Let’s dreamcast the X-Men before they appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 05: Stephen Lang attends the premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Mortal Engines” at the Regency Village Theatre on December 05, 2018 in Westwood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

16. Stephen Lang as Cable

When Ryan Reynolds announced during the first Deadpool movie’s closing credits that Cable was going to be in the sequel, an immediate viral fan movement swept the internet to push for Stephen Lang to fill the role. At a glance, it’s pretty easy to see why. In his costume from James Cameron’s Avatar, where he played the vile Colonel Miles Quaritch, Lang looks…exactly look Cable. And his character — a bitter, hardened warrior with a will of steel and the skills to match — could easily be a winning demo reel for the time-traveling warrior.

Sometimes the people should get what they want!

After all, could you imagine if Disney recast Cable for the new X-Men films…and he ran into Deadpool (who, as we discussed, would obviously still be Ryan Reynolds). What snide comments would Deadpool make? That this Cable looks a little different than the last guy? Considering the fact that Deadpool called Cable “Thanos” in Deadpool 2 — a nod to the fact that Josh Brolin played both Cable and the MCU’s Thanos — this is absolutely the sort of interaction I could imagine happening.

It would be such an amazing opportunity, both for an actor who could totally carry the role to step into it, and for Marvel to capitalize on Deadpool’s fourth-wall breaking humor.