Deadpool 2 has already found its Domino. And, based on several reports, we can expect a casting announcement for Cable "reasonably soon". The last we heard, Stranger Things star David Harbour was 20th Century Fox's top choice for the role, but that may no longer be the case.
Multiple reliable outlets report that Michael Shannon has emerged as the new frontrunner to play the time-traveling mutant. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harbour and a number of other actors are still on Fox's shortlist, but Shannon currently leads the pack. While Kyle Chandler once popped up as a potential candidate, the outlet claims that he was actually "never in contention" for the role.
Variety suggests that a deal hasn’t yet been struck, but the 42-year-old actor has been the frontrunner for the Deadpool 2 role for about a week. The outlet reached out to the studio for comment, but they refrained from providing any.
If a deal is eventually sealed, Nathan Summers, aka Cable, won't be Shannon’s first turn as a comic book character; he portrayed General Zod in Man of Steel and Dr. Cross Williams in Jonah Hex. In addition to garnering Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nominations for Revolutionary Road and Nocturnal Animals, his other notable credits include Pearl Harbor, Bug, Take Shelter, 99 Homes, and HBO's Boardwalk Empire.
Earlier this month, Collider reported that Shannon was once in the running to play Cable, but he had to walk away due to scheduling conflicts. But it appears that those issues have been resolved, and he’s back again as a contender for the role.