CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Actor Josh Brolin attends a photocall for "Sicario" during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2015 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Josh Brolin has been cast in the role of the time traveling cyber-enhanced mutant Cable in the upcoming Deadpool 2 opposite Ryan Reynolds, according to TheWrap.
The part was highly sought after following the surprise breakout success of Deadpool back in 2016. Everyone from heavy hitters (Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Jon Hamm) to more under-the-radar names (Michael Harbour, Stephen Lang, Ron Pearlman) were linked to the role at one point or another.
Brolin is no stranger to the superhero genre. He’s famously been seen (heard?) around the edges of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thanos in The Avengers films and played the titular in anti-hero in DC’s Jonah Hex (though the less said about that movie, the better).
Thanos, however, is part of Disney’s MCU while Deadpool belongs to 20th Century Fox’s separate X-Men universe.
Reaction
This is a rock solid choice that has little chance of failing. Think of it as a safe first-round pick with a high floor. Sure, Michael Shannon may have brought a tad more nuance to the role, but Brolin is perfectly suited for the role.
Cable is a no-nonsense badass in the comics, the straight man to Wade Wilson’s comedian. Brolin practically embodies Cable’s gruff, rough-and-tumble qualities at this point in his career.No Country For Old Men, American Gangster, Sicario, etc. all prove he can be a physical yet subtle presence. His droll delivery and dry sense of humor (Inherent Vice, Hail! Caesar, Men in Black 3) will work wonders when paired with Reynolds’ blabber mouth silliness.
It is interesting, however, that Fox went with a solid actor who isn’t much of a movie star in the sense of drawing power. Gangster Squad, Jonah Hex and Oldboy were all (ahem) disappointments at the box office.
Brolin is an Oscar nominee (Milk) and a steady performer. It’s a good hire overall and Twitter seems to agree.
https://twitter.com/colliderfrosty/status/852229926837141504
https://twitter.com/PaulRom95/status/852224320583716864
https://twitter.com/Caboose_XBL/status/852225607253598212
https://twitter.com/WhyImCAS/status/852231560455761920
Deadpool 2
Release Date: 2018
Director: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin
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