‘X-Men’ Star Nixed Return in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Nearly 20 years after playing the role in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ Vinnie Jones said no to reprising the Juggernaut for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’

Vinnie Jones as Cain Marko / Juggernaut in 'X-Men: The Last Stand.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Preview:

British actor Vinnie Jones says he passed on returning as the Juggernaut in Marvel’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
Jones originated the role of the longtime X-Men nemesis in 2006’s ‘X-Men: The Last Stand.’
‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the title mutants, is expected to feature a slew of Marvel cameos.

British actor Vinnie Jones says he turned down the opportunity to reprise the role of Cain Marko, aka the Juggernaut, for the upcoming Marvel Studios film ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’

Jones played the role in 2006’s ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ where the character – who was not originally a mutant in the comics – was refashioned as a physically powerful mutant who can build up enough momentum as he runs to literally crash through anything, including walls.

Deadpool & Wolverine

"Come together."

Not Yet RatedJul 26th, 2024

Third entry in the "Deadpool" franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot

Why Jones Won’t Return

Vinnie Jones as Geoff Seacombe in 'The Gentlemen.'

With ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ expected to feature characters drawn from both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Fox’s now-defunct ‘X-Men’ film series, Jones told Yahoo! UK that he was offered the chance to return as Marko in the third ‘Deadpool’ film by director Shawn Levy.

"Funnily enough I just got asked to do ‘Deadpool,’ the new one now, and I spoke to the director and I just said it's such a drama putting that suit on mentally and physically. I mean it had its mental toll as well because you're in it and you can't do anything all day, you can only drink through a straw. So we couldn't strike the deal for ‘Deadpool [& Wolverine].’”

Jones added that the first ‘Deadpool’ is his "favorite movie of all f***ing time more or less, " but that in the end the new movie "didn't have the budget to put me in the suit." (A wholly CG version of the Juggernaut made a brief appearance in 2019’s ‘Deadpool 2.’)

The actor also revealed that he wasn’t happy with the experience of filming the troubled, divisive ‘The Last Stand.’ After original director Matthew Vaughn was replaced by Brett Ratner, Jones claims that his role was drastically reduced in favor of other characters: "I was very upset, really, because it was … such a big stage and [I] became an extra, that's what happened."

What ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Means for the MCU

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool 3.' Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.

Although the plot of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is being kept under wraps, as usual for Marvel, the film will follow the Merc with a Mouth (Ryan Reynolds) as he is captured by the Time Variance Authority and must journey through the multiverse to save the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself.

The movie will mark the first appearance of Deadpool and Wolverine under the MCU banner, with Hugh Jackman reprising the latter role for the first time since 2017’s ‘Logan.’

Some of the other characters appearing or rumored to appear in the new film include Sabretooth (played by Tyler Mane from the first ‘X-Men’ movie), Elektra (reprised by Jennifer Garner from the original ‘Daredevil’ as well as her own standalone effort), Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier, and more.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is out July 26th.