Nathan Fillion has had a unique Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) career, portraying four distinct characters up to now. His involvement spans several Marvel films, starting with his role as an alien prisoner in the 2014 “Guardians of the Galaxy” set at the Kyln, a high-security space jail. In the 2017
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2,”
he played Simon Williams, a fictional actor and alter-ego of the comic character Wonder Man, although this scene was deleted. In 2023’s
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3,”
he portrayed Master Karja, the head of security at the biotech firm Orgoscope. Most recently, Fillion took on the role of Headpool, an alternate-reality undead version of Deadpool appearing as just a floating zombie head, in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).
Behind the Scenes: Fillion’s Early Deadpool Appearances and Cut Scenes
Fillion’s association with Deadpool’s franchise goes further back than the Headpool role, with multiple near-castings for the character in previous Deadpool films. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about his new role in DC Studios’ “Superman,” Fillion revealed he originally appeared in the first “Deadpool” movie (2016), but his scene was cut from the final version. He briefly portrayed the towel guy at the strip club where Morena Baccarin’s character Vanessa worked. Despite this, remnants of that role are accessible as bonus material on the movie’s home release.
Fillion explained,
“I was actually in the first Deadpool, My scene got cut out.”
He also reflected on the constraints during filming:
“
You’ll have to remember I was filming Castle at the time,
It had to be a very small part, and I requested that I be unrecognizable. It’s in a deleted scenes thing. I think you can get it if you buy the movie digitally.
”
—Nathan Fillion, Actor
Ryan Reynolds’ Continued Support and Audition Opportunities for Fillion
Ryan Reynolds, the lead star, writer, and producer behind the Deadpool films, maintained a friendship with Fillion and encouraged him to join the sequels. Reynolds invited Fillion to audition for a role in the second “Deadpool” movie, underscoring his generosity and desire to share opportunities with friends. Fillion expressed his gratitude, saying,
“
He asked me to come in and audition for something in the second Deadpool, which was very generous of him,
We’re still in touch. He’s a very generous man, and he’s very interested in sharing the wealth, honestly. He’s got so many incredible opportunities, and he likes to remember his friends and spread those opportunities around.
”
—Nathan Fillion, Actor
The Making of Headpool: From Home Recordings to Official Studio Sessions
When the project “Deadpool & Wolverine” emerged, Reynolds recalled his previous attempts to include Fillion and reached out again. Fillion described the process:
“
Ryan would text me and say, ‘Hey, would you do me a favor?’ Like I’m doing him a favor,
We recorded a bunch of different stuff. We started at one character, then we moved over to being Headpool, and then we were futzing the jokes.
”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fillion recorded much of his Headpool dialogue remotely, utilizing a home recording setup he assembled during lockdown. Reflecting on this, he said,
“
We did a lot of stuff that never made it to the movie, but then there came a day where they asked me to go down the street and record it in an official recording booth,
Shawn Levy, the director, called me just before I was about to leave the house and he said, ‘We’re all listening to your recordings that you sent us, and we don’t really see any reason to rerecord these.’ I considered it a real compliment that my recording booth was movie quality.
”
—Nathan Fillion, Actor
Headpool’s Role Within the Deadpool Corps and Its Impact
Headpool is one of several alternate Deadpool variants introduced as members of the Deadpool Corps. They appear through a sling-ring portal to face the main versions of Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) in an intense battle sequence. This inclusion expands the MCU’s multiverse concept and adds fresh dynamics to the “Deadpool & Wolverine” storyline.
Nathan Fillion’s persistence and collaborative rapport with Reynolds demonstrate how friendship and creative flexibility helped him embody multiple Marvel roles, culminating in his memorable outlier character Headpool. His versatility and dedication to the craft, especially during the pandemic, highlight the evolving nature of acting in superhero franchises and may open doors for more unique character portrayals in future Marvel projects.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Nathan Fillion lose his hearing?
A. He cannot hear with his left ear. His hearing in that ear was lost in 1977.
