Things We Want To See In Deadpool 3

When "Deadpool 2" went home with more than $786 million — where it still sits as the second highest-grossing R-rated film of all time — we all knew a third installment was inevitable. But the industry-shattering acquisition of 20th Century Fox by the Walt Disney Company threw a wrench in the works. While fans were thrilled at the prospect of Marvel Studios rebooting the "X-Men" franchise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what would this mean for the decidedly adult-skewing "Deadpool" series? Would Disney want Deadpool's R-rated mouth running alongside the family friendly MCU characters like Hulk, Thor, and Captain Marvel?

Eventually, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige made it clear that "Deadpool 3" was still a go, and it would remain R-rated, much to fans' delight. But the real mind-blowing news came in September of 2022 when producer and star Ryan Reynolds announced that Hugh Jackman would join him, returning to the role of Wolverine after insisting he was retiring from the series with the 2017 film "Logan."

But now that he's back in the claws alongside Reynolds as Deadpool, what else do we want to see in Jackman's return as Wolverine in "Deadpool 3?" Read on to see our wishlist.

When it was first announced that Hugh Jackman would be back as Wolverine, it may have brought about the same sense of excitement as when actor Josh Brolin was revealed to be taking on the role of Cable in "Deadpool 2." While his portrayal of the futuristic cyborg warrior was well-received, many might have been disappointed that the film put Cable into the villain role for much of its runtime. We're hoping for "Deadpool 3" that producers won't be tempted to do the same with Wolverine by pitting the Merc with a Mouth against the old Canuckle-head, instead making the film a true team-up.

Given the friendship between actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, we don't suspect that Wolverine will be Deadpool's enemy, though we do expect to see at least one fight scene between the two at some point in the film. Seeing the two blade-wielding mutants with the fastest healing factors slicing and dicing away at one another will surely be a fun sight, but if the film is smart it will dispense with the rivalry quickly and make Wolverine and Deadpool fast friends, reluctant allies, and a hard-hitting duo worthy of Jackman's return.

Whether they adapt a popular storyline from the comics that saw the pair of X-Men join forces, or invent something new for fans to get excited about, a proper team-up that lets us see the actors' impeccable on-screen chemistry might be what we want to see most out of "Deadpool 3."

With the third "Deadpool" film now under the Walt Disney banner — which still sounds strange to say — its now possible to see the inclusion of characters from the MCU. We're not sure if that will mean the movie will take place within the "Avengers" universe or see Deadpool travel through alternate dimensions, but we fully anticipate at least a couple of MCU cameos. But what we want to see most is a reunion of the classic "Avengers" team — including the returns of Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow.

Though all three characters have met their end in the MCU, this is "Deadpool" we're talking about, a series where anything goes and nothing has to make sense. If anything could get Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr. to make their way back into costume, we could see them doing it for "Deadpool 3," the film that convinced Hugh Jackman to un-retire. 

Whether it's for a big action sequence or a blink-and-miss-it cameo like James McAvoy's "X-Men" in "Deadpool 2," a reunion of "Avengers" stars feels like the right choice, and the chance for Wolverine to meet them is the cherry on top of the sundae. Even if it's just something silly — like an in-universe gag that shows an "Avengers" television reunion special that puts the team of MCU heroes back together — a comeback for our dearly departed heroes is what we're hoping for. 

We probably speak for all fans when we say that if there's one unimportant detail, one superficial element that we selfishly want to see for no other reason than its sheer coolness, it's a comic-accurate costume for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. It's remarkable to think that Jackman appeared as the character for nearly 20 years, but never wore any kind of outfit that even vaguely resembled his traditional comic book costume, and never once donned his iconic winged face mask.

In the most curiously overlooked aspect to the maverick multi-clawed mutant, fans were teased with a possible yellow and black costume in a deleted scene from the 2013 sequel "The Wolverine" that was included on the home release. But audiences missed out on seeing it in action because we never picked up his story from that point, with both "Days of Future Past" and "Logan" taking place at various points across the timeline.

Of course, it would be just like Ryan Reynolds to know this is exactly what audiences want to see and play it for a joke, constantly teasing a costume that never comes. But in the end, putting Wolvie in costume is far too tempting for the notoriously fan-loving Reynolds — and would be too crowd-pleasing a moment — for him not to include it. Though we can't consider this one a lock, we think it's more than likely the filmmakers deliver.

When it comes to match-ups between a pair of heroes, few can top Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk, a rivalry that began back in Wolverine's first appearance in "The Incredible Hulk" #181. By the late 2000s, both characters had made their way to the big screen, with Jackman making Wolverine famous, and Hulk appearing in a pair of his own films before Mark Ruffalo took the role beginning with the superhero team-up "The Avengers." While rights issues have kept the characters apart, it hasn't stopped fans from dreaming about a showdown between the two actors as their iconic characters. 

Following Disney's acquisition of Fox, though, fans began to wonder if their dreams could come true, with Jackman's mutant finally coming to blows with Ruffalo's monster. Hopes seemed dashed when Jackman doubled down on his retirement from the role in 2017 after the release of "Logan." But with the Aussie actor changing his mind and coming back for "Deadpool 3," we want to see the match-up finally happen, as it could be our last chance for the Hulk and Wolverine to meet while these two actors are in the roles. 

If you ask Mark Ruffalo, it could happen, going by his comments on the Marvelist Podcast in 2018. "I love Hugh, and it would be cool to do something with him," said Ruffalo, "if he's up to doing it. He's always teased Hulk versus Wolverine would be pretty fun."

If Ryan Reynolds and writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Rheese are looking to adapt a story from the comics — one that saw Deadpool and Wolverine team up — the answer is clearly "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Named for the iconic Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western, the 2013 storyline ran in the pages of "Deadpool" #15 through #19. Full of Deadpool's customary humor, it saw Wade Wilson enlist the aid of both Wolverine and Captain America in investigating new information regarding the Weapon X program. 

Though a movie adaptation would likely excise Captain America (or maybe not, now that Deadpool's under the MCU banner), it would be easy enough to substitute the Sentinel of Liberty with a character like Colossus or even Cable. But while the investigation into Weapon X could be compelling, it also could be a little played out, having been a part of multiple "X-Men" films. Instead, what we really love about this story is the spark that sets it off, as a mysterious villain is caught repeatedly stealing Deadpool's organs.

While the Weapon X angle might be a nice idea to get the two heroes together, an organ-theft plot that sees Deadpool call in Wolverine for help seems like just the kind of sickeningly twisted story that Reynolds would enjoy. 

When the dust settled on the acquisition of 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) by the Walt Disney Company in 2019, fans went into a frenzy anticipating a reboot of the "X-Men" films and their universe within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it's been years now and we have not seen a peep from the world of mutants in the MCU, save locations like Madripoor in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." In fact, we may be in for a long wait, as Marvel has revealed its plans for Phase 5 of the MCU, with no "X-Men" on the calendar through at least 2025. But we know they're coming eventually, so why not a direct reference to a new team of MCU mutants in "Deadpool 3" to whet our collective appetites?

We're not sure how such a reference could play out — it's unlikely, for instance, that Marvel Studios would cast their eventual new team for a one-off gag in the film — but whether it's a mention of Magneto being Wanda Maximoff's father, or a news report of the former Avengers headquarters becoming a school for gifted youngsters, we want to see a hint of things to come. 

A bit more of a longshot, we'll admit (especially considering the divisive fan reaction to the Disney+ series), but there's been talk that She-Hulk will be making her way to the big screen eventually (per The Direct) — so there's no reason she can't get a head start with an appearance in "Deadpool 3." A longtime fourth-wall breaker, Jennifer Walters' habit of turning to the camera and talking directly to the audience predates "Deadpool" in the comics, and continues to be used to great comic effect in her own series. To see them sharing the screen and arguing over which one is going to get the audience's attention? Well, that's a recipe for comedy gold.

And while some of the silliness in her own series may not have been a hit with audiences wanting a more serious take on the character, her tongue-in-cheek humor would feel right at home in "Deadpool," where a twerk or a "bruh" would not be out of place. Say what you will about the jokes and jabs in "She-Hulk," but there's no reason her series' sense of humor wouldn't work in even a brief team-up with the Merc with a Mouth. Plus, if we do get a Hulk/Wolverine showdown, who better than to break it up than Bruce's cousin, who can mock the overly macho boys for always finding a reason to fight amongst themselves.

Considering the real-life friendship that's evident between stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and the fact that they've already shared the screen once before as their characters in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," there's going to be plenty of temptation to fill "Deadpool 3" with loads of jokes at the expense of each other. With Jackman himself going back on a promise to retire from the role of the brawny bub too, we have no doubt that Wade Wilson will break the fourth wall to comment on it. But if it were up to us, we'd have them leave the 2017 film "Logan" out of the laughs.

Now, don't get us wrong, we'd love to see Jackman's role as Wolverine — and the star himself — lampooned plenty, but "Logan" was such an elevation of the comic book film genre, with a serious and somber tone, that it should be set aside and not used as the source of mockery. Besides, there's a lot more fun that can be had by making their earlier effort, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" — a much-maligned flop — the butt of many jokes. From the strange choice to sew Deadpool's mouth shut, to Wolverine's poorly CGI'd claws, it's all good material for Reynolds to play with. 

So go ahead Ryan, laugh at the "X-Men" films all you want. Take jabs at Mr. Jackman to your heart's content. But do us all a favor and leave "Logan" alone.

Heading into the release of "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," many fans were hoping for a parade of former movie guest stars, with dreams of seeing non-MCU heroes like Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider or Wesley Snipes' Blade back in action across the multiverse. There was even brief talk of new versions of the Avengers, with rumors swirling of Tom Cruise suiting up as Iron Man (gossip that turned out to be entirely made up). 

Ultimately, though, the film limited its guest appearances to the Illuminati in a single key sequence, disappointing many. But if "Deadpool" is truly going to embrace the weirdness of being under the Disney and MCU banners, cameos from heroes from past movie universes would be the perfect card to play. Admittedly we don't want "Deadpool 3" to get bogged down in cameos, but that doesn't mean they can't give them to us in spades while keeping the movie focused on a streamlined story. 

After all, there's no better franchise to utilize one-off appearances from a gaggle of multiverse heroes than this one, where a joke can be played for a laugh before moving on. Not only would a cavalcade of cameos finally fulfill every fan's fantasies, but the opportunity to have Hugh Jackman's Wolverine finally share the screen with the likes of Ioan Gruffudd's Mr. Fantastic — or even Ben Affleck's Daredevil — in single-scene gags might be too tempting to pass up.

The internet and social media have been blowing up since the announcement that Hugh Jackman would be back as Wolverine for "Deadpool 3." Hordes of fans have been assembling their wishlists of cameos and match-ups, just as we are doing here, hoping to see the X-Man back on screen alongside MCU mainstays like the Hulk, Iron Man, or Thor. But in all the excitement over the unprecedented access the filmmakers have to any number of Marvel heroes  – from "The Avengers" to "The Fantastic Four" and "The Guardians of the Galaxy" — we want to make sure they don't forget that Deadpool already has an excellent supporting cast.

That's right, with all the talk centered on Wolverine, let's remember there's plenty of great characters from the first two films we want to see back in action. That includes disgruntled cabbie Dopinder, lucky Domino, steel-skinned Colossus, sardonic roommate Blind Al, and the jaded Negasonic Teenage Warhead. Heck, we might even get to see fire-starter Rusty Collins and time-traveling mutant Cable too. 

Let's face it: we want to see cameos, but only as long as the film doesn't get sidetracked so far that it forgets about old favorites. Some fans might worry that so many characters will hurt the film, but Marvel has excelled with large ensemble casts before, and even a solo film or two with plenty of guest stars. They can look at "Captain America: Civil War" or "Spider-Man: No Way Home" if they want to see how to do it right.

Why are we talking about another sequel before "Deadpool 3" even drops? Well, Marvel Studios is known to plan their slates years — even decades — in advance, so there's no reason we can't speculate likewise. In this case, we want to see a tease for a fourth installment in "Deadpool 3," not just because it would be fun, but because many fans are likely assuming that the third entry will be the last, the capper on a stellar trilogy, and we want Marvel to put that to bed right away.

At the end of the day, there's really no reason "Deadpool" needs to conclude after three films, not while Reynolds still loves the character and still has a passion for killing baddies and cracking wise. With Marvel Studios clearly willing to allow "Deadpool" films to continue alongside the MCU, even in an R-rated form, we don't imagine they'd say "three is enough," especially not when they're raking in billions at the box office.

If anything, Jackman's addition to the series could very well reinvigorate Reynolds and Marvel, and get them primed for even more sequels, or spin-offs featuring Domino, Cable, and X-Force. If any of that is in the works, we want to see them say it in a post-credits announcement: "Deadpool will return."

No, we're not joking here, and yes we mean Kevin Feige: President of Marvel Studios, executive producer, master of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the man with the famous baseball cap. We want to see him in "Deadpool 3." How and why, you ask? For starters, he's the king of all things Marvel movies, and it's long past due that the fans get a chance to show their love. "Deadpool 3," the first film to firmly cross over the "X-Men" and MCU universes with a sense of good humor, is just the right place for it to happen.

Don't forget, Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee has had cameos in nearly every major Marvel movie, and with his passing in 2018, maybe Marvel can pass the torch to Feige, the founder of the MCU. A movie that doesn't just break the fourth wall but smashes through it could easily see its star breaking down Feige's door and demanding answers when he finds himself in the MCU, unaware of Disney's purchase of 20th Century. It might even combine our wish for an "X-Men" reboot tease with the studio head knee deep in franchise planning when we see him.

"Surely," you must be thinking, "if Hugh Jackman has broken his vow to never play Wolverine again, he's only doing it for this one special film." And you may be right. It's also true that Jackman probably won't be back as the MCU's own Wolverine, and will stop short of playing the character past the point where Logan died in 2017's swan song "Logan" (spoilers for a movie that's several years old). But we still think there's some fun to be had with Jackman as Wolverine beyond "Deadpool 3," and if he was convinced to return once, he can be convinced to return again ... it just has to be something special.

What could that be? Fan reaction to Wolverine's return seems to suggest that audiences want to see him come back for the epic crossover film in 2025, Marvel's "Secret Wars." An event in the comics that crossed over just about every major Marvel character, the MCU adaptation appears to be setting up a multi-verse version of the story, with the villainous Kang assembling heroes and villains from disparate realities. But the film would be remiss not to include any major mutants.

Considering we may still not have seen a new "X-Men" film by 2025, Jackman returning as Wolverine for that film would help represent the mutant side of Marvel, and provide the perfect cap for his final portrayal of the character. Is this one likely? Probably not. But we won't let that stop us from dreaming.