Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, Pyro has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside Logan (Hugh Jackman), Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), and several classic X-Men villains. However, he is quite different from the Pyro seen in Bryan Singer’s 2003 X2: X-Men United and Brett Ratner’s 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand, where he was a member of the Brotherhood and served Magneto (Ian McKellen). This time, he works for TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) to spy on the villain Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) in the Void. Although he dies in Cassandra’s arms, Stanford addresses Pyro’s future in the MCU.
In an interview with ComicBook’s Phase Zero podcast, Stanford was asked if Deadpool & Wolverine would be the last time viewers would see Pyro after Cassandra snapped his neck. Though the X-Men actor had no idea about his character’s possible return, he explained there was no good answer to that question.
“It could very well be the end; it could also very easily not be the end,” he continued. “It's the multiverse, so there could be several iterations of Pyro to come. Who knows?”
The 47-year-old star then expressed his love for his character after playing the role for over 20 years. Though he only appeared thrice as Pyro on the big screen, he was one of his best-known characters, making the fire-controlling mutant synonymous with Stanford. Hence, like fans, he wanted to bring Pyro to life again after Deadpool & Wolverine.
“It was great to start my career with him and be at this point with him,” he added. “I'd obviously love to see him live on, but who knows?”
Aaron Stanford Discusses Pyro’s Evolution Throughout the X-Men Movies
Meanwhile, Stanford also discussed Pyro’s evolution throughout the X-Men movies, revealing that his character’s development in X2 was his favorite. After featuring different Pyros, he found the one who appeared in X2 to be the most interesting, complicated, and complete picture.
“They really took a lot of pains to sort of interweave these little moments of him,” he said. “Him at Bobby's house, staring at a picture of someone else's happy family. And, there's complicated emotions happening there.”
The 2003 movie hinted at Pyro’s backstory, from what happened to his family to what was really the deal with him. Stanford also mentioned that Magneto made Pyro feel good about himself for the first time, calling him special and making him feel like he belonged. However, when The Last Stand was released, the actor felt his character’s development just vanished.
“It really wasn't there,” he added. “It became a more simplified portrait, and he was just kind of a bad guy.”
Pyro was portrayed as a villain ready to kill Professor X (Patrick Stewart) any minute in The Last Stand. Stanford believed this was far different from the story of his role in X2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, given that the latter was set in a different universe. Hence, when he did the third Deadpool movie, he intended it to be “much bigger, broader, and more tuned” to show that it was a satire of Pyro.
“Imagining him and what Pyro would be like after he's been ripped out of his universe and thrown into this limbo,” he continued.
True enough, Pyro can still return to the MCU as the Multiverse Saga is still at play. Though he may have died in Deadpool & Wolverine, he can still be part of the next Marvel movies, like the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
