Vinnie Jones rejected the chance to appear in this summer's Deadpool & Wolverine.

While speaking to Yahoo, the British actor was recounting his time playing the Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand for director Brett Ratner back in 2006 when a recent exchange with Shawn Levy got brought up.

"Funnily enough I just got asked to do Deadpool, the new one now, and I spoke to the director and I just said it's such a drama putting that suit on mentally and physically," noted Jones, who reunited with Guy Ritchie for The Gentlemen on Netflix this month.

vinnie jones as juggernaut, xmenthe last stand, a man stands in warrior costume holding a helmet
20th Century Studios

Related: Vinnie Jones almost starred in Fast & Furious, and he turned down a chance to appear in the Snatch TV series

"I mean, it had its mental toll as well because you're in it and you can't do anything all day, you can only drink through a straw. So we couldn't strike the deal for Deadpool [& Wolverine].

"But Deadpool's my favourite movie of all f***ing time more or less. I really wanted to do it, but they didn't have the budget to put me in the suit."

The former sportsman made waves years ago when he claimed that the Juggernaut role was drastically altered when Ratner replaced original The Last Stand director Matthew Vaughn.

deadpool 3 trailer grab with wolverine shadow
Marvel Studios

Related: Deadpool 3's first trailer confirms title and a Loki crossover

Responding on social media, Ratner suggested other mutant characters were "easier on the eyes", but "in all seriousness, I shot the script I was given and I was not able to expand the role of Juggernaut as per Vinnie's request due to the extremely limited time I had to deliver the film.

"I have the utmost respect and admiration for Vinnie Jones and his talent and thought he created a memorable character."

Deadpool & Wolverine is released in UK cinemas on July 25 and in US cinemas on July 26.

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Dan Seddon

Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.