In an interview with IndieWire, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, co-screenwriters of "Deadpool & Wolverine," shared some interesting insights regarding a possible cameo that would feature Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man in their new film, stating they courted him for a comeback, but he declined. This comes as no surprise to the writers, as it's been reported that Downey will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an almost unimaginably different role—in upcoming projects—as Doctor Doom.
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| Photo: Akool |
The Original Cameo Plans
It was explained in great detail by Reese and Wernick that there had been a scene early in the movie where a huddle between Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Jon Favreau's character, Happy Hogan, would occur. The scene would have been one where Deadpool tries to fit into the Avengers roster, with Downey's Stark on the page to have shared the screen with them.
Wernick shed some light on the evolution of this concept for this scene: "Ryan Reynolds wrote the scene with both of them, so in hopes we could get Downey," he explained. "But he also wanted Favreau because they are a great combo and they were all in the scene together." As the writing progressed, it became clear Downey's schedule and commitments forbade the latter's participation.
It wasn't until later that Reese and Wernick found out Downey himself was pivoting to the role of Doctor Doom, which made them realize what had likely caused him to turn down the cameo. "We didn't know about the Doctor Doom," Wernick admitted. "And there's no way he was gonna do both." Of course, it all makes sense now; in retrospect, it was pretty clear why Downey might have chosen not to split focus between those two big roles.
The Could Have Been Scene
The original scene follows how Deadpool uses Cable's time machine to transport himself into The Sacred Timeline to plead for a place with the Avengers. He meets with Happy, who has bits of skepticism around the notion of his inclusion within the group. The gags rely on Deadpool's usually ego-centered disposition becoming a stumbling block in his quest to join the team. The scene's adjustments kept Happy Hogan as a central feature, which allowed this film to retain some comedic elements after the loss of Downey's Iron Man.
"Ryan gave him the hard press. We wrote scenes, and Downey read the scenes, but what we didn't know behind the scenes was this Doctor Doom thing," Reese reflected on the collaborative nature of the writing process. The writers had hoped that the appeal of working alongside Reynolds and Favreau would be enough to get Downey to return, but his commitment to MCU in this new capacity took precedence.
Expanding the Ensemble
Beyond simply not including Downey, there was an old version of the scene that would have included not only Iron Man but all of the original Avengers. Wernick teased this version, revealing that they had an idea for a shot where Deadpool would be surrounded by the core team. "We haven't told anybody this, but there was a version of that scene very, very early on that wasn't written, but was conceived, that had all the Avengers in the room," he said. This wasn't fleshed out in the screenplay stages, though it is an intriguing concept.
The scene would have been Deadpool at one point or another coming to confront each Avenger, basically dressing them down in a way only Deadpool could do, explains Wernick. And it is this exaggerated dynamic that could set the stage for some of that signature humor fans of the character have come to cherish.
The writers also brought up another humorous idea wherein Rob Delaney's Peter would finally have a presence in this meeting with the Avengers, too. What was envisioned was a comic relief moment where Peter casually picks up Thor's hammer in the background to show just how absurd Deadpool's plight is but subverting expectations humorously.
"I remember pitching that he was going to try to get Captain America to swear," Reese noted, highlighting the silly nature of Deadpool's character when thrust into more serious situations. Graduate from funny little interludes would deepen the already-mentioned comedic underpinning of the film while delivering where it counts in the quick-wittedness that defines the character.
A Look Ahead: Downey's Return
In a shocking twist, Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe—quite different—as Doctor Doom in the 2026 films "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars" in 2027. People are trying to piece together what that means for the larger MCU narrative and how, nuance-filled performance, Downey is going to put new layers into this classic villain known not only for his powerful mind but strategic acumen, too. With both directed by the Russo Brothers, much is anticipated as regards how these well-beloved characters will bond into a new storyline.
Although the production team behind "Deadpool & Wolverine" would undoubtedly have loved to include Robert Downey Jr. in a cameo, the character development of his Tony Stark into Doctor Doom presents a new storytelling frontier for both the actor and the Marvel franchise. Instead of just dropping by old characters, his return will be embodied by a person who is motivated by very different motivations and moral complexities, which sets the scene for engaging storytelling moving forward in MCU movies.
For die-hard fans and followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, turning around from Downey's portrayal of Iron Man to the villainous Doctor Doom will be something of a turn around the character dynamics—something that might profoundly affect the upcoming films and the legacy left by the universe. As "Deadpool & Wolverine" now plays in theatres across the country, this behind-the-scenes insight is a tantalizing look into the complicated dance of talent, storytelling, and both immediate and far-flung impacts of character developments within the MCU. For a deeper dive into this fascinating conversation, read the full interview with Reese and Wernick at IndieWire.