Earlier this week, we learned that actor Josh Brolin has officially been cast in the much-sought-after role of Cable in Deadpool 2. Some of us were stoked; some of us were disappointed; but generally, most of us were just surprised. He’s already currently portraying the villainous Thanos in the MCU. Ghostbusters warned us to “never cross the streams,” but apparently, Hollywood wasn’t listening. To be fair, it’s a different film universe, although they’re both Marvel characters. So, while it’s unexpected, it isn’t really a conflict of interest.
However, for some of us, the announcement was a sizable disappointment. I am one of those people. I’ll go ahead and admit my extreme bias: Cable is my all-time favorite comic book character. I’ve waited to see him on the screen since I first discovered him on the early-90s X-Men cartoon. Most comic fans had their own idea of who should bring the massive, time-traveling warrior to life; and Brolin’s name never really entered the conversation.
So, who could have done it better? Let’s take a look at a few different aspects of the character, and discuss which actors might have been more suited to the role.
Appearance: Cable is 6’8, 350 pounds, 50-60 years old. According to celebritysizes.com, Josh Brolin is 5’10, 176 pounds; and is 48 years old. Granted, very few living humans measure up to Cable’s size, thanks to creator Rob Liefeld’s imagination and out-there artistic tendencies. However, there are actors who come closer.
Better Choices: Kevin Nash (6’10, 325, age 57) Michael Cudlitz, (6’2, 200, age 52), Ray Stevenson (6’4, 200, age 52)
Demeanor: Cable is a battle-hardened soldier, having spent his entire life in pursuit of the godlike mutant Apocalypse. He’s participated in many wars over the centuries, chasing Apocalypse through time, singular in his determination to end the despotic reign of the mad mutant.
I know this is more a matter of opinion than that of his appearance, but I just don’t see the badass general coming from Brolin. He’s a talented actor, but I have a hard time imagining him having the air of a grizzled warrior.
Better Choices: Stephen Lang, Michael Biehn, Dolph Lundgren
All in all, it would be difficult to find an actor who’s perfect for such a massive and powerful character, but I do believe that any of the actors on this list would have been more suited to the role than Josh Brolin, However, I hope to be proven wrong when the film is finally released.
What do you think about these attributes, and who would have best brought them to life? Tell us who you think should have played Cable in the comments below!