Aside from the eye-popping quality presented in a super-sized feature, one of the most alluring aspects of heading out to theaters is the occasional chance of scoring a decorative popcorn bucket. In the past, the long-standing Scream franchise and Transformers have executed these collectibles, but folks are now undoubtedly excited about the Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket.

After months of grueling anticipation, Marvel fanatics are finally being awarded new information about the upcoming superhero extravaganza which features two of the most popular figures in the MCU realm. So far, a variety of behind-the-scenes stills have been revealed, along with the first trailer for the action-packed film being released during this year’s Super Bowl, along with the full trailer recently being unveiled. And yet, all eyes remain on the aforementioned popcorn bucket and all of its mystery and ever-growing hype.

As to be expected, hype about the snack collectible has sent MCU supporters into an absolute frenzy, with the majority pacing back and forth in suspense and wondering how exactly the popcorn bucket will be months before the movie is set to release in theaters this summer.

So, what is the Deadpool 3 popcorn bucket?

After the first face-melting trailer engaged the superhero-loving masses during this year’s Super Bowl, star Ryan Reynolds seemingly wasted little time in regards to getting the entire MCU bubble excited beyond belief. In doing so, Reynolds took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to drop subtle hints about the Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket, insisting “wait till you see” to his millions of followers — many of whom are probably already drooling at the mouth.

At the time of this writing, we now have confirmation that the aforementioned popcorn bucket does exist, with the rumor mill pointing at a circular design. Previously, folks were worried that the popcorn bucket was fake, since Reynolds is known to pull a leg or two and “joke” with folks. Then again, when you consider the enormous excitement building around the upcoming flick, it would have been absolutely silly to not capitalize on its popularity and utilize a popcorn collectible as an extra source of income — especially with Marvel movies being in the toilet as of late and otherwise losing money for Disney.

That being said, with the long-awaited Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket in the works, one can only assume that fans will get an exclusive look at the collectible as we draw closer to the film arriving in theaters on July 26. So if you’re already interested in getting your hands on one of these rumored collectibles, then it’s probably best to keep your eyes peeled and alert now.

The cultural phenomenon that is Deadpool & Wolverine is fast approaching and it seems that people can’t quite get enough of the duo. Although, unfortunately for Wolverine, Deadpool is notorious for having multiple bromances on the go at once.

That’s right, Deadpool isn’t known for being the most faithful with his bromantic partners; from Cable to Spider-Man he’s had plenty of iconic team-up stories. In fact, there is a whole line of comics dedicated to Deadpool teaming up with different Marvel characters from heroes to villains, at this point it might be quicker to list the ones he hasn’t had a story with yet.

Maybe, if we’re lucky, and the stars align, we’ll get to see some of those on the silver screen in the future. Who knows! Some of these guys might even have cameos in the upcoming third Deadpool film! But until then, here are some of the Merc with a Mouth’s most memorable bromances from the comics that aren’t Wolverine.

Galactus

Don’t you love it when two unlikely characters end up working together? Right out the gate we’re kicking things off with one of Deadpool’s more cosmic companions: Galactus. Is it a stretch to label this a bromance? Maybe, but it’s a wacky and fun story nonetheless. It all starts with Wade Wilson seeing an ad in the paper for the role of “Herald of Galactus,” as you do, and decides being a planet eater could be pretty sweet. He’s not wrong, and just seeing Deadpool make use of the power cosmic is enough to put this particular team-up on the list.

Bob, Agent of Hydra

Bob is just a regular guy— he just wants a stable 9 to 5 job with dental, but unfortunately he could only get a job at Hydra (who don’t even have dental). Regardless, Bob and Deadpool cross paths and he ends up becoming a sort of sidekick to the mercenary. The two get into all kinds of insane adventures, and the dynamic between them works mostly because Bob is just such a normal guy, forcibly thrust into the weirdest situations because of his “friend.”

Hellcow

Comics are weird sometimes. The idea of a 300 year-old vampire cow who is mortal enemies with Dracula feels like something only the most demented mind could conjure, and yet, Hellcow, AKA Bessie, exists. At some point in time both Bessie and Wade Wilson end up captured by Dr. Kilgore. The two for a sort of camaraderie and plan an escape. After the escape Deadpool expresses his feelings of deep friendship as Bessie steps into the sunlight and dies. But don’t worry, later on, a time-traveling Wade returns to prevent her death and later down the line Hellcow joins the Deadpool Inc. crew, helping out with a heist. All I’m gonna say is, if the next Deadpool movie isn’t Deadpool & Hellcow, I will riot.

The Deadpool Corps

Is multiple variations of the same guy cheating? Well, it’s my list, so I guess what I say goes. The Deadpool Corps are a team of Deadpools from across the multiverse including Dogpool, Ladypool, Headpool, and Kidpool. As a general rule of thumb, more Deadpool is typically a good thing and that rule certainly applies here. The team is brought together to stop The Awareness, a being that existed before the universe and basically goes around collecting the consciousness of planets.

Domino

Just like Wade, Domino is a mercenary, and the two are great friends, which already makes this duo more sincere than most of the others on this list. The two even married at one point, although it was all done to infiltrate a marriage convention, and they divorced shortly afterwards. Either way, Domino and Deadpool share a pretty special connection that (aside from the fake marriage) is mostly platonic, which is rare with male and female characters in comics, and is also why I’m counting this as a bromance, (girls can be bros too). 

Spider-Man

Aside from the fact that their costumes look kind of similar, they don’t really have all that much in common, and that’s exactly why they work so well together. Spidey is morally upstanding and always does what’s right, while Deadpool is amoral at best, but their opposing personalities make for some entertaining moments. Also I lied, they do have something else in common: They’re both known for their hilarious quips.

Cable

Was it ever going to be anyone else? Like many of the others on this list, his personality typically clashes with Deadpool’s more often than not, but that’s exactly why they work so well. Out of all the heroes mentioned, Cable is definitely the guy Wade Wilson teams up with the most; they’ve had so many iconic adventures together, with a whole 50-issue series dedicated just to these two. We even got to see the pair team up in live action in Deadpool 2, and it was awesome.

Wolverine has some fierce competition

We’re all excited to see Deadpool & Wolverine, but Hugh Jackman has got to remember, he’s not the only man in Deadpool’s life. Wade Wilson has got to be one of the biggest team players out there, and hopefully the films and comics continue to pair him off with whoever they feel like. Somehow it just always works.

As if having Hugh Jackman return as Logan wasn’t exciting enough, it looks like Deadpool & Wolverine is attempting to rival Avengers: Endgame in the cameos department. Well, except that not all special appearances are from the Marvel characters we all know and love.

When the official trailer for this film dropped, eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot numerous Easter eggs and connections to the comic books in the franchise. Obviously, that’s more than enough to delight any superhero enthusiast, but it looks like there’s something in the movie for sports aficionados as well. Particularly those who have been following Ryan Reynolds’ venture as co-owner of Wrexham A.F.C. in the docu-series Welcome to Wrexham.

Soon after the trailer was released, a fan of the club known on Twitter as Beardy (@beardywxm) spotted someone in the background who looks suspiciously like soccer player Ollie Palmer. The striker joined Wrexham in 2022 and has become a prominent figure in the FX show, which has thrown the club and its players into the limelight. It’s safe to assume, then, that Palmer has gotten quite used to being in front of cameras, but does that mean he’s ready to step into the MCU?

Is Ollie Palmer in Deadpool & Wolverine?

It looks like Ollie Palmer really does make a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. After a fan noticed the player in the background of a scene, dressed in a white shirt and denim jacket, the team members of a podcast dedicated to Wrexham A.F.C backed up the claim on Twitter. In one of their posts, we can see a still of the scene that features the striker, along with a screengrab of an Instagram comment from Palmer. Said comment reads “If you squint…” and came after Reynolds posted the film’s trailer on the social media platform, seemingly hinting at the player’s cameo.

Deadpool himself later fanned the flames of speculation, admitting that fans have “keen eyesight.” Of course, this could simply be passed off as Ryan Reynolds being his usual self, taking the opportunity to go along with a fun theory just for the sake of it. However, the podcast team later cleared things up with a fan, claiming that Palmer confirmed the cameo when asked about the subject.

I guess this pretty much settles the debate. Ollie Palmer is joining Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine, making this the second project in which the two share the screen. Now, though, I have to wonder whether or not the Hollywood star even considered Rob McElhenney, his fellow Wrexham co-owner and actor, for a cameo as well. At the very least, we’ll see them together again in Welcome to Wrexham season 3.

Even after two triumphant trailers, we still have so many questions about Deadpool & Wolverine. And yet one of the most intriguing is: what’s the deal with that bald villain?

Well, while the trailers have been admirably low on spoilers (but high on Easter eggs and cameos) as Marvel continues to keep much about Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy’s threequel to themselves, we do know exactly who the film’s antagonist is. This is of course Emma Corrin, in the all-important role of Cassandra Nova. That’s a name that might mean nothing to fans of Fox’s X-Men film series but comes with a lot of weight for comic book readers.

What with the Wolverine of it all, Corrin’s Cassandra hasn’t done too much in the trailers as yet, but chilling in Ant-Man’s giant skull and controlling Wolverine’s body already make clear that Deadpool hasn’t met anyone as dark and as dangerous as the cruel and vastly powerful villain before.

Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova could be Deadpool’s deadliest enemy yet

As introduced during Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s mind-bending New X-Men run in 2001, Cassandra Nova can essentially be summed up as Professor X’s evil twin sister, but the truth is a lot more complicated and twisted than that.

Cassandra is what’s known as a mummudrai, a psychic parasite that exists without a physical form on the astral plane. Due to Charles Xavier’s incredible psychic powers, she was conceived into existence alongside him and fashioned herself a body out of his DNA while in the womb. When she was strong enough, Cassandra attempted to strangle her “brother” with his own umbilical cord, but the fetal Professor X hit her with a psychic blast, causing their mother to have a miscarriage, with Cassandra stillborn.

But Cassandra’s consciousness survived, and years later she rebuilt herself an adult body and set about destroying everything Charles held dear, including his beloved X-Men and the world’s mutant population at large. Due to her unkillable nature, Cassandra has returned time and time again to make Xavier’s life a misery, teaming up with the likes of the Shi’ar Empire, the Marauders, and the Hellfire Club in order to put her (typically genocidal) plans into action.

Who knows how much of this convoluted history will be translated to the big screen. So far, we’ve seen that Corrin’s Cassandra is a powerful psychic on a par with Charles, as she’s able to control and manipulate Logan’s limbs as he tries to attack her (reminiscent of Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past) and appears to have constructed her own Dark Cerebro within Giant-Man’s head (What did Scott Lang ever do to you, Cassandra?).

In the comics, Cassandra is usually portrayed as an elderly, bald woman, but although Corrin either shaved their head or wore a bald cap during filming, the character is depicted as much younger than in the source material. It’s easy to speculate that Cassandra has been aged down in order to make her more of a physical threat to both Deadpool and Wolverine. Or perhaps she’s been reimagined as Charles’ evil daughter instead? Do I smell a Legion crossover?

The possibilities are endless, but with Cassandra Nova coming to the MCU, the X-Men will want to watch out. Deadpool 3 is scheduled to release in theaters on July 26, 2024.

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Logan’s ending.

Wolverine is a beloved character, and following the twisting timelines of the MCU and Fox’s X-Men universe, some fans are a little confused about the hero’s appearance in Deadpool 3. After all, Wolverine’s ultimate fate was the butt of a clever joke at the beginning of Deadpool 2.

The Deadpool series made regular nods to both Wolverine and actor Hugh Jackman. Wolverine was arguably the central character of Fox’s original X-Men trilogy. Jackman’s iteration of the character also earned their own standalone films, concluding with Logan. Logan was a surprise hit among fans, following divisive reviews for Wolverine’s previous solo outings.

The gritty, western approach didn’t just rely on its attitude, but used it constructively to create an iconic character drama. However, the movie also featured a definitive ending for Wolverine’s story, so be aware of spoilers in the coming article. Some fans might be concerned about how Deadpool 3 could affect Logan’s legacy.

Why is Wolverine still alive in Deadpool 3?

At the end of Logan, last chance for spoilers, Hugh Jackman’s version of Wolverine ultimately died at the hands of another Wolverine. It was a literal representation of Logan’s battle with himself, and a dramatic sacrifice.

Fans could be irritated about losing that resolution for Wolverine to appear in Deadpool 3. Fortunately, Hugh Jackman and Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds both appeared in an explanatory YouTube video called “Deadpool Update, Part Hugh” back in 2022.

In the video, the actors reassured fans that Logan’s timeline will remain untouched, describing it as a completely separate thing. Ryan Reynolds clearly explained that Logan still died in Logan, and that Deadpool 3 won’t infringe on that history. The two proceed to humorously mime out some of the events in Deadpool 3.

This means that the Wolverine who is alive in Deadpool 3 is likely from a completely different universe. That ties into the MCU’s ongoing multiverse phase of storytelling.

Which version of Wolverine is in Deadpool 3?

In the latest trailer, which featured a variety of cameos, Wolverine is wearing a totally unique costume. It more closely resembles their classic outfit from the comics and animated ’90s show. The version in Deadpool 3 is likely brand-new, since the Logan iteration of Wolverine is dead.

Professor Xavier got a similar treatment for their appearance in the latest Doctor Strange film. So, it would make sense for Wolverine to follow suit, since Xavier also got a definitive conclusion in Logan.

According to the Deadpool 3 trailers, Deadpool appears to run into these alternate versions of Wolverine via the TVA. The TVA uses special technology, notably the TemPads. TemPads create Time Doors, which allow characters to travel between different points in space and time. This also explains how another Wolverine got to appear for Deadpool 3.

Fans were disappointed they didn’t get to see Wolverine’s face in the initial Deadpool 3 trailer, feeling he was thrown under the bus. The latest trailer has certainly fixed that, promising a lot of long-awaited Wolverine banter with Deadpool.

Admit it: you haven’t been this excited for an MCU movie since Spider-Man: No Way Home, right? Deadpool & Wolverine just keeps on delivering the goods as its expertly crafted marketing machine rolls on, with its second trailer packing more of a punch than Hugh Jackman’s Logan himself.

Brilliantly, though, much of the plot still remains a mystery, even if now we know that Jackman is back as an alternate Wolverine variant who let down his entire universe. If this sounds like an excuse to wheel out some legacy X-Men stars for gratuitous cameos, then call yourself Professor X, because you must be psychic. The second trailer confirms a bunch of returning faces we didn’t know to expect until now. First up…

Giant-Man’s head

Yes, the literal biggest cameo in the trailer regards the deceased Giant-Man head that Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) and her cronies are apparently using as a hideout. It’s giving us Knowhere from Guardians of the Galaxy, but with more deceased Paul Rudd flavor. P.S. What is with the MCU and its obsession with beheading Ant-Man? (See also the zombie episode of What If…?).

Lady Deathstrike

If you pull your attention away from the desiccated remains of Scott Lang, you might notice some familiar figures hanging out in front of Club Giant-Man. For starters, the lady in the ponytail and in desperate need of a manicure looks to be Lady Deathstrike, seemingly confirming that Kelly Hu will be reprising her fan-favorite villain role from X-Men 2.

Azazel

Even easier to spot is the red-skinned fella on the other side of the frame from Deathstrike. This is Azazel, as played by Jason Flemying as part of Kevin Bacon’s Hellfire Club in X-Men: First Class. Azazel’s inclusion is actually unique, as he is currently the only cast member from the prequel films to be known to appear in DP3.

Toad

What happens to a Toad when it cameos in a Deadpool & Wolverine trailer? The same thing that happens to everything else. That’s right, although he’s harder to spot than Deathstrike and Azazel, the wall-climbing member of Magneto’s Brotherhood can be glimpsed to the left of Kelly Hu’s character — note his distinctive hunched stance. This is the Ray Park version from 2000’s X-Men, not the younger take from X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Alioth

Deadpool & Wolverine doubles down on its Loki tie-ins in its second trailer with the presence of Alioth, the big smoke monster that dwells in the Void and killed James’ parents in James and the Giant Peach. This confirms yet against that the Mad Max-style wasteland in which much of the action appears to take place is indeed the Void.

Red Skull…’s car

Speaking of which, a familiar vehicle is shown being driven by the bad guys during the trailer — it’s Red Skull’s HYDRA-Mobile from Captain America: The First Avenger. Who knows, maybe ol’ crimson face himself could cameo, but it’s likely Johann Schmidt’s car is simply there as part of the endless detritus from the Marvel multiverse hanging around the Void.

At least one Master of the Mystic Arts

Here’s one of the more exciting mysteries presented by the trailer. At the promo’s climax, Wolvie and DP leap through what is unmistakably a sling ring portal. Yes, this is the MCU’s go-to visual effect for crossing universes at this point, but this does suggest a Master of the Mystic Arts could show up. Dare we hope for a Benedict Cumberbatch return as Doctor Strange? Honestly, though, it might be even more fun if it was Benedict Wong. Petition to change the title to Deadpool & Wolverine & Wongers.

Deadpool & Wolverine slashes into cinemas on July 26.

In the days of the original X-Men trilogy, one parody video of the classic animated series changed everything. Just before X-Men: The Last Stand came out in 2006, a parody of the classic X-Men series showing the villainous Juggernaut dubbed over with the phrase: “I’m the Juggernaut, b****.” went viral.

And before you knew it, the line made it into the final entry of the X-Men trilogy. This was just one of many baffling production decisions that came out of the maligned film. Matthew Vaughn was initially slated to direct the movie but after hearing about the mistreatment of Halle Berry in the role of Storm, he stepped away. X-Men: The Last Stand continues to be remembered as the worst in the trilogy for many creative challenges.

It is a new era now, and time for new X-Men. Or at least, old X-Men in a new film. Deadpool 3 is revitalizing many iconic characters since Marvel Studios took over the Fox characters. For the first time since retiring the character in 2017, Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine. But will we see the return of characters such as Juggernaut who didn’t get nearly the amount of screen time the first go-around? Unfortunately for us, Vinnie Jones says no.

Vinnie Jones’ Juggernaut will not appear in Deadpool 3

If the Juggernaut appears in Deadpool 3, he will not be portrayed by Jones. The Guy Ritchie alum and former footballer revealed to Yahoo News that when confronted with the prospect of returning to the X-Men universe, he turned it down.

“It’s such a drama putting that suit on mentally and physically.”

As disappointing as it is, this news isn’t exactly surprising. Jones explained that in X-Men: The Last Stand, he signed on when Vaughn was still at the helm. After he left and Brett Ratner took over, his character was severely diminished. In recent years, Ratner has also faced heat for his treatment of women.

In regards to the iconic line that the Juggernaut is known for, that wasn’t in the original script. Jones acknowledged that Ratner asked him to come back after principal photography when the meme blew up online. But while Jones was honest about his experience with X-Men and rejecting the role in the Deadpool sequel, he added a caveat.

The Gone In 60 Second actor went on to clarify that Deadpool is one of his favorites, and he would have liked to do it, but they were unable to strike a deal regarding the suit. Nostalgic fans may mourn the cameo that never was, but they should find comfort that Jones will probably be watching the third installment with the rest of us.

Ryan Reynolds’ 2016 labor of love had many consequences. For good and for ill.

When Deadpool first premiered, Marvel audiences let out a collective sigh of relief. Not only is it a massive upgrade from the horrendous and cursed portrayal in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but it is a legitimately accomplished film. Wade Wilson (Reynolds) finally gets the film he deserves as The Merc With the Mouth. The origin story depicts his tragic circumstances of developing cancer and doing just about anything to find a cure. Including undergoing an experimental program that activates any latent mutant genes. Thus Deadpool is born in all his glory.

The film is celebrated in Marvel circles but isn’t without its controversy. Silicon Valley comedian, TJ Miller, is a prime character in Deadpool as Wade’s friend, Weasel. His comic timing and ability to further the plot was one of the many aspects of Deadpool that seemed like a slam dunk. In 2017, however, Miller received accusations of sexual misconduct and assault. According to The Daily Beast, an anonymous source recalled incidents of violence during their time together at George Washington University. These circumstances have cast doubt on the actor’s future in Deadpool 3 and the MCU.

Will Weasel return in Deadpool 3?

Reynolds and the production of Deadpool have not spoken definitively about Miller’s return to the franchise, but there is little doubt about Weasel’s role in Deadpool 3. After appearing in Deadpool and its sequel, Miller has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he will not be working with Reynolds again. Speaking on the podcast, The Adam Carolla Show (via The Hollywood Reporter), the actor shed light on where he stood with the franchise’s star. Miller cited personal issues with Reynolds as the reason he would not be returning. He stated he was hurt during the filming of Deadpool 2, when Reynolds ad-libbed a line that seemed too personal. Because of that instance, the relationship suffered, leaving no room for him to return to the franchise.

“I would not have done Deadpool 3 if they came to me and were like, ‘We want you to do Deadpool 3, and we’re going to pay you twice as much.’”

Miller concluded that Reynolds seemed to have a personal issue with the Silicon Valley actor, and he did not want to put himself in that situation. There was no reference to the allegations of assault against Miller, though this isn’t the first time he’s had an issue with a co-star. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Silicon Valley co-star Alice Wetterland Tweeted about Miller’s unprofessionalism on-set. She also referred to the instance where Miller called in a fake bomb threat, which he has since blamed on a manic episode. It seems that without a doubt, there is no point where Weasel will return to the franchise. Even if Deadpool messes around with the time-space continuum again.

The Wolverine cameo at the end of the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer successfully broke the internet. But who else will be starring in arguably the most anticipated MCU release since Avengers: Endgame? 

After the Easter-egg filled trailer, the fans would like to know if Loki will be making an appearance in Deadpool 3. After all, Wade will be tangling with the Time Variance Authority, and the TVA were originally introduced to the MCU in the first season of Loki. The TVA was charged with maintaining the Sacred Timeline of the MCU, but over the course of both seasons of Loki, we saw this shattered as all the branches of the Marvel Universe have now been set free. More importantly, the season 2 finale of Loki saw the God of Mischief take on the duty of holding this newly branched multiverse together, making him a central figure in any multiverse-related story in the MCU henceforth. So, the question remains, will Loki be in Deadpool 3?

Why we might see Loki in Deadpool & Wolverine

Loki’s new job as the conduit of the multiverse puts him in a prime position for Wade Wilson to run into him, especially if he’s running around at the TVA. Deadpool is known for his irreverence and meta-humor, and he just might take a dig at Loki, or better yet, show up at Loki’s new spot at the temporal tree.

There’s also the chance that Loki might intervene in Deadpool’s actions if he is causing too much havoc on the timelines. In the trailer, we see the TVA arriving to pull Deadpool out of his timeline, much like they did to Loki back in season 1. Knowing how much of a troublemaker Deadpool is, he would likely not comply with whatever mission TVA Agent Paradox is requesting of him, which might lead to some intervention from Loki himself. Furthermore, with the upcoming movie already centered on two Marvel powerhouses, bringing in Loki for a small cameo may be worth it for a little extra hype from first viewers.

Why we might not see Loki in Deadpool & Wolverine

However, despite all the evidence pointing to the fact that the world of Loki is about to become intertwined with that of Deadpool, there is little to prove that Loki himself will be making an appearance. Plot-wise, all the explanations for why Loki might show up seem far-fetched, especially because the trailer only barely gives a hint at what Deadpool & Wolverine will be all about. 

The Deadpool movies have also never relied on cameos and fan-service the way other MCU projects might, so they’re unlikely to start now. Marvel might also be unwilling to show Loki again so soon after his big sacrifice at the end of Loki season 2. Thus, the production powerhouse might be saving his reappearance for a much bigger event, like an ensemble movie. 

So, will Loki be showing up in Deadpool 3? The short answer is maybe. However, the long answer is “probably not.” However, this is the MCU, and anything is possible.

It has perhaps been a long time since anyone has thought of the original X-Men trilogy that started it all. But one anti-hero has come to change it all.

Premiering in the early days of the superhero franchise, X-Men featured the now classic team-up of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), and Scott Summers (James Marsden). All under the tutelage of the wise and powerful Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), the team gets past their differences to fight Magneto (Ian McKellen). Since the Fox merger, X-Men has, regrettably, not been a priority for the MCU. We have instead been getting critically panned series like Secret Invasion instead of what the people really want on the roster.

Thankfully, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is here to fix everything. There were many revelations in the Deadpool 3 trailer, including the surprise arrival of nostalgic X-Men characters. Deadpool & Wolverine won’t just see the return of Jackman in the role of Logan. Tertiary character Pyro (Aaron Stanford) is also set to return after almost 2 decades of absence between X-Men the Last Stand and Deadpool 3.

Who is Pyro?

In the comics, Pyro appears to be just another member of the Brotherhood of Mutants — the team that is the antithesis of the X-Men. Where Xavier’s group wants to try and co-exist with humanity, the Brotherhood believes humanity will never accept them. Born in Australia as St. John Allerdyce, he was a novelist before joining the Brotherhood as Pyro. He has the impressive ability to manipulate fire, but he cannot create it. Because of this, he is always prepared with a flame thrower to have fire handy at a moment’s notice.

In the original X-Men trilogy, Pyro has a different background, though he still ends up aligning himself with Magneto’s team. An American, Pyro starts under the guidance of Xavier at his school. And while it seems as though he is a traitor in X2: X-Men United, he is much more complex than that. In fact, he is one of the only characters in the film with a substantial character arc.

As established in the film, Pyro feels like an outsider. Even among mutants of his age, he never fits in with anyone else, harboring feelings of inadequacy. This is only exacerbated by seeing those around him with established relationships. When William Stryker (Brian Cox) invades the X-Mansion, and Pyro escapes with Wolverine, they make it to Bobby Drake’s (Shawn Ashmore) house in Boston. Pyro sees what should be a loving family. The implication is that Pyro never had support, even when around people with abilities like himself. When Bobby’s brother Ronny (James Kirk) calls the police on them, this only adds fuel to the fire. Pun intended.

Pyro’s rage at humans causes him to lash out. This decision is not received well by the X-Men. The only person to give him the acceptance he craves is Magneto. The sometimes-villain vindicates Pyro’s feelings, and doesn’t make him feel like a freak. Pyro is framed as a tragic character who joins the Brotherhood out of a need for understanding. X-Men: The Last Stand didn’t exactly stick the landing with Pyro and the rest of the mutant characters, but he still has a special place in our hearts.

And Deadpool’s, apparently. Wade Wilson’s third feature film unites the Fox and MCU versions of mutants with a glee unseen before. Though there is no real confirmation of when the MCU will officially tackle X-Men, we can anticipate some cameos in Deadpool 3. Shown briefly in the trailer, Stanford reprises his role of Pyro in a brief frame, giving nostalgic fans what they want.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s first-look trailer is truly a masterclass in understatement, which is a phrase I never thought I’d use in conjunction with Ryan Reynolds’ vigilante king of vulgarity but there you go. Despite the name in the title, the trailer stopped short of giving away too much of Hugh Jackman’s eagerly anticipated return as Logan, with only the teaser’s final shots depicting him in action. And even then you can only make him out if you slow down the playback speed.

To be accurate, a man who strongly resembles Jackman’s Wolverine also appears earlier in the trailer — Deadpool is depicted approaching a poker table in some kind of discreet club at which a man in a snappy white suit with pointy black hair is sitting. It’s an unfamiliar environment and fashion sense for the Adamantium X-Man but that’s gotta be him, right? Well, not necessarily.

The thinking goes that this might actually be our first peak at the MCU’s Wolverine — as in the Wolverine of Earth-616 – and not the Jackman variant who’ll presumably hail from the Fox-verse. And fans are convinced they know who’s portraying Logan-616. Could it really be… Daniel Radcliffe?

Why do people think Daniel Radcliffe is the MCU’s Wolverine?

First of all, let’s be clear: that’s not necessarily Wolverine in the above image, it’s Patch. In the comics, Wolverine dons a disguise as a criminal known as Patch when infiltrating the hive of scum and villainy that is Madripoor, in order to investigate supervillains at work on the island. Given that Madripoor was just introduced into the MCU in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, fans are confident that means this particular Wolverine comes from 616.

On closer inspection, folks also believe those white suited arms are not quite as bulky as Jackman’s own and are closer to the physique of long-term Wolverine favorite Radcliffe.

But, hold up, it’s not just empty fan speculation fueling the Radcliffe rumors. Insider Daniel Richtman has claimed that the former Boy Who Lived has joined Deadpool 3 behind the scenes in a “secret role.” It would be entirely in keeping with this franchise if it brought in Radcliffe for a gag scene as Wolverine, in response to the many times over the years when the actor has had to tell interviewers “I’m not Wolverine, OK?!”

All in all, fans may be jumping the gun slightly in attempting to positively identify Patch Wolverine from just the back of his head and the size of his biceps. And yet it’s not entirely out of the question that when the MCU’s incarnation of Logan does show — in DP3, coming this July 25, or otherwise — we’ll all be shouting “Holy cricket, you’re Harry Potter!”

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are one of Hollywood’s biggest and most beloved “it” couples, proving that they’ve come a long way since starring in 2011’s Green Lantern together. Reynolds’ superhero career has come a long way, too, seeing as he’ll be back for his long-awaited third outing as Wade Wilson in this summer’s superhero blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine. There’s so much hype for it, in fact, that the other power couple Reynolds is a part of took center stage on Valentine’s Day 2024.

Coming just days after the Super Bowl trailer that broke internet records to become the most-viewed trailer on YouTube, Marvel debuted another new Deadpool 3 poster to keep the excitement alive. Apparently, there’s a reason it’s called Deadpool & Wolverine not Deadpool v Wolverine — because it may be a secret rom-com? Given the time travel-y elements, I’m now half-convinced it’s actually a remake of 2001 Hugh Jackman movie Kate & Leopold.

Along with the tagline “Can’t wade for this love story,” Marvel has shared an adorable poster which features Deadpool and Wolverine’s gloved hands forming a heart, with graffiti on the wall behind them reading “D+W.”

Put aside your feelings about how hastily constructed this poster was — the gloves are clearly just the same one recolored and flipped and some folks are fearing that it was actually made using AI — and just bask in the knowledge that a love story for the ages is coming our way this summer. We always knew these two crazy kids would make it work eventually and figured all that social media arguing was just ill-disguised flirting.

On a more serious note, it would be wonderful to see DP’s bisexuality explored a little more in Deadpool 3, as LGBTQ+ rep is still something that Marvel is struggling to fully grasp even this deep into its lifespan. Unfortunately, we can’t really see Wolverine and Wade skipping through the fields (or the Mad Max-like desert, as the case may be) in the movie itself and this is just some fan-baiting marketing material. But, hey, hope — just like Logan’s lifespan — springs eternal.