New Details Emerge About Brad Pitt's Cable Connection

03/23/2017 10:11 pm EDT

With production on the sequel set to begin in several months, we can expect Deadpool 2 casting announcements to come at a fast and furious pace. And with Domino already out of the way, everyone is itching to know who will play Cable, the time-traveling mutant with a messiah-complex.

It's consider a plum role, but it's also a huge commitment. Whichever actor is chosen won't just appear in the Deadpool sequel. That person will also star in 20th Century Fox's X-Force movie, as Cable was the original leader of that superhero team. Plus, if things go really well, there could even be a Cable spin-off.

As of right now, the shortlist includes Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), who is considered the frontrunner, and Stranger Things' David Harbour.

Brad Pitt's name came up too. Jeff Sneider tweeted a few days ago, "Will be interesting to see if Brad Pitt plays Cable." Since Sneider didn't write up an article for that scoop, it was assumed he either didn't feel confident in the information or heard Pitt had no interest in the part.

However, today another source confirmed that the Inglourious Basterds and Moneyball star was -- and may still be -- in the mix. "Brad Pitt was eyed to take on the role and there was interest on both sides," Collider reports. "As of right now he's moved on, but since this role is very much in flux there's the possibility that things could change. The actor may soon have his hands full producing and starring in World War Z 2 if that gets a greenlight from Paramount."

And what traits should the actor portraying Cable have? "I think intimidating, scary, a great foil opposite the lunacy," screenwriter Rhett Reese told ComicBook.com a press event for his new film Life. "Someone with a great deadpan thing where they can react to someone who's being crazy. Someone who also has a spark of a sense of humor. This person has to be funny because they're buddying up with Ryan [Reynolds] and Deadpool so they adjust themselves to be funny but in a more serious way, if that makes sense. Physically imposing and able to emote. There's real drama and real stakes. It's a tough one."

MORE: Deadpool 2 Writers Explain Cable And Wade Dynamic / Deadpool Writers On If The Film's R Rating Was Necessary For Success / Logan, Deadpool Finally Team Together in This Would-be Trailer / Deadpool's Colossus Reveals Which X-Men Property He'd Like To Appear In [Exclusive]

Based upon Marvel Comics' most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

The Deadpool sequel, which is being directed by David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) and written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, is currently in pre-production and is expected to begin filming at the end of this spring. The film will introduce Deadpool's time-traveling mutant partner, Cable, as well as X-Force member Domino, who is being portrayed by Atlanta actress Zazie Beetz. Supporting characters from the original film — such as Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapicic), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and taxi driver Dopinder (Karan Soni) — are also expected to return.

Deadpool 2 will arrive in theater in 2018.

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