SUMMARY

Ryan Reynolds joins the MCU in Phase 6’s Deadpool & Wolverine, along with other confirmed actors from the X-Men franchise.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s setting in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga suggests that other Marvel characters may appear in the film.
Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine, creating the opportunity for Marvel Studios to introduce the MCU’s official Wolverine.

Ryan Reynolds will be joining the MCU in Phase 6’s Deadpool & Wolverine, along with a few actors who have already been confirmed to be making appearances. Reynolds was quickly confirmed to be making the move from Fox’s X-Men franchise to Marvel Studios following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019. The actor’s version of Merc with a Mouth was a fan-favorite character in Fox’s superhero universe and a constant success story while the other projects in the franchise were faltering, so his debut in the MCU’s Phase 6 is a highly-anticipated addition to Marvel Studios’ franchise.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s setting in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga suggests that Deadpool will find himself crossing realities thanks to the TVA, which poses the question about which Marvel characters, past and present, could appear in the upcoming film. As well as a couple of MCU newcomers, a few actors have been confirmed to be reprising their roles from Fox’s X-Men and Deadpool universe, suggesting Deadpool & Wolverine could be the final farewell to the now-defunct franchise, and several actors have already been confirmed to be appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine thanks to the first trailer.

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15Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson aka Deadpool

Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool have become synonymous, especially since the latter wouldn’t exist in live-action without the persistence and dedication of Reynolds. Reynolds became interested in the role after the Marvel Comics character referred to his own appearance as “Ryan Reynolds crossed with a Shar-Pei.” After debuting as a version of Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds set to work on adapting a more comic-accurate iteration of the character. He portrayed the mutant Wade Wilson in 2016’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2, and was working on an X-Force film with Josh Brolin as Cable, which was canceled after Marvel Studios acquired the character.

Much like the previous Deadpool films, Reynolds has been incredibly hands-on in the production of Deadpool & Wolverine. He has been working closely with Marvel to develop the screenplay, as well as meeting with potential writers including Bob’s Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, although original Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were eventually chosen to rewrite the script. Keeping Deadpool & Wolverine R-rated – Marvel Studios’ first R-rated project – will allow Reynolds to bring his full comedic range to the MCU, and with Free Guy’s Shawn Levy attached as director, Deadpool & Wolverine will bring Reynolds into the MCU with a bang.

14Hugh Jackman as Logan aka Wolverine

On September 27, 2022, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman released a video announcing Jackman’s return as James “Logan” Howlett, a.k.a. Wolverine, in Deadpool & Wolverine. Jackman originally portrayed Fox’s Wolverine in eight films over seventeen years, finally retiring the role in 2017’s Logan, which was billed as Jackman’s final adventure in the X-Men franchise. After Kevin Feige revealed the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, there was speculation that Jackman would return as Wolverine in the multiversal adventure, but the confirmation of his return in Deadpool 3 is much more exciting, as he will perform opposite this version of Reynolds’ Deadpool for the first time on the big screen.

Hugh Jackman’s involvement in Deadpool & Wolverine means that Deadpool’s relentless jokes about his relationship with Wolverine can finally be paid off. It will also create the opportunity for Marvel Studios to introduce the MCU’s official Wolverine, as it is expected that Jackman won’t be a permanent fixture in the MCU and a new actor will take over the role. This has been confirmed by Reynolds’ insistence that Deadpool 3 wouldn’t mess with the timeline of Logan, a film set in 2029 which features Wolverine’s emotional death. Though this seemingly means Jackman’s Wolverine will have limited time with Deadpool, there is a huge amount of excitement to see Reynolds and Jackman embark on an adventure together in Deadpool & Wolverine.

13Morena Baccarin as Vanessa

Following appearances in both Deadpool and Deadpool 2, it was unclear if Morena Baccarin would reprise her role of Vanessa Carlysle in the MCU’s Deadpool 3. The opening moments of Deadpool 2 saw the character killed, motivating Wade Wilson to join the X-Men and save Julian Dennsion’s Russell Collins, a.k.a. Firefist. However, Vanessa was revived thanks to Cable’s time-travel technology in the film’s post-credits scenes, and in April, it was confirmed that Baccarin would be returning to the Deadpool franchise for his inaugural Marvel Studios adventure, though it’s unclear whether this means she’ll be a permanent fixture following Deadpool 3.

12Stefan Kapičić as Colossus

Stefan Kapičić will also be reprising his role of Colossus in Deadpool 3, a role he took over from Donald MacKinnon from previous films in Fox’s X-Men franchise. Colossus is the third confirmed mutant character to be appearing in Deadpool 3, after Deadpool himself and Wolverine, which makes the prospect of the X-Men in the MCU even more exciting, particularly since Colossus is an active member of the superhero team. Colossus’ mutations allow him to transform into a metallic form, though his human form has never been seen in the Deadpool franchise. His long-time partner, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, is also set to make an appearance in Deadpool 3.

11Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead

Brianna Hildebrand debuted as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in 2016’s Deadpool, a young member of the X-Men who has the ability to generate atomic blasts from her body. Though it was initially unclear whether Hildebrand would be reprising the role for Deadpool 3, her official casting announcement finally came in May 2023. In the Deadpool franchise, Deadpool and Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s chemistry is brilliant, so it’s exciting that this will be recreated for the upcoming Phase 5 film. Outside the Deadpool films, Hildebrand is best known for roles in Lucifer and the 2017 series, The Exorcist.

10Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio

Alongside Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna was also confirmed to be returning in Deadpool 3 in May 2023, after portraying Yukio in Deadpool 2. Yukio is Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s girlfriend and fellow X-Man, with her mutation granting her the ability to control electricity. A version of Yukio had previously been portrayed by Rila Fukushima in The Wolverine, but Kutsuna’s iteration is wildly different. After appearing in a number of Japanese films, Kutsuna went on to have roles in projects such as The Outsider, Murder Mystery, and Invasion on AppleTV+.

9Leslie Uggams as Blind Al

Leslie Uggams was confirmed to be reprising her role of Blind Al from the previous Deadpool films on March 29, 2023. Blind Al became Deadpool’s roommate after providing him with advice on how to wash blood out of his costume, and inspiring his decision to design his iconic red suit. Uggams provided previous Deadpool films with some of their best jokes, so it will be great to see her return as Blind Al in the upcoming Deadpool 3. It’s unclear whether this will involve her traveling to the MCU with Deadpool, or whether this will be her final foray into the world of the Marvel Universe.

8Karan Soni as Dopinder

Karan Soni was also confirmed to be appearing in Deadpool 3 on March 29, 2023, reprising his role of Dopinder, everyone’s favorite cab driver who routinely ferries Deadpool from mission to mission. Deadpool 2 established Dopinder’s desire to be a hero like Deadpool, though it’s likely that Soni will only be reprising the role in Deadpool 3 for comedic purposes, rather than actually taking his place as a superhero. Deadpool 3 will be only one of Karan Soni’s recent adventures into the multiverse, as he voiced Pavitr Prabhakar, a.k.a. Spider-Man: India, in Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

7Rob Delaney as Peter

May 2023 also saw Rob Delaney confirmed to be returning for Deadpool 3. Delaney previously portrayed Peter, a human member of Deadpool’s X-Force, in Deadpool 2. Peter originally died in Deadpool 2, but Wade Wilson’s time traveling in the film’s post-credits scenes saw him restored, allowing him to reprise the hilarious role in 2024’s Deadpool 3. Best known as a stand-up comedian, Delaney has had acting roles in projects including The Hustle, Catastrophe, The School for Good and Evil, and The Man Who Fell to Earth. Delaney also appeared as Mac in the recent Black Mirror episode “Joan Is Awful.”

6Emma Corrin Rumored To Be Playing Cassandra Nova

English actor Emma Corrin was cast in Deadpool 3 on February 14, 2023, in an undisclosed role. Corrin is set to portray the villain in Deadpool 3, though it’s not clear who this will be. Corrin’s previous roles include Marion Taylor in My Policeman and Diana, Princess of Wales in Netflix’s The Crown, which earned them a Golden Globe, Critic’s Choice Award, and a number of other nominations. Popular theories place Corrin in the roles of Wanda Wilson, a.k.a. Lady Deadpool, or the X-Men villain Danger, an avatar of the X-Men’s training facility, the Danger Room, though the new trailers suggests she could be playing the classic X-Men villain Cassandra Nova.

5Matthew Macfadyen as The TVA’s Mr. Paradox

It was reported on March 28, 2023, that Matthew Macfadyen had joined the cast of Deadpool 3 in an undisclosed role. English actor Macfadyen rose to stardom after appearing as Mr. Darcy in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, but has also had major roles in Death at a Funeral, Frost/Nixon, Spooks, and has recently starred in HBO’s Succession.

Macfadyen’s casting in Deadpool 3, along with Corrin, proves that Marvel Studios are putting emphasis on new characters joining Deadpool in his upcoming adventure, rather than simply bidding farewell to characters from Fox’s Deadpool films, so Corrin and Macfadyen could have a bright future in the MCU ahead of them, especially with the trailer confirming the Macfayden will be playing Mr. Paradox, a character within the TVA who seems to resemble Owen Wilson’s Mobius.

4Lewis Tan as Shatterstar

Lewis Tan’s Shatterstar returns in Deadpool & Wolverine, as confirmed by the movie’s first trailer. Seen alongside many of Deadpool’s friends and family at Wade Wilson’s birthday party, Shatterstar’s presence confirms Wade’s time travel efforts at the end of Deadpool 2 were a success and that X-Force was saved from their grisly deaths. Tan is best known for his leading role in Mortal Kombat as Cole Young, Shadow and Bone, and Into The Badlands.

3Randall Reeder as Buck

Randall Reeder’s Buck returns as another one of Wade’s birthday party guests. Having appeared in both of the previous Deadpool films, Buck was featured as a frequent patron of Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children, the bar and dispatch center for mercenaries. Beyond the Deadpool franchise, Reeder is best known for his roles in 21 Jump Street, For Whom He Tolls, and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

2Aaron Standford as Pyro

Aaron Stanford returns as Pyro as confirmed by Deadpool & Wolverine’s first trailer. Seen in a wastelands-type setting that could very well be the MCU’s Void of the End of Time, Pyro first appeared in Fox’s X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, having left Charles Xavier’s School in favor of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Stanford is also known for his roles in 12 Monkeys, The Hills Have Eyes, and Nikita.

1Rumored And Teased Deadpool 3 Cast

Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen Have Teased Their Returns

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen debuted as Professor X and Magneto, in 2000’s X-Men, and have since appeared as the mutants in multiple X-Men projects. Despite retiring the role in Logan (similarly to Hugh Jackman), Patrick Stewart already reprised the role of Professor X, albeit a variant, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and he has teased his involvement in Deadpool 3. Speaking to Comicbook.com, Stewart mentioned that he had been told to “stand-by,” suggesting his potential return in the upcoming Phase 5 film.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Stewart teased that Deadpool 3 could feature a reunion of Professor X and Magneto, stating that he and McKellen are “not done,” and that the pair “have plans.” While Marvel Studios hasn’t confirmed the return of Stewart and McKellen, their potential involvement in Deadpool 3 creates exciting narrative opportunities, and could lay the foundations for a reunion of the entire X-Men team from Fox’s franchise. While Stewart appeared as Professor X in Logan and Multiverse of Madness, McKellen hasn’t been seen as Magneto since 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, so it would be great to see him reprise the role for Deadpool 3.

Other Fox Marvel Franchise Stars Rumored to Return

Deadpool 3 could mark the perfect opportunity for audiences to bid a final farewell to Fox’s now-defunct X-Men franchise, which means that several actors from the X-Men’s live-action history could reprise their roles. Recent rumors have suggested that this could include original X-Men members James Marsden as Cyclops, Halle Berry as Storm, and Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, the latter perhaps providing some tender moments with Jackman’s Wolverine. These characters haven’t been since 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, so a return in Deadpool 3 might be the perfect chance to end their stories. Even so, there has been no confirmation from Marvel Studios, so viewers shouldn’t raise their hopes.

Owen Wilson Is Rumored To Appear In Deadpool 3

Owen Wilson debuted as Mobius M. Mobius in Phase 4’s Loki season 1, and is set to reprise the role in season 2 following a cameo appearance in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s post-credits scene. Recently, however, rumors have been circulating that Owen Wilson will return in Deadpool 3, reprising the role of the TVA agent, which makes sense as Deadpool must be meddling in the multiverse to travel from Fox’s franchise into Marvel Studios’ MCU. Wilson’s appearance as Mobius in Deadpool 3 would be the perfect way to connect Deadpool to the wider MCU, as well as creating new links between the variant Loki and the MCU’s main continuity.