Ryan Reynolds ‘Mortified’ After Cutting Rob McElhenney from Deadpool & Wolverine: ‘I Had to Kill a Darling’

Ryan Reynolds ‘Mortified’ After Cutting Rob McElhenney from Deadpool & Wolverine: ‘I Had to Kill a Darling’

Ryan Reynolds ‘Mortified’ After Cutting Rob McElhenney from Deadpool & Wolverine: ‘I Had to Kill a Darling’

Rob McElhenney was set to make a cameo as a Time Variance Authority agent in Deadpool & Wolverine, only to be cut from the final film.

Ryan Reynolds has expressed heartfelt apologies to his close friend Rob McElhenney, and this time, it’s no joke. On Friday, the Deadpool & Wolverine star shared a touching tribute to McElhenney, revealing that the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor had filmed scenes for the Marvel blockbuster as a Time Variance Authority soldier. However, those scenes didn’t make it into the final cut of the film.

Reynolds, who is known for his playful banter, especially with his fellow Wrexham AFC co-owner McElhenney, assured fans that this decision was made with a heavy heart and not as part of a gag.

“Rob kindly filmed a cameo in #DeadpoolAndWolverine, which I hope will live on in the digital extras,” Reynolds wrote in an Instagram post, where he also shared photos from McElhenney’s performance that didn’t make it to the big screen. “In the editing process, sometimes you have to ‘kill your darlings,’ and this was one of those moments. It wasn’t easy, but I had to remove the scene with Rob’s cameo.”

Reynolds explained that the sequence simply wasn’t working as intended, even though McElhenney’s involvement was the reason it remained in the cut for as long as it did. “Even under a TVA mask and helmet, you could feel his immense talent, wit, and the confidence of someone who creates hit TV shows,” Reynolds added.

Reflecting on their shared love for Wrexham AFC, Reynolds continued, “Don’t even get me started on Wrexham. My connection to @wrexham_afc wouldn’t be the same without Rob McElhenney.”

Though McElhenney’s cameo didn’t make it to the final version of the film, Reynolds credited him with providing crucial support during a stressful production. “I loved making this movie, but it came with a lot of pressure. There was a huge weight of expectation — and I think ‘Expectation’ might be the most well-crafted villain in cinema history. During stressful times, it’s comforting to have friends close by. Even though I’m mortified that Rob flew all the way to London for a cameo that didn’t make it, I’m so grateful that my friend was there with me on set.”

Reynolds added, “When I see Rob, I feel at ease. He’s the kind of friend who shows up when you need him, and he was there for me.”

In the deleted scene, McElhenney’s character meets a grisly end, with Reynolds humorously describing how “even as he begged for his life before being snatched up by Alioth, eventually being digested and turned into Alioth-poo,” McElhenney was still a calming presence on set.

Reynolds ended his post with a playful suggestion to Marvel Studios, tagging them and writing, “Rob would make an awesome Hydra Bob.” Marvel comics fans will recognize Robert Dobalina, a.k.a Bob, Agent of Hydra, as Deadpool’s sidekick and a parody character who lacks any real skills. The character made a brief appearance in 2016’s Deadpool, played by stunt coordinator Rob Hayter, though his Hydra background wasn’t referenced due to rights issues before Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

While McElhenney hasn’t commented on his potential interest in playing Hydra Bob, he responded to Reynolds’ tribute on Instagram with a crying emoji, captioning it, “How am I supposed to go back to writing dick jokes today?”

Although McElhenney’s cameo was cut, Deadpool & Wolverine still features several notable appearances, including Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes returning as Blade, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Channing Tatum as Gambit, Dafne Keen as X-23, and, of course, Hugh Jackman reprising his iconic role as Wolverine.

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