In a recent interview with IndieWire, “Deadpool & Wolverine” co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick disclosed that Robert Downey Jr. was approached to reprise his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man for a cameo in their latest Marvel blockbuster. Downey, however, declined the offer. This decision has since been clarified, as it has been revealed that Downey is preparing to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in a significantly different role as Doctor Doom. The writers were unaware of Downey’s impending shift in character at the time of their request.
Reese and Wernick had envisioned a scene where Downey’s Tony Stark would have appeared alongside Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan. According to Wernick, the original concept involved Ryan Reynolds’ character, Deadpool, meeting with Happy Hogan at the beginning of the film, and Stark was intended to be present in the room. “We had wanted him to do a cameo. We had written that scene [to start] with Happy and Downey,” Wernick explained.
The scene, which was aimed at showcasing Deadpool’s pitch to join the Avengers, would have featured a humorous interaction between the characters. In the context of the film, Deadpool uses Cable’s time machine to travel to The Sacred Timeline and attempts to secure a spot with the Avengers. During this pitch, Deadpool meets with Hogan, who ultimately rejects him for being too self-centered. Downey’s Tony Stark was meant to be part of this rejection scene.
Reese elaborated on the collaborative efforts behind the scene: “Ryan Reynolds wrote the scene with both of them, so in the hopes we could get Downey. But he also wanted Favreau, because they’re a great combo, and they were all in the scene together.” Despite their hopes, Downey’s involvement was never finalized. The writers speculated that the reason Downey declined was due to his upcoming role as Doctor Doom, a major villain role set to debut in 2026’s “Avengers: Doomsday” and 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars,” both directed by the Russo Brothers.
Wernick added, “Behind the scenes, we didn’t know about the Doctor Doom. And there’s no way he was going to do both.” He noted their initial surprise at Downey’s decision, saying, “Oh, Downey doesn’t say ‘no’ to Ryan Reynolds, does he? No one says no to Ryan Reynolds.” Despite the setback, the team managed to keep Favreau’s Happy Hogan in the scene, which allowed the film to proceed without major alterations.
Reese expressed his disappointment but also acknowledged the strategic nature of Marvel’s decision. “I mean, look, we would’ve loved to have Downey,” Reese said. “But, at the same time, I think Marvel had this ace in their hole, which is he’s about to come back in this different character. So, to have him be Tony Stark? Knowing that Doctor Doom was coming on the heels of that? It just didn’t make sense.”
In addition to the missed opportunity with Downey, Reese and Wernick revealed an unexecuted idea involving a reunion of the original Avengers. They had briefly conceived a version of the scene where Deadpool would confront Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Chris Evans’ Captain America. Wernick disclosed, “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.”
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The envisioned confrontation would have showcased Deadpool humorously attacking the Avengers, highlighting his unique style of irreverence. Reese noted, “He was going to get mad and basically attack each one of them in a vicious kind of way.” Additionally, the idea of including Rob Delaney’s Peter was considered, with a comedic moment where Peter effortlessly lifted Thor’s hammer while Deadpool struggled with it.
Only Downey’s potential cameo reached the script stage before being discarded. Downey’s return as Doctor Doom promises to be a significant development in the MCU, adding a new layer to his storied career within the franchise. For now, fans can enjoy “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
