Rising star Walker Scobell has been making waves in Hollywood in recent years with breakout roles like Percy Jackson in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. However, the 15-year-old actor just revealed he narrowly missed out on appearing alongside Ryan Reynolds as Kidpool in Deadpool & Wolverine due to some unexpected biological changes.
Director Shawn Levy says Scobell had originally wowed both him and Reynolds with his charismatic improv skills on the set of their blockbuster The Adam Project. Thanks to that impressive audition, Scobell quickly became the frontrunner to play Kidpool, a younger variant of the snarky mercenary Deadpool. But as often happens during adolescence, Scobell’s physical development soon outpaced the filming schedule.
“Walker was absolutely our first choice for Kidpool given his comedic timing and obvious enthusiasm for the character,” Levy told Entertainment Weekly. “But between our conversations and the start of production, puberty kicked in. His voice broke and he shot up like a weed.” While any actor would have jumped at the chance to join the Marvel franchise, Scobell understood the challenges of his changing appearance.
With filming dates firm, Reynolds and Levy regretfully let Scobell know he was no longer age appropriate for the role. That part ultimately went to Reynolds’ own daughter Inez, providing a sweet Family connection on set. But Levy said Scobell “couldn’t have been more gracious” about the situation, showing maturity beyond his years.
Now at 15, Scobell’s career is thriving as he leads Percy Jackson into a second season. And with the door always open in the ever-expanding MCU, it’s possible fans may see him suit up as Kidpool or another character down the line. For now, audiences will have to settle for spotting Scobell’s name in the credits of Deadpool & Wolverine, now playing in theaters worldwide.
