Deadpool 2 has a whole host of cameos, but the most thrilling was undoubtedly that of the Juggernaut. One of the X-Men’s oldest enemies in the comics, the Juggernaut was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965’s Uncanny X-Men #12. Since then, Cain Marko has traded blows with everyone from Colossus to the Incredible Hulk; he’s crossed paths with heroes as diverse as Spider-Man and Thor.

Juggernaut in Deadpool 2 isn’t the first time Fox has included in their X-Men movies, although some fans may wish it was. Vinnie Jones interpretation in X-Men: The Last Stand frustrated and appalled in equal measure, with Brett Ratner essentially reimagining Juggernaut as a mutant whose power was basically to charge through things. He was defeated when he got too close to a power-dampening kid while still charging, and knocked himself out when he collided with a wall. Hardly the character’s finest hour.

There’d long been speculation that the Juggernaut was in Deadpool 2. The first teaser trailer saw Deadpool as Bob Ross ruining his painting with a splatter of red that some viewers noted looked like the giant mutant. Juggernaut’s appearance was ultimately confirmed by the soundtrack, which included the track “You Can’t Stop This Mother F*****” and included the line “You can’t stop him. He’s the Juggernaut.” Thankfully, this version of the Juggernaut is very different to the one from The Last Stand.

Last updated: February 5, 2019

Juggernaut In X-Men Comics

In the comics, Cain Marko is Professor Xavier’s step-brother, a bully who was exposed to the mystical energy of the Crystal of Cyttorak. He became the Juggernaut, Cyttorak’s avatar of destruction upon Earth, blessed with unlimited physical power and almost impossible to stop. It’s certainly appropriate having Juggernaut appear in what’s essentially an X-Force origin film; he was one of the first villains to take on X-Force in Rob Liefeld’s classic 1992 run.

Juggernaut In Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2 doesn’t devote any time to Juggernaut’s origin story, but throwaway dialogue suggests a comic-book-accurate version. In a conversation with Russell, Juggernaut talks about wearing his helmet to protect himself from his brother’s psychic powers, and comments about his brother being in a wheelchair. It’s clearly intended to imply that, just as in the comics, this version of the Juggernaut is actually Xavier’s sibling.

In contrast to The Last Stand, the Juggernaut of Deadpool 2 is entirely created by CGI. That allows the film to take a much more comic-book-accurate approach to the character; this version is a man-mountain of muscle who towers over even Colossus. His costume has been carefully rendered in the style of the comic book version, although the tones and hues have been darkened a little. As though underscoring the Juggernaut’s significance, the credits include the comment: “The Juggernaut as Himself.” Of course, that’s just hiding the true actor, and it’s a pretty big deal: as confirmed by CBR, it’s Ryan Reynolds himself.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Deadpool film without Wade Wilson breaking the fourth wall. There’s a scene where Wade name-drops some of the classic comics that shaped the movie’s portrayal, including The Mighty Thor #411 and Uncanny X-Men #183. Both are key issues in Juggernaut lore, with Thor #411 seeing Cain Marko freed from prison and dropped into the middle of New York; meanwhile, Uncanny X-Men #183 pitted Juggernaut and Colossus against one another in a bar-room brawl. Deadpool 2 rounds this out by also featuring Black Tom Cassidy, Juggernaut’s most notable partner, as another inmate in the Mutant Detention Center.

Ryan Reynolds Voices Juggernaut In Deadpool 2

If you thought Cain Marko’s voice was familiar, there’s a reason for that: Ryan Reynolds provides the voice of Juggernaut in Deadpool 2. The movie’s star stepped up to keep the role a secret. That wasn’t him under the helmet, however - director David Leitch provided the facial capture for the CG character.

What’s Next For Juggernaut?

Now Vinnie Jones is firmly in the rearview mirror, what’s next for Juggernaut? It’d be easy to assume he’s one-and-done after his tussle with Colossus, although comic book readers will know he’s walked away from a lot worse. Indeed, Deadpool comics have traditionally had a very loose relationship with continuity and Deadpool 2 is clearly honoring that. By the end of the film, it’s impossible to even know for sure whether or not Wade’s beloved Vanessa is actually alive or dead! We’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store - for X-Force and beyond. Bitch.

More: X-Force Movie: Every Update You Need To Know

  • Deadpool 2 Release Date: 2018-05-18 X-Men: Dark Phoenix Release Date: 2019-06-07 New Mutants Release Date: 2020-08-28