Ryan Reynolds’ deleted Deadpool & Wolverine clip suggests a future for his biggest cameo

Deadpool and Wolverine Star Ryan Reynolds has shared countless clips from the film on social media since its release, but none felt as pointed as today’s 20-second deleted scene. Ten years ago, test footage leaked from Death PoleThe effects film generated such enthusiasm among fans that 20th Century Fox decided to change course and greenlight the film. With this clip, Reynolds and co. may have been hoping for a similar outcome.

(Editorial note: The rest of this piece contains spoilers for Deadpool and Wolverine.)

The footage is from Channing Tatum’s Gambit, which reveals that he survived the final battle in Cassandra Nova’s compound – which doesn’t seem very likely That a lot, if it weren’t for Reynolds’ tweet’s “Marvel Sparkle Circle” (i.e. Doctor Strange’s magical portal ring), and the clear reflection of that sparkling circle in Tatum’s soulful eyes. Which of course implies that some force plucked Gambit from the Void and transported him to a timeline where it would be possible to see him again.

While technically “deleted,” the footage is also somewhat visible in the film from a “blink or you’ll miss it” angle — on one of the monitors in the background of a shot at the TVA. Tatum even referenced the clip in a recent interview with Colliderand said, “There’s something happening in that moment that maybe no one knows about yet.” The actor clearly hasn’t given up all hope of playing Gambit again.

This would be a run-of-the-mill tease if it weren’t for Tatum and Reynolds’ parallel history with Gambit and Deadpool. Both are actors who took a personal interest in their characters — Tatum’s affections may have been swallowed up a bit by history, but for a decade now he’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that he loves Remy LeBeau and wants to give him a real Cajun accent. He and Reynolds were both open to potential solo films in 2014but while Death Pole continued after the leaked footage went viral, Gambit remained in development until it was officially suspended in 2022.

Are Reynolds and Tatum (whose camp reposted Reynolds’ X-post) pushing for a Gambit Movie? It seems like they wouldn’t mind. Will they get one? It’s anyone’s guess. But given how Reynolds went from a Hail Mary revival of cancellation to his blockbuster Death Pole trilogy, then it makes perfect sense that he would insist — or at least nod to — that this happen to another actor’s favorite superhero.