Deadpool 2: Josh Brolin cast as Cable, confusing Marvel fans

'The f**k, Fox! You can't play two characters in the same universe!'

Josh Brolin at the Sicario premiere in Cannes (Getty)

After months of speculation, Josh Brolin has been cast as Cable in Deadpool 2, much to the confusion of Marvel fans.

Brolin already plays the Marvel character Thanos — the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War villain — on the big screen, Cable also being a Marvel character.

Luckily, there’s no chance the two characters will ever meet on screen: Thanos is part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe while Deadpool takes place in Fox’s X-Men universe, the two being completely separate. That’s why you never saw Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with the Avengers.

The initial casting was announced by The Hollywood Reporter. Ryan Reynolds followed with a Tweet confirming the news and joking: “The f**k, Fox! You can't play two characters in the same universe!! Josh Brolin was in Sicario and I was in Sabrina The Teenage Witch.”

Surprisingly, Brolin has signed a four-film contract with Fox, hinting at further Deadpool sequels along with appearances in the rumoured X-Force films.

Speaking about acting in Marvel films previously, Brolin told The Independent: “Who is the Incredible Hulk? Just say that, ‘The Incredible Hulk’. You can’t help but smile because you’re talking about The Incredible Hulk. But Mark Ruffalo is the Incredible Hulk. That’s f*cking cool. That’s amazing.

“All these actors that are coming up for Marvel, I’ve got to hand it to them and their movies are doing so well. Whether you like the movies or not, that’s beside the point, people are coming in and acting these roles well. And I think that says a lot for people like Marvel. Why can’t bigger movies be well acted?”

Other actors originally shortlisted for Cable included Michael Shannon, Pierce Brosnan and Stranger Things star David Harbour.

John Wick co-director David Leitch will helm the upcoming Deadpool sequel. Zazie Beetz has already been confirmed to be playing the mutant Domino, while Brianna Hildebrand will be back as Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

A release date for Deadpool 2 has yet to be announced. Avenger: Infinity War — in which Brolin plays Thanos — reaches cinemas 4 May 2018.