Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine not only revived the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s box office performance but also dazzled with its extensive lineup of cameos. As the summer’s hottest ticket, it stands as the largest R-rated release so far. Yet, to bring fresh energy to a genre that has become prevalent globally, Reynolds faced significant creative pressure. Thankfully, his workload lightened when Rob McElhenney offered support during this demanding time.

Reynolds recently sealed the tomb of tributes for Deadpool & Wolverine stars with a post dedicated to McElhenney, acknowledging his role in guiding him through to the other side of success with Deadpool & Wolverine.

Ryan Reynolds has been sharing a series of tributes on Instagram for the stars of Deadpool & Wolverine, including a recent one for Wrexham AFC co-owner Rob McElhenney. Although McElhenney was confirmed to join the movie’s extensive roster of cameos, his true impact went beyond what was reported, having been a crucial friend to Reynolds during the process. Reflecting on the challenges of making the film, Reynolds acknowledged, “When you do stressful stuff, it feels good when friends are nearby.”

Reynolds later expressed his mortification, explaining that the tribute was made even more difficult because McElhenney's cameo as a TVA soldier had to be cut during editing—a process he described as “killing your darlings.” He admitted that it was particularly tough to see McElhenney travel all the way to London for a part that did not make it into the final cut. Despite this, Reynolds felt compelled to acknowledge McElhenney’s presence, which had helped calm his nerves on set.

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Although McElhenney’s cameo did not make it into the final film, its initial reveal months ago had many people hopeful.

Deadpool & Wolverine was always expected to feature significant star power, but the extent of its impressive lineup exceeded most predictions until the film’s release. Although there had been buzz about the movie for over a year, it was not until May of this year that fans learned of Rob McElhenney’s involvement in the Ryan Reynolds-starring film. In the May 23 episode of Welcome to Wrexham, Reynolds first disclosed his promise to give McElhenney a role in the superhero movie.

In the episode, although the specifics were sidestepped carefully, Reynolds revealed that he had invited McElhenney to the Deadpool & Wolverine set in London “to discuss all things that are Wrexham.” Many of the scenes were obscured and marked with a disclaimer, “Deadpool Censored Material.” While fans initially hoped to catch a glimpse of McElhenney’s role in the final film, it seems Reynolds’ promise and their expectations were ultimately left unfulfilled.

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What do you think of Ryan Reynolds' tribute to Rob McElhenney for easing his stress amidst Deadpool & Wolverine? Let us know in the comments below!