On July 26, 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine is finally reaching theatres, and going by all the pre-release talk, it is set to change the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadpool & Wolverine officially marks the first time two Marvel characters, established outside the MCU series, are taking the lead in this continuity (thanks to Disney buying Fox). Logan, aka Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, was a mainstay in Fox's X-Men Universe until he died in the 2017 movie Logan. Ryan Reynolds redeemed Wade Wilson/Deadpool, a character desecrated in X-Men: Origins - Wolverine, by making him the lead in two enjoyable Deadpool movies that were big money-spinners at the box office. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: Marvel Apparently Screened 40 Minutes of Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman’s Film at Shanghai and Internet Is Already Buzzing With Major SPOILERS!
Now, having resurrected Wolverine from the dead, both Deadpool and Logan, along with Reynolds and Jackman, have reunited on the big screen with Deadpool & Wolverine. Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić, Shioli Kutsuna, and Lewis Tan are also returning from the previous Deadpool movies, reprising their characters. Apart from these stars, Deadpool & Wolverine also has Emma Corrin playing the antagonist Cassandra Nova and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Paradox, a TVA official.
Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine is the first R-rated movie in the series that aims to assimilate mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mutants have already been teased in the MCU before. We have had Wanda and Pietro Maximoff in the franchise, though they have never been called mutants (in the comics, they were the children of Magneto). Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel was teased to be a mutant in the finale of her show. With the MCU bringing in the multiverse saga, we have had Professor X (Patrick Stewart) cross over from the X-Men films to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati, though his time was quite short-lived.
Also, the mid-credits scene of The Marvels featured another X-Men cameo in Beast, aka Dr. Hank McCoy (Kelsey Grammer). Deadpool & Wolverine is touted to bring in more cameos from the X-Men universe and elsewhere, some of which have already been revealed in the trailers.
Check out all the cameos that the promos, including trailers and TV spots, have leaked before Deadpool & Wolverine arrives in theatres.
1. Pyro
Played By: Aaron Stanford
The fire-manipulating mutant was one of the antagonists in X-Men: The Last Stand. He was the first cameo to be revealed in the first trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine.
2. Sabretooth
Played By: Tyler Mane
The previous X-Men movies featured two Sabretooth's. One of them was played by Tyler Mane, the former Canadian wrestler, in the first X-Men movie. The second was played by Liev Schreiber in X-Men: Origins - Wolverine, and in a significant retcon, he is established as Logan's half-brother. While we don't know if Schreiber is returning as Sabretooth in Deadpool & Wolverine, we know for sure that Tyler Mane is reprising the character, thanks to a TV spot. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: Logan Faces Sabretooth in New Promo of Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman’s Marvel Film.
3. Lady Deadpool
Played by: Blake Lively (?)
As per reports, we will see several variants of Deadpool in the movie, a couple of which have already been revealed in the trailers, like Dogpool and Lady Deadpool. While Lady Deadpool is seen masked, fans are theorising, based on her blonde hair, that she is played by Reynolds' real-life wife, actress Blake Lively (others believe she is played by Reynolds himself). Some reports also claim that Matthew McConaughey is playing a variant of Deadpool! ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: Blake Lively Kisses Hubby Ryan Reynolds While in His Scarred Deadpool Makeup.
4. X-23
Played By: Dafne Keen
Perhaps the biggest cameo reveal happened in the final trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine when Dafne Keen made her presence felt. Her portrayal of X-23 was one of the best aspects of Logan, and her reunion with Wolverine gave an unexpected emotional depth to the trailer. It was also a reminder of how the little, violent girl from the 2017 film is now all grown up. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Final Trailer: Full Lady Deadpool Reveal and Dafne Keen’s X-23 Return in Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman’s Marvel Flick.
5. Hunter B-15
Played By: Wunmi Mosaku
Now for an MCU cameo that was most recently leaked through another TV spot. With the TVA (Time Variance Authority) established in the MCU through the Loki series playing a crucial part in Deadpool & Wolverine, it would be strange not to have at least one character from that show make an appearance in this film. While we are a little sad that Owen Wilson isn't returning, Wunmi Mosaku's good-hearted, variant-catching agent is here to bring a warm sense of familiarity.
Honourable Mentions - Toad, Azazel, Juggernaut, and Lady Deathstrike
The trailers also establish that some other mutants we have seen in past X-Men films, like Toad, Azazel, Juggernaut, and Lady Deathstrike, are returning to screen, though we are unsure if they are played by the same actors. There is also a dead Ant-Man (in his giant form) BTW; not sure if we get to see the live version here.
These are all the cameos of returning or new characters confirmed by the trailers so far. Apart from these, there are strong rumours of other characters and actors appearing in the movie - Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), Elektra (Jennifer Garner), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Happy Hogan's cameo is seemingly confirmed by those who have watched 35 minutes of Deadpool & Wolverine that have been screened at certain conventions. For the rest, let's wait and watch!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2024 09:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).