. Deadpool debates if this talent truly counts as a power, but when other members of X-Force meet their demise, he is left with no choice but to utilize her unique skillset. Interestingly, even though he later saves Peter post-film events, initially it appears that she’s the only one left standing. Over time, Domino develops a bond with Deadpool and assists him in his mission to rescue Russell from Cable.

In terms of character, Domino seems an unusual non-returnee, possibly because of financial constraints. Many secondary roles in this movie were less prominent characters from the earlier films, whose parts were already relatively small. Although Deadpool and Wolverine significantly reduced their roles, they weren’t main players to begin with. Zazie Beetz, who played Domino, stated back in 2023 that she wouldn’t be in Deadpool 3. However, it remains unclear what this might mean for the character’s future.

2024-11-23 16:34

Deadpool and Wolverine: Characters Who Didn’t Return