Some actors just get a character, leaving fans with hopes of a reprisal – this perfectly fits Vinnie Jones’ take on Juggernaut, who debuted in X-Men: The Last Stand. Sadly, as fate would have it, Jones won’t be reprising his role in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, a decision that’s disappointing but not much of a surprise, if you’ve been keeping tabs.
One of the many reasons Jones is such a fan favorite is because he brought the iconic line, “I’m the Juggernaut, bitch!” to life during his fight with Kitty Pryde. That simple moment spawned dozens of memes and became a cultural touchstone for comic book enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
So, when news broke that Deadpool & Wolverine was courting actors from Fox’s X-Men universe for cameos, fans cheered at the possibility of Jones’ Juggernaut wrecking his way back onto the screen. The twist in all this is that Jones was indeed asked to join the X-Men reunion but decided to pass.
During a chat with Yahoo UK, Jones shared his reasons, highlighting the mental and physical toll of wearing the Juggernaut suit once more. “It’s such a drama putting that suit on, mentally and physically,” he confessed. “I mean, it had its mental toll as well because you’re in it and you can’t do anything all day; you can only drink through a straw. So, we couldn’t strike the deal for Deadpool.
Now, you might think this decision stems from a place of disdain for the franchise or superhero films in general. Quite the contrary, Jones harbors a deep affection for Deadpool, dubbing it “my favorite movie of all f**king time, more or less.” As he explained, the issue wasn’t a lack of interest but rather the tedious prospect of the suit and the remnants of a bitter experience with X-Men: The Last Stand.
Under a different director’s helm, Juggernaut’s character was diluted, leaving Jones feeling more like an extra than the powerhouse villain he signed up to be. In his own words, it “was not the same role [he] had signed on to do.” Interestingly, Juggernaut did make a comeback in Deadpool 2, albeit with Ryan Reynolds lending his voice to the character.
As Deadpool & Wolverine gears up to bridge the gap between the X-Men and the MCU, the absence of Jones’ Juggernaut will be felt more keenly by fans. Given the rumors about a lineup of cameos that will have audiences on the edge of their seats, the void left by Jones will feel like a missed opportunity for Marvel to add the raw intimidation and charisma of Jones’ Juggernaut to a franchise that thrives on the unexpected.
Deadpool & Wolverine is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 26.
