Deadpool & Wolverine premiered worldwide on July 26 and is slated to be one of this summer’s biggest films. If you’re wondering whether there will be a Deadpool 4, here’s what to know about the franchise’s future and Ryan Reynolds’ involvement moving forward.
Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine sees the return of Reynolds’ unhinged Merc with a Mouth and Jackman’s beloved X-Men character for a superhero buddy comedy filled with foul-mouthed humor and lots of bloody violence. It’s the third film in the Deadpool franchise and the first to join the MCU after Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019.
Deadpool and Wolverine first came head to head in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but some fans thought that Deadpool’s character felt detached from its comic book origins. The film’s lackluster performance motivated Reynolds to relaunch the character with 2016’s Deadpool. The standalone film became the highest-grossing movie in the X-Men series and the top-earning R-rated film at the time.
Jackman played the mutant in nine X-Men franchise films over almost 25 years, most recently in 2017’s Logan. His last appearance ended with his character dying after his super-healing ability failed. The Australian actor told Variety that one day, it came to him that he missed playing Wolverine, and he immediately called his co-star.
“I literally stopped the car, got out and called Ryan,” Jackman recalled. “He said, ‘Are you serious?’ I said, ‘I’m serious.’ And I hung up the phone. I thought I should probably call my agent. I had zero reservations about returning, but I was really happy with Logan. I said to these guys, ‘We’ve got to make a good reason for it to exist.’”
In Deadpool & Wolverine, the dynamic duo faces off against the supervillain and parasitic mutant Cassandra Nova, who intends to annihilate the multiverse using a “Time Ripper” devised by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) from Loki. But is there hope for the franchise to continue with or without its main star?
Will Ryan Reynolds Return As Deadpool?
Reynolds, who has portrayed Deadpool for 15 years, may be hanging up the suit for good after Deadpool & Wolverine. During a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on July 22, Reynolds swiftly dismissed the possibility of a fourth installment—or at least his involvement in it.
“Oh god no,” Reynolds told the talk show host. “My wife and children will divorce me. Jimmy, I have no prenup with any of them. I will be capital ‘B’ broke, and in turn, probably then doing Deadpool 4′ ’cause I’d need the money.”
Reynolds shares four children — James, Inez, Betty and Olin — with fellow actress Blake Lively. (Minor spoiler: His wife also makes an cameo in the superhero flick in a mask as Lady Deadpool.)
Variety asked the 47-year-old actor a similar question about how much longer he could see himself playing the Marvel character, to which he answered, “I don’t know.”
“I could see any version of it,” he responded. “I can imagine a solo movie, being part of an ensemble. I can imagine that this is also the last time. I never feel anything other than that.”
Will There Be A Deadpool 4?
Marvel Studios has yet to announce whether there will be a Deadpool 4, and the future of the franchise remains uncertain, especially after Reynolds’ recent comments suggesting he might not return for another Deadpool movie. However, this doesn’t mean that Reynolds is entirely finished with the MCU.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for the end of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine includes a single post-credits scene that doesn’t hint at another film or future storyline. After a nostalgic montage of behind-the-scenes clips from Fox’s Marvel movies set to Green Day’s “Good Riddance,” viewers reach the end credits, typically known for teasers and MCU Easter eggs.
In the scene, Deadpool appears at the TVA headquarters, breaking the fourth wall to clarify a misunderstanding. Although he previously insulted Cassandra and pinned the blame on Johnny Storm (Chris Evans’ character, the Human Torch from Fantastic Four), he insists he isn’t responsible for Storm’s death. Deadpool then rewinds the TVA surveillance footage to show viewers what really happened.
Since Deadpool now has access to the TVA and the ability to jump between timelines, he could potentially appear in different timelines across the MCU. And with the franchise now under Marvel Studios, there are plenty of opportunities for Reynolds to return, whether in a major role or a cameo, if he chooses.
Unfortunately, it’s too soon to know about what the MCU will do with the Deadpool franchise. Stay tuned for more updates.
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the official trailer below.