The first Deadpool and Wolverine trailer has arrived, and as Marvel diehards predicted, it’s here to shake up the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2024 Super Bowl spot arrives with just enough to tease ahead of the film’s July 26 release: a premise, a ton of connections, and most of all, a multiversal chaos that could leave the MCU in a welcome state of disarray.
When Disney absorbed 20th Century Fox in one of the major shifts in the entertainment industry of the past decade, there was one notable casualty: Deadpool. In 2019, it seemed like there was no hope for an R-rated character in Disney’s MCU pantheon for all audiences. How times change.
While we barely got a good look at Hugh Jackman’s return to the role of Logan in a non-Fox version of the X-Men character, Ryan Reynolds’ heavy trailer gave fans plenty to chew on. Here’s a breakdown.
The cast of Deadpool and Deadpool 2
Image: Marvel Studios
Dopinder, Shatterstar, Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Yukio, Blind Al, Peter and Vanessa appear in the opening of the trailer, all characters from previous installments in Deadpool’s cinematic universe – it’s nice that they’re back for a bow! But so far, Josh Brolin’s Cable doesn’t appear to be returning. Apologies to X-Force.
Hey, it’s the TVA!
Image: Marvel Studios
Deadpool 3 borrows Loki‘s TVA, featuring the new agent Paradox – probably inspired by a TVA judge named Paradox, who appeared in one issue of She-Hulk (2005). After all, it’s a great name for a TVA agent.
A mysterious bald man
Image: Marvel Studios
There are a lot of bald guys in comic books, but when it comes to the X-Men, there’s one that stands out: Professor Xavier. And so was James McAvoy recently asked about returning to the Marvel Universe and have not renounced it. If we’re not talking about Professor We’ll see if that works or if this is just a big bald herring.
Patch aka Brave Wolverine
Image: Marvel Studios
The hair is a giveaway to Wolverine, even from the back, but his white suit is a reference to Logan’s most infamous alter ego: Patch. It’s an identity he adopts when he’s in Madripoor, where he starts wearing an eye patch and a chic white suit and bow tie.
That’s a giant 20th Century Fox logo
Image: Marvel Studios
REST IN PEACE.
Pyro, from the X-Men movies
Image: Marvel Studios
Aaron Stanford (12 Monkeys) returns to reprise the role of Pyro, the – how could it be otherwise – pyrokinetic mutant X2 And X-Men: The Last Stand. He looks happy to be there!
Secret Wars (2015) #5
Image: Marvel Studios
See that ratty strip there? That is Secret Wars #5, which is quite interesting. To start with, it’s called a movie Secret Wars is the current endgame (no pun intended) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and it’s supposedly inspired by the 2015 comic that shares its name. Secret Wars could mean a lot of things, but the core concept certainly resonates with what this trailer is for Deadpool and Wolverine presents: a merger of different Marvel timelines. Secret Wars #5 in particular is also an interesting choice, as it’s a piece of story focused almost entirely on Doctor Doom and how he pulled off that timeline mashup in the first place.
Could Doom be involved somehow? Deadpool and Wolverinein anticipation of next year’s Fantastic four? We’ll have to wait and find out.