Why Henry Cavill Was ‘Sick to His Stomach’ After ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Cameo

Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy revealed to The New York Times why Henry Cavill was “sick to his stomach” after filming his intense cameo in the superhero team-up flick.

Early on in Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool has to travel through multiple universes to find the version of Wolverine that will help him save the world. Most of these Wolverine iterations are played by Hugh Jackman, but one—dubbed “Cavillrine”—is played by the Justice League star. The cameo is a nod to a long-gestating online rumor that Cavill would take on the role of Wolverine, first in The Marvels (which proved erroneous) and then in Deadpool & Wolverine (which proved accurate).

The scene, which lasts for about 30 seconds, features Deadpool making some predictably crude jokes at Cavillrine’s expense before the cigar-chomping hero reveals his claws and kicks Deadpool out of his universe.

It’s a brief and jokey scene, but Cavill was reportedly so committed to the bit that he made himself ill in the days following the production. “Poor Henry Cavill,” Levy lamented to NYT, “who not only had that pumped-up muscular body but kept that cigar lit and in his mouth for the entirety of the shoot day.”

The director continued: “I remember hearing the next day that Henry was sick to his stomach because he had been inhaling cigar smoke for eight hours straight, but never once did he waver.”

Levy didn’t specify why Cavill felt compelled to smoke real cigars for the film. Typically, film productions will provide herbal alternatives to mimic tobacco and marijuana consumption. Occasionally, actors will “smoke” an unlit prop that is later made to appear burning through digital effects. Smoking a real cigar is generally considered to be the least convenient method, both from a continuity and safety perspective.

However, Cavill himself hinted at the reason he went for a realistic approach when he broke his silence about the surprise cameo on August 6. After a much-maligned reshoot and post-production process on Justice League which saw the actor’s mustache digitally replaced with a very odd-looking upper lip, the actor didn’t want to leave anything about his performance to chance.

“To be safe, I shaved the moustache off for this one. Just the moustache [sic],” Cavill captioned a profile view of the Cavillrine.

Deadpool & Wolverine is currently in cinemas.