Ryan Reynolds Reveals “Fastball Special” Cut From Film

The classic comics move nearly made it into the final cut.

When it comes to comics, few fighting moves are as recognized as the Fastball Special. If you’ve read any X-Men comic, you’ll know the deal—someone incredibly strong, often Colossus, picks up Wolverine and tosses him through the air launch a shredding assault on whoever the foe may be. A version of the move nearly made it into Deadpool & Wolverine, only to get cut before the film was released.

“A few people asked if we were tempted to try a Fastball Special,” Reynolds tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “The answer is yes. Except instead of throwing Deadpool or Wolvie, we chucked this guy… it didn’t make the cut, sadly.”

A few people asked if we were tempted to try a “Fastball Special”. The answer is yes. Except instead of throwing Deadpool or Wolvie, we chucked this guy… it didn’t make the cut, sadly. #FastBallSpecial @RealHughJackman pic.twitter.com/YbdLF8wOZc

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 6, 2024

As those involved in the film have explained, a lot of stuff had to be left on the cutting room floor due to the pure scope of the story. At one point, even Nic Cage’s Ghost Rider was on the table, though Reynolds and company moved on as talks fell through.

“Yes,” Reynolds told Collider when asked if there was an idea for Cage to reprise Ghost Rider in Deadpool & Wolverine. “[It] came to a conversation for sure. Yeah, but no.”

Who’s all in Deadpool & Wolverine?

In Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). The film also stars Matthew Macfadyen as Paradox, and Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova, with the return of Deadpool alums Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlysle, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Karan Soni as Dopinder, Stefan Kapičić as Piotr Rasputin/Colossus, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Rob Delaney as Peter, and Lewis Tan as Shatterstar. Aaron Stanford is returning as Pyro from the X-Men film series, with Jennifer Garner rumored to return as Elektra Natchios. 

Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy. Deadpool & Wolverine is now exclusively in theaters.