Fox’s Canceled ‘X-Force’ Movie Was Set to Turn Josh Brolin Against Himself
The world of superhero movies is littered with almost-weres, but few sting quite like the X-Men projects that vanished when Disney absorbed 20th Century Fox in 2019. Among the biggest losses was a live action ‘X-Force’ film, a scrappy team up movie that fans had been begging for since Deadpool first name dropped the group.
That longing only grew after ‘Deadpool 2’ teased the team with a gag ending, and after ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ became one of the biggest hits of the Multiverse Saga, pulling in over a billion dollars worldwide.
Now, thanks to Deadpool co creator Rob Liefeld, fans finally know what the villain of that scrapped ‘X-Force’ movie was going to look like. Liefeld revealed the project, which had already been scripted by Drew Goddard, was going to center on Stryfe, the twisted clone of Josh Brolin’s Cable, as its main antagonist. Liefeld explained that Brolin had signed a multi picture deal at Fox and was genuinely thrilled at the idea of playing both Cable and Stryfe in the same film, a dual role that would have let the actor essentially fight himself on screen.
Liefeld made the comments in an exclusive conversation with The Direct at MultiCon 2026, confirming that the Stryfe plan was very real and not just fan speculation. In the comics, Stryfe is the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor who was secretly swapped with Cable as an infant, later warped by Apocalypse into becoming one of the X-Men’s most dangerous foes.
According to the reporting, this Cable clone was taken by Apocalypse to serve as his host body before being cast aside after a major defeat, which sent Stryfe spiraling into madness once he learned the truth about his origins. That backstory would have given Brolin plenty to chew on tonally, playing a grizzled hero and his unraveling doppelganger in the same production.
Do you think they should have done an X-Force movie?
Speculation around the unmade film suggests Stryfe’s storyline may have involved the creation of the Legacy Virus, a deadly disease targeting mutants that Cable, Deadpool, and the rest of X-Force would have banded together to stop. It is a plot thread comic readers have wanted adapted for years, and one that would have given the ensemble a suitably apocalyptic stake to rally around.
Liefeld has also claimed the project was ultimately turned down by Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige after Disney took creative control of the X-Men franchise, effectively shelving Goddard’s script for good. Goddard had reportedly already finished writing the film and was attached to direct before Fox lost the X-Men rights altogether.
With Goddard now busy on other major projects and the MCU still figuring out how mutants fit into its future, there is no guarantee this version of ‘X-Force’ ever sees daylight, even in some adapted form. Still, knowing Brolin nearly got to battle his own evil clone on the big screen makes the cancellation sting a little more.
Would you have wanted to see Josh Brolin face off against his own Stryfe in a Fox X-Force movie, or are you glad Marvel Studios is starting the mutant saga fresh?
