Deadpool and Wolverine: everything we know so far
In retrospect, we should have suspected that Deadpool 3 wouldn’t keep its most famous co-star out of the title. In 2022, Ryan Reynolds coaxed Hugh Jackman into reprising his role as Wolverine for the first time since 2017’s Logan. Once that happened, the name Deadpool 3 didn’t fully convey how monumental this film would be.
So Marvel Studios has officially retitled it as Deadpool and Wolverine. Jackman has also humorously rebranded the film as Wolverine and [expletive], which would make this R-rated flick a lot harder to market!
Now that we’ve received our first look at Deadpool and Wolverine, we’re sharing what we know about the cast, release date, and what the film will be about.
Is there a trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine?
It’s more of a teaser than a full trailer, but the first footage from Deadpool and Wolverine was released during the 2024 Super Bowl. The clips feature several returning characters from the first two Deadpool movies before the title character is abducted from his home and forcibly recruited to the Time Variance Authority, the organization that made its MCU debut in Loki.
Jackman’s Wolverine doesn’t directly appear in the teaser, and he’s only briefly seen from behind. But the trailer’s closing moments show off a good idea of how the title characters will respond to each other when Wolverine pops his claws to “help” Deadpool get up.
Shortly after the trailer dropped, Marvel also released the first poster for the film.
When does Deadpool and Wolverine come out?
Filming for Deadpool 3 began in May 2023 before coming to a halt in July due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. It resumed production in November 2023, and it’s now set to meet its July 26, 2024 release date.
At long last, Ryan Reynolds announced that filming for this threequel has wrapped with the suggestive Instagram post below:
One can’t help but shed a tear seeing this. This is certainly a heartfelt conclusion for those involved in the production, especially given the challenges they faced to make this film.
Previously, Deadpool 3 had been scheduled for fall 2024 before moving up to May 3, 2024, in June 2023, a month before the actors’ strike began. Finally, in early November, days before the actors’ strike ended, Disney moved Deadpool 3 to its current release date, allowing the team more time to finish the film.
Who is in Deadpool and Wolverine?
Ryan Reynolds is obviously coming back as the Merc with a Mouth. In September 2022, Reynolds announced that Hugh Jackman was returning as Wolverine for Deadpool 3, even though that character died in 2017’s Logan. The video caused a stir among fans and immediately cemented the film as one of Marvel’s hottest upcoming movies.
Joining Reynolds and Jackman are The Crown’s Emma Corrin, who will play a major villain highly suspected to be Cassandra Nova, and Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen as a “third wheel” character to Deadpool and Wolverine. Returning actors from the franchise’s previous entries include Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic as Vanessa and the voice of Colossus, respectively, and Brianna Hildebrand and Shioli Kutsuna as Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Yukio respectively. Rob Delaney, who appeared in Deadpool 2 as Peter, X-Force’s only human member, is also set to return.
It was reported in March 2023 that the Time Variance Authority from the MCU Disney+ show Loki would also be featured in Deadpool 3, although the rumor has not been officially confirmed. In July 2023, it was reported that Jennifer Garner would play Elektra again in Deadpool 3, although the actress denied the rumor during interviews for her Netflix movie Family Switch. Leaked set photos from December 2023 hint that the characters Sabretooth and Toad will return for the film, although it’s still unknown if X-Men’s Tyler Maine and Ray Park will return to play them, respectively.
What is Deadpool and Wolverine about?
We still don’t know the plot details about Deadpool 3. The film is meant to be the character’s introduction to the MCU, with writer Rhett Reese describing it as a “fish-out-of-water” situation where they’re dropping “a lunatic into a very sane world.” Fans have long wondered how Reynolds’ wisecracking, vulgar, fourth-wall-breaking mercenary would fit into the MCU, and by the looks of it, Deadpool 3 will have a ball with the possibilities.
Based on leaked photos and cast confirmations, it is safe to assume Deadpool 3 will be a multiverse story. By the looks of it, it seems it will effectively work as the closing chapter of the Fox-Marvel universe, allowing the previous iteration of the X-Men one last moment in the spotlight. In early November 2023, Reynolds confirmed that the character Dogpool would appear in the film, solidifying the multiverse theory.
As mentioned, the main theory is that Corrin’s villain will be Cassandra Nova, a parasitic life form tied to X-Men leader Charles Xavier. Nova is infamous for being one of the team’s most powerful enemies, making her an ideal antagonist for Deadpool’s third movie.
How is Logan back? Is this movie set in the MCU?
Logan’s return is still a bit of a mystery, although it seems like Deadpool 3 will take a similar angle to Spider-Man: No Way Home to explain how it will bridge its many universes. Deadpool may jump through a portal and find himself interacting with the rest of the Marvel characters we know and love, and he may also find a universe where Wolverine is still alive and kicking, even though he died in Logan. When you have a multiverse, anything is suddenly possible.
Will Deadpool and Wolverine be rated R?
Given that Deadpool will now be a part of the much more family-friendly MCU, many people are wondering whether the movie will maintain the streak of the first two films and retain its R rating. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Marvel head Kevin Feige have repeatedly said that the film will have an R-rating, allowing for a higher level of graphic violence and profanity.
Who is directing Deadpool and Wolverine?
While Tim Miller and David Leitch directed the first two installments in the franchise, the third installment will be helmed by Shawn Levy, who has already worked with Reynolds on projects like Free Guy and The Adam Project. In an interview with Collider, Levy discussed working on the project, suggesting that the film would be oriented toward an adult audience.
“We are writing, rewriting, developing, prepping ‘Deadpool‘ every day now,” he said. “It is such a blast to laugh every day.” Because the directors reached a settlement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that prevented them from going on strike with the actors and writers, Levy was among the few key Deadpool 3 figures to provide updates throughout the summer of 2023. As previously noted, Levy revealed half the film is edited while also expressing his enthusiasm for and commitment to the film.
What’s the deal with all the leaks?
As with any high-profile movie, Deadpool 3 has been the subject of numerous leaks from scoopers. From Garner’s return as Elektra to the apparent return of Sabretooth and Toad, plot details about Deadpool 3 keep coming out, much to the cast and crew’s chagrin. Reynolds addressed the issue himself, posting on his Instagram stories a message about how “telephoto lenses continue to spoil surprises and create a difficult situation for everyone.”
Reynolds continued: “Here’s hoping some of the websites and social channels hold back showing images before they’re ready. The film is built for audience joy — and our highest hope is to preserve as much of that magic as possible for the finished film and the big screen. Part of the reason people post spoilers is because they’re excited. I realize these aren’t real-world issues and it’s firmly in the ‘good problems’ bucket.”
It’s highly unlikely the leaks will stop — there’s an entire industry built off them and a highly enthusiastic audience for them. However, perhaps the situation will make the creatives behind Deadpool 3 and at Marvel Studios more attentive to potential spoilers.
Are fans excited for Deadpool and Wolverine?
The MCU is currently in shambles, and it badly needs a win. Deadpool 3 is the studio’s only major release in 2024, increasing its chances of scoring big at the box office. Coupled with the supposed cameos parade and a brutally hilarious story, Deadpool 3 might very well be the biggest movie event of 2024.
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