Ryan Reynolds has explained why Rob McElhenney’s cameo was cut from Deadpool & Wolverine.
Reynolds and McElhenney co-own the football club Wrexham A.F.C. together and star in the FX documentary television series Welcome to Wrexham. McElhenney filmed a scene in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, which is now playing in United States theaters, as a Time Variance Authority (TVA) agent; however, the scene was ultimately taken out of the film’s final cut.
On Instagram, Reynolds explained why the decision was made not to include McElhenney’s in the theatrical version of the Marvel Studios movie.
What did Ryan Reynolds say about the cut Rob McElhenney cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine?
Reynolds wrote, “Rob very kindly did a cameo in #DeadpoolAndWolverine which will hopefully live on in the digital extras. While editing a movie, they say you ‘sometimes have to kill your darlings.’ And with a heavy heart (and through great outside intervention) I had to kill a darling with this cameo…
“The sequence wasn’t working the way we’d originally constructed it. Rob was the only reason it stayed in the cut for as long as it did, because even under a TVA mask and helmet, you can feel him smoldering with a raw and almost infinite reservoir of talent, writerly wit, and ’I create hit tv shows’ swagger. Don’t even get me started on Wrexham. I wouldn’t know a love like @wrexham_afc if it weren’t for Rob McElhenney.
“Anyway, I loved making this movie but it wasn’t without stress. There was a lot of expectation — and I’m pretty sure the most well written villain in cinema history is ‘Expectation.’ And when you do stressful stuff, it feels good when friends are nearby. And even though I’m mortified he flew all the way to London for a cameo that wasn’t meant to be, I’m grateful my friend was there with me on that set. When I see Rob, my heart-rate slows and my nervous system stops yelling at me. He shows up for people. And he showed up for me.
“*Even as he begged for his life before Alioth snatched his unsuspecting body into the air, swallowing him whole, eventually digesting and converting him into Alioth-poo. RIP TVA Soldier. p.s. Rob would make an awesome Hydra Bob @marvelstudios.”
