Deadpool & Wolverine is finally in theaters. Ever since Deadpool 2 hit theaters six years ago, fans have been speculating about possible cameo appearances. With 20th Century Fox handing over the keys to Disney, it marked the beginning of a new era for the Marvel superhero series. And now that the film is available to the public, we finally get a chance to see all the wild and wonderful cameos you won’t want to miss once you’re in the theater.
So who can we expect to see? Topping the list is the cast of the X-Men film franchise: could Storm (Halle Berry), Cyclops (James Marsden), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Professor X (Patrick Stewart) or Magneto (Ian McKellen) make their way to the big screen once again? In the Marvel multiverse, anything is possible.
Peggy the dog is a superstar who appears in Deadpool and Wolverine.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, the main characters struggle to maintain their legacy, while restoring their self-worth within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The comic book cameos the duo encounter in The Void (the Time Variance Authority’s supernatural dump) share that they too are outcasts, cast to the curb in one way or another without a proper ending to their stories.
Either the franchises were cut short, the sequels were canceled, or the announced films never saw the light of day. The fact is that most of these heroes are saved from their own emptiness to get another chance to shine, and a few others are just hanging around for the fun of it.
Be warned, Major spoilers exist beyond this point.. If you don’t want to know who appeared before you’ve seen Deadpool and Wolverine, I suggest you turn around now.
Learn more: There’s Now a Wolverine Rounded Butt Xbox Controller to Go With Deadpool
Chris Evans Brought the Human Torch to the MCU
Chris Evans reprised his role as Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four films in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Chris Evans’ appearance is a delicious red herring. He rose to fame for his portrayal of Captain America throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga. But his first foray into superhero movies came as Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, in the Fantastic Four films of the early 2000s.
Rumors have been swirling that Evans would reprise the role of Cap from time to time, so his appearance in Deadpool 3 was definitely exciting. When the reveal of Storm’s presence in Deadpool 3 happened, a fun trend began to revive forgotten superheroes from two decades ago. Storm’s story in Deadpool & Wolverine ended in an extremely horrific way after a barrage of profane insults to represent the difference between him and the ever-honorable Steve Rogers.
Dafne Keen as Laura Howlett (aka X-23)
Dafne Keen’s return as the adult X-23, who she first played in Logan, is the glue needed to establish—and maintain—the film’s emotional stakes. Wolverine saved her life in the 2017 film, but it ultimately cost her her own.
Here, she is part of the resistance fighters who help Wade and Logan escape the Void. More importantly, she gets Wolverine to step up to help the team. Not to mention, it is X-23 who delivers the Juggernaut helmet to Deadpool and Wolverine to block his invasive mental powers. Logan once again gives her a second chance at life and she survives the film to see another day.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit Finally Happened
The character Gambit, also known as Remy LeBeau or Ragin’ Cajun, found new life on the small screen in the recent animated series X-Men 97. The X-Men’s supporting character, who hails from New Orleans, deals in playing cards that cause kinetic explosions upon impact. He may not be a main player on the mutant team, but he’s a beloved one nonetheless.
In 2014, Twentieth Century Fox announced that they would be making a Gambit movie, with Channing Tatum set to play the character. Development on the film was never completed. Directors like Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) were attached to the project at different times. Edgar Wright declined to direct the project. Tatum even offered to co-direct the film at one point. Needless to say, Marvel movies were a touchy subject for him.
Tatum’s appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine comes with a certain amount of baggage. It also gives Tatum the creative outlet he’s been focusing on for over a decade. Could his Gambit movie be catching new eyes now? In Hollywood, anything can happen.
Jennifer Garner’s Elektra Got Its Epic Ending
Jennifer Garner reprised her role as Elektra Natchios in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Jennifer Garner’s return as Elektra Natchios is the only Team Deadpool cameo that has been officially announced in advance. In 2003, the Alias star appeared on the big screen in Fox’s Daredevil film alongside Ben Affleck. Two years later, she appeared in a spinoff film of the same name. The film was not well-received, and the character has been on hold ever since.
Her return here brings an unexpected sense of closure for Elektra. Yes, she’s the first member of the Resistance fighters that Deadpool and Wolverine encounter in the Void, helping them infiltrate Cassandra Nova’s enclave to escape. The cherry on top is telling Deadpool not to be upset about Daredevil’s death in the Void. For an actress who’s mostly kept her married life private, it was a pretty delicious little dig.
Henry Cavill as Wolverine
Once Deadpool learns that his world is lacking an anchor being, he decides to travel the multiverse and find a new Wolverine. Henry Cavill (aka the Cavill-rine) happens to be one of the Wolverine variants he comes across along the way. Fans first see the muscular DC star from behind, and it turns out to be another overly grumpy variant, throwing Deadpool into the bar where he meets Jackman’s Wolverine as the one he’ll spend the rest of his adventure with.
Wesley Snipes is the only blade we need
Wesley Snipes brought Blade to the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Of all the characters he has played, Wesley Snipes is probably best known for his portrayal of Marvel’s vampire hero Blade. He has starred in three films and shared the screen with Ryan Reynolds in the third installment, Blade Trinity, released in 2004.
Fans have been waiting for a new Blade movie for some time now. The development of the project, which is set to star Mahershala Ali, has faced numerous obstacles. While we wait for his version of the famous bloodsucker to see the light of day, the original Blade films should satisfy this desire.
There’s always Deadpool and Wolverine. Snipes’ take on the character is exciting, to say the least. Twenty-six years after he first appeared on screen as the vampire antihero, his laid-back confidence—trench coat, sunglasses, fangs and all—adds an element of cool to the mix here. Not to mention, it’s nice to see the character step out of the horror movie world and into a comic book blockbuster.
Hulk
Is a Marvel movie really a Marvel movie without the Hulk? Early in the film, the big green guy fights a version of Wolverine wearing the iconic orange and brown costume he began wearing in Uncanny X-Men #139.
Honorable mentions: Blake Lively and Matthew McConaughey
She never revealed her face, but Lady Deadpool appeared and left quickly in the film, played by Blake Lively. She and her husband tried to fool the fans, but if you watch the credits, you can confirm it.
Last but not least, Matthew McConaughey lends his recognizable voice to Cowboy Deadpool, one of the many variations of Deadpool who appears in a massive fight.