Why Ryan Reynolds Cut Rob McElhenney from Deadpool 3

On Friday, the Deadpool & Wolverine star shared a sincere tribute to McElhenney, revealing that his friend had filmed a cameo as a Time Variance Authority (TVA) soldier in the blockbuster. Unfortunately, McElhenney's scenes did not make the final cut of the film. Despite Reynolds' usual tendency to jest with his fellow Wrexham AFC owner, this situation was genuinely disappointing.

Reynolds took to Instagram to explain the situation, posting photos of McElhenney's scrapped cameo and acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. "Rob very kindly did a cameo in #DeadpoolAndWolverine, which will hopefully be included in digital extras," Reynolds wrote. "While editing, sometimes you have to 'kill your darlings,' and with a heavy heart, I had to cut this one."

Reynolds elaborated that the scene involving McElhenney was ultimately removed because it wasn’t fitting into the film as planned. "Rob's presence in the film, even under a TVA mask, was filled with his signature talent and charisma," he added. "He was a major reason the scene stayed in the edit for so long."

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star did not appear in the movie, but Reynolds expressed deep appreciation for McElhenney’s support during the challenging shoot. “Making this movie was stressful, and having Rob around was a huge comfort,” Reynolds noted. “Even though he flew all the way to London for a role that didn’t make it, I’m grateful he was there with me.”

Reynolds humorously referred to a sequence where McElhenney's character met an unfortunate end, and concluded by suggesting that Marvel Studios should consider McElhenney for the role of Hydra Bob—a character known for being a sidekick in the Deadpool comics.

While McElhenney's cameo was cut, the film still featured many other notable stars, including Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Dafne Keen as X23. Hugh Jackman also returned as Wolverine.