Warning! This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Summary

• Deadpool & Wolverine brings back many Marvel characters, but not Josh Brolin as Cable.
• Film addresses Cable's absence jokingly, citing audience testing issues.
• Cable was busy in his own timeline due to events in Deadpool 2, explaining his absence.

MCU.

This means the movie spared no expense in getting a talented slate of actors to reprise former roles from Marvel movies stretching back decades. But while Deadpool & Wolverine dug deep in the archives for stars to fill out the cast, there is one notable absence of a main character who most recently starred in both the MCU, and, perhaps even more relevant, Deadpool 2. Despite this, Josh Brolin did not return for Deadpool & Wolverine to play Cable or any other character.

Deadpool Jokes That Cable Didn't Test Well With Audiences

Deadpool Makes A Lot Of Jokes

Within the world of the movie, which often blurs the lines between reality and the movies due to Deadpool's habit of breaking the fourth wall, Deadpool actually addresses why Cable does not appear in Deadpool & Wolverine. Within the movie, Deadpool makes references to the character of Cable, and suggests that he didn't test well with audiences. This is cited as a potential reason for the character's absence in the film, but it is also very likely that this was just played for laughs.

In reality, the test screenings for Deadpool 2 actually rated very highly. There are plenty of reasons for the character's absence, from storyline, to actors' schedules, but it doesn't necessarily point to anything bigger at play. The reality is that films have a finite budget, even when they are a Marvel movie, and there were a lot of other characters who were brought back that consumed much of the runtime and budget. Ultimately, it's likely there simply wasn't room for Cable to come back.

What Josh Brolin Has Said About Not Returning As Cable

Josh Brolin Has Commented About Cable's Absence

However, Josh Brolin offered a slightly different view on why he was not brought back for Deadpool & Wolverine. When asked in an interview by Collider, Brolin answered whether he was in Deadpool 3, and if not, why not, by saying he is not, he doesn't know why, and maybe Ryan Reynolds simply doesn't like him. In watching this interview, it is evident that the actor is simply being playful, but he does make his remarks with a wry smile and a direct look into the camera, as if addressing Reynolds directly.

It appears that Brolin would have been open to returning to the role, or in some other capacity, but that was not to be. It is possible that the star was simply too big a name to add to the film. Otherwise, it would have also eaten into valuable time explaining his appearance and role in the film, which was already jam-packed in the two-hour runtime. Ultimately, why he didn't return in the film is not explicitly known, but there are also other reasons why it wouldn't make sense to have Cable return in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Where Is Cable During Deadpool & Wolverine?

Cable Was Busy With His Own Life

The events of Deadpool 2 saw Cable go back in time, in an effort to kill a boy who would one day grow up to be a murderous tyrant. This mission would have meant saving his family from dying, and allowed Cable to have a future free of that sadness and mourning from their deaths. However, his time traveling device was limited in its functionality and only had enough power for one more jump after he traveled back in time. When Deadpool proved he was able to change the boy without killing him, and sacrificed himself, Cable chose to use his device to save Deadpool out of gratitude and respect.

This meant that Cable was trapped in the past, unable to see his family, but at peace with the knowledge that they were alive and well. However, the film's final moments reveal that Deadool was able to get the device working again with the help of Negasonic Teenage Warhead. Presumably, after Deadpool had his way with the device and changed history even further, Cable was able to take it and use it to return home for good. This would explain his absence in Deadpool & Wolverine.