Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Bullet Train
Bullet Train — directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz— features two major cameos that provide an additional layer of fun to the film. Bolstered by a tremendous cast, Bullet Train’s cameos boost the action flick’s entertainment value, while simultaneously tying them into the overarching narrative. The cameos, which see Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum appear in a limited capacity, prove to be more important than in most films.
The film has a star-studded cast, including a couple of major cameos by well-known actors. The first is Channing Tatum, who appears a couple of times throughout the film. Ryan Reynolds’ cameo is incredibly brief, but impactful. At the start of Bullet Train, Brad Pitt’s Ladybug complains a lot to his handler Maria (Sandra Bullock) about a man named Carver, presumably another assassin he’s worked with in the past. The reference doesn’t seem too important — that is, until it comes up again at the end of the film.
Ryan Reynolds’ Cameo In Bullet Train Explained
Reynolds plays Mr. Carver, the assassin who killed the White Death’s wife. Carver orchestrated her death to look like an accidental car crash. The White Death mistakes Ladybug for being Mr. Carver, who he wanted on the train in a bid to exact his revenge for the death of his beloved wife. As it turns out, however, Carver was out due to a “stomach thing” and Ladybug was called in to replace him on the job. Carver is shown near the end of the movie, walking away from the scene of the crime with a satisfied look on his face. The actor’s cameo is especially fun when considering Brad Pitt’s cameo in Deadpool 2. Reynolds may have had less than a minute of screen time in Bullet Train, but he’s one of the most important characters in the story. While it’s unclear what job Carver was working when he had the White Death’s wife killed, he unintentionally set off a chain of events that led Ladybug and all the other characters to the bullet train. Carver’s involvement in everything also led the White Death to concoct a revenge plot that would take out everyone involved — directly or not — in his wife’s assassination.
Channing Tatum’s Bullet Train Cameo Explained
After Ladybug realizes he needs to distract Lemon and Tangerine, the assassin happens upon Tatum’s unnamed character, a passenger who is paid to wear Ladybug’s hat so as to fool those looking for him. Tatum’s cameo is hilarious because the actor plays up the confusion of his character, believing Ladybug’s favor has to do with a “sex thing,” which is something his character is excited about. Tatum appears twice and, unlike Reynolds, has speaking lines as he interacts with Pitt’s Ladybug and other characters. However, Tatum isn’t in Bullet Train for long because his role is meant to be a fun one-off. He isn’t a main character and so his moment to make an impact on the action film is brief, but ultimately satisfying. It’s especially fun when considering Tatum and Pitt’s previous, albeit short-lived, team-up in The Lost City.
Reynolds has gained popularity over the years, having starred in everything from The Proposal opposite Sandra Bullock to Netflix’s The Adam Project and Free Guy. Most notably, Reynolds played the titular character in Deadpool, otherwise known as the Merc with a Mouth. Meanwhile, Tatum has also become a household name in Hollywood, recognizable after starring in major films like 21 Jump Street, The Hateful Eight, and Magic Mike. The actors’ cameo roles in Bullet Train were barely a blip on the radar considering the film’s runtime, but their appearances were far from forgettable, which is what makes them so great. Not many actors have such an opportunity and Bullet Train manages to pull it off in the end.