In Deadpool 2's final moments, Wade Wilson managed to get his hands on Cable's time-travel device and proceeded to cause chaos by travelling through time. Clearly meant as little more than a series of gags, outside of Vanessa's resurrection, it's unlikely the original Deadpool 3 was going to spend much time worrying about that.
Under Marvel Studios' watch, and courtesy of the Disney/Fox merger, the threequel has transformed into Deadpool & Wolverine.
The first trailer for that movie featured quite a few familiar faces, but conspicuous by his absence was Josh Brolin's Cable. It's possible he returned to his own timeline, of course, but given the actor's MCU history - the Dune: Part Two star was responsible for bringing Thanos to life - many fans were disappointed not to see him at Wade's birthday party.
Talking to Collider, Brolin was asked, "Are you in Deadpool 3, and if not, why?" To that, he said, "No. I don’t know. Because Ryan [Reynolds] doesn’t like me?"
When the site suggested that couldn't possibly be the case, Brolin replied, "I dunno...maybe?" He then took a long, awkward beat to look at the camera and was clearly having fun rather than revealing any bad blood between the two men!
It's worth noting that Zazie Beetz's Domino was also M.I.A. despite previously suggesting she'll return, so don't be surprised if we see something of Cable in Deadpool & Wolverine. Previously, it was rumoured that there are plans for the time-traveller in the MCU, just not in this movie.
"Deadpool worked out very much in my favour," Brolin said a couple of years ago. "Deadpool was supposed to be four movies. Maybe there’ll be more - I don’t know what Marvel has in store - but it turned out to be one really fun movie for me."
Shawn Levy directs Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. The movie is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.
The trades have confirmed that Jennifer Garner will reprise her role as Elektra, with Wesley Snipes, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Dafne Keen, Channing Tatum, Blake Lively, and even singer Taylor Swift among those rumoured to make an appearance.
Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey, Simon Kinberg and Jonathon Komack Martin serving as executive producers.
Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine arrives in theaters on July 26, and will be available in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD and premium screens everywhere.