2024 was a banner year for Wade Wilson as he made his first foray into theMCU, but it was another under-the-radar property that had the perfect replacement for Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.Deadpool & Wolverinewas a massive success, becoming thehighest grossing R-rated movieof all time, and climbingthe box office ranks of the MCUoverall. Ryan Reynolds is the biggest reason for Deadpool’s continued success, having played the character since his controversial debut inX-Men Origins: Wolverineback in 2009, and getting redemption through his own trilogy.
Despite being the face of Deadpool and one of the biggest successes forthe MCU timelinesinceSpider-Man: No Way Home, Ryan Reynolds wasn’t the only actor to play Deadpool in 2024. It was an animated LEGO special that brought the character back for a second time in the same year, proving that Deadpool can live on long after Ryan Reynolds decides to step away from the character at some point in the future.
Jason Mantzoukas Plays Deadpool In LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition
Ryan Reynolds wasn’t the only actor to portray Deadpool in 2024, asJason Mantzoukas played the character in the Disney + special,LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolitionthat was released on the platform on July 24, 2025. Mantzoukas doesn’t get a ton of screentime as the Merc with the Mouth, considering he was the end-credits gag, but he makes the most of his role, embodying all the iconic qualities of the character.
Of course, Jason Mantzoukas' role as Deadpool is vastly different, being the end-credits zinger of an animated special that was just over 40 minutes, instead of leading one of the most successful Marvel films of all time. Still, Mantzoukas did an admirable job playing Deadpool, who has become a character that will be forever associated with Ryan Reynolds long after his time as the character is over. His banter and subsequent “fight” with She-Hulk as the two meta characters is a great, funny way to end the special.
Why LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition Didn’t Cast Ryan Reynolds
Because Ryan Reynolds is essentially synonymous with Deadpool at this point, itraises the question about why he didn’t reprise the role forLEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition. Given that the special is just a smaller-scale production, the budget probably wouldn’t have allowed for Reynolds to voice the character. Still, it doesn’t diminish the character in the special itself, as it follows a familiar pattern for the other Marvel characters.
This is the first time the former Fox Marvel Characters (Deadpool, X-Men, The Fantastic Four) appear in a LEGO Marvel Special.
Like Ryan Reynolds, none of the actors who portray these characters in the MCU appeared inLEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition. The great thing about these characters, and superhero projects in general, is that a multitude of actors can come in and make the character their own in some way. The entire cast ofLEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolitiondoes an admirable job and helps to separate the special from the MCU and other adaptations of the characters.
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition Continues Jason Mantzoukas' Superhero Movie Career
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolitionisn’t the only superhero project that Jason Mantzoukas has lent his talents to. In fact, it isn’t even the only LEGO superhero property that he has been in.Mantzoukas also voiced Scarecrow inThe LEGO Batman Moviein 2017. Like his Deadpool role inLEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition, Jason Mantzoukas didn’t get a ton of screentime inThe LEGO Batman Movie. Still, it is fun to see actors cross over from DC to Marvel and vice versa in live action or animated projects.
Bringing back Jason Mantzoukas as Scarecrow in a more prevalent role could be a great move for the franchise.
Scarecrow typically couldn’t be more different from Deadpool, but Jason Mantzoukas portrayed both characters perfectly, and definitely made the most of his limited screentime in each role. It’s a shame thatThe LEGO Batman Moviewill seemingly never get a follow-up film. If by some miracle it actually does, bringing back Jason Mantzoukas as Scarecrow in a more prevalent role could be a great move for the franchise.
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolitionwasn’t the first animated special in the series, and it certainly won’t be the last. With Deadpool making a hilarious appearance in the end credits, the possibility for him to return to the next installment is there. Even if Ryan Reynolds remains the only live-action Deadpool for theMCUfor at least the time being, it is nice to see another take on Wade Wilson, and Jason Mantzoukas made the most of his limited time as the character.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
