Ryan Reynolds Wanted Nic Cage’s Ghost Rider in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Reynolds says he had a conversation with Cage about bringing Johnny Blaze back to screens, but it didn’t go further than them talking about the cameo idea.

Nicolas Cage in 2007's 'Ghost Rider'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Preview:

Ryan Reynolds reached out to Nic Cage about a Ghost Rider cameo in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’.
The star/writer says they talked, but nothing came of it.
In other ‘Deadpool’ cameo news, Channing Tatum is still hopeful his will inspire a ‘Gambit’ movie.

Though ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is filled with a whole host of cameos from characters across the Marvel universe –– Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra and Wesley Snipes’ Blade to name just a few of those who show up –– star/co-writer Ryan Reynolds still wanted more.

And now, talking to Collider, he’s opening up about one that got away: Nicolas Cage. The actor played Johnny Blaze, AKA Ghost Rider, the stunt driver-turned-demonic vigilante in two Marvel movies produced by Sony, the 2007 original, simply called ‘Ghost Rider’ and 2011 follow-up ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

"He rides again."

PG-131 hr 36 minFeb 17th, 2012

Watch Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Online

Neither exactly wowed the crowds, but he’d surely have been another perfect nod to Marvel movies gone by. Not to mention how much fun Reynolds’ Wade Wilson could have had at the expense of the flaming-skulled warrior. Sadly, it was not to be.

What happened with Nic Cage and the Ghost Rider cameo?

Nicolas Cage in 2007's 'Ghost Rider'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

As Reynolds admits, the idea for Cage to return as Blaze got as far as them discussing it.

Here’s what Reynolds said about it:

“Yes. Came to a conversation for sure. Yeah, but no.”

So there you have it. No Cage for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ Which feels like a missed opportunity, but you can imagine Cage having doubts about digging into that particular chunk of his cinematic past, no matter how much he seemingly enjoyed playing Johnny Blaze. And how willing he has been to poke fun at himself in the past, particularly via 2022’s ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’. Cage's AI-fueled appearance as Superman in 'The Flash' may have also left a bad taste in his mouth regarding reprising his role in cameo in another legacy superhero movie.

Who else didn’t make it in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?

Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier in 'X2'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

It wasn’t just Cage who didn’t end up in the movie. According to ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s co-writer and director, Shawn Levy, the character of Professor Charles Xavier, played on screen by Patrick Stewart and later James McAvoy was never seriously considered.

This is what Levy told the Happy Sad Confused podcast:

“Never even discussed. He was studied. Studied by Emma Corrin big time because the Cassandra sibling-hood to Professor X is really interesting to us. But no, never discussed. Never, never considered.”

Yes, Xavier is indeed the brother of Emma Corrin’s powerful mutant Cassandra Nova, who is the film’s chief antagonist. But it appears there were never plans for either Stewart (who reprised the Xavier role in a cameo for ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness') or McAvoy to show up, even given the Stewart version’s warm connection to Jackman’s Wolverine.

Still, both Stewart and McAvoy feature in the clip montage that provides an epilogue to the 20th Century Fox Marvel movie universe playing during part of the end credits.

What has Channing Tatum said about a Gambit movie?

Channing Tatum at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Blink Twice'. Photo Credit: JC Olivera.

One person who most definitely shows up as a cameo is Channing Tatum, finally getting the chance to play fellow mutant Gambit, after his character’s movie was lost in development limbo when Disney bought Fox.

Talking at the premiere for new thriller ‘Blink Twice’, he expressed hope he might one day still get a stand-alone movie.

Here’s what Tatum told Variety:

“I sure hope so. From your mouth to God’s ears. Write it into existence, Please. I’ve been saying I want it for the last 10 years. It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God.”

Maybe he should be praying to Marvel Jesus instead?