Deadpool & Wolverine was packed with Marvel cameos, featuring several iconic characters from the broader Marvel universe, but one notable absence has raised eyebrows: Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider. While many Marvel characters, some from outside the MCU, made appearances, Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, was missing from the highly anticipated film. Now, after months of speculation, Ryan Reynolds has shed light on why Cage didn’t return to the franchise.
In a recent interview, Reynolds discussed the early drafts of Deadpool & Wolverine and the various ideas that ultimately didn’t make it into the final screenplay. One of those ideas involved Cage reprising his role as Ghost Rider, but despite discussions, the actor didn’t make the cut.
“We had versions of that in early drafts,” Reynolds explained. “But then, as it shook out, you’re looking… We’re trying to make the movie responsibly, as well. It’s a big budget—the biggest budget of any of the Deadpool movies—but you want to give yourself as much constraint, which really facilitates asymmetrical thinking and creativity. If you have too much time or too much money, it usually murders that kind of creativity. So, yeah, you’re shrinking things. But we did talk to Nic Cage. We tried to get him, but he was a no-go… I would’ve loved him.”
While Reynolds didn’t clarify why Cage wasn’t available, several factors could have played a role. One possibility is scheduling conflicts, which may have prevented Cage from joining the cast. Another reason could involve financial negotiations; Marvel Studios and Disney may not have been able to meet the actor’s terms, particularly with the film already featuring several high-profile cameos.
Though it remains unclear what exactly led to Cage’s absence, Reynolds’ comments suggest that the door could still be open for a future return. Cage, a known comic book fan, may yet appear as Ghost Rider in upcoming MCU films like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. This could potentially allow the actor to share the screen with Reynolds’ Deadpool, picking up where Deadpool & Wolverine left off.
For now, fans can revisit Deadpool & Wolverine through Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download, with the film also arriving on Disney+ on November 12.
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