When Will Deadpool Return In The MCU After Deadpool & Wolverine? Every Possibility Explained

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Summary

Deadpool’s return to the MCU is very likely after the success of
Deadpool & Wolverine
.
Deadpool and Ryan Reynolds’ popularity could lead to team-ups with Spider-Man, Daredevil, the X-Men and the Avengers in Phase 6.
Deadpool’s potential return in
Avengers: Doomsday
and
Secret Wars
could pit him against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

There are several upcoming MCU projects that could see Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool return after the events of Deadpool & Wolverine. Reynolds first portrayed Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise, but was brought into the MCU’s continuity in Phase 5, alongside many other returning actors from Marvel’s live-action history. Although originally expected to bring Deadpool into the MCU’s Earth-616 permanently, Deadpool & Wolverine’s ending saw Wade Wilson return to his home reality, but this doesn’t mean he can’t return in the future.

Deadpool & Wolverine has very quickly become one of Marvel Studios’ biggest successes, grossing over $400 million worldwide in just its opening weekend. The character’s immense popularity means it’s almost a certainty that Deadpool will be returning to the MCU, even though this hasn’t been confirmed by Marvel or Ryan Reynolds. Deadpool returning could see the MCU explore some of his brilliant Marvel Comics team-ups, introduce the MCU’s official X-Men team, or fight alongside the Avengers in the Russo brothers’ Phase 6 movies.

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10 Deadpool & Wolverine 2

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Success Will Probably Lead To A Sequel

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s huge success means it’s very possible that a direct sequel to the movie could go into development at Marvel Studios. Currently, no sequel has been confirmed, but Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool is one of Marvel’s most popular and beloved characters, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either Deadpool 4 or Deadpool & Wolverine2 get announced. A sequel to Deadpool & Wolverine could officially bring Wade Wilson into the MCU’s main timeline, as the Phase 5 movie left his ending ambiguous.

Deadpool’s Live-Action Movies	Year	Studio
X-Men Origins: Wolverine	2009	20th Century Fox
Deadpool	2016	20th Century Fox
Deadpool 2	2018	20th Century Fox
Deadpool & Wolverine	2024	Marvel Studios

Prior to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, a spinoff of Deadpool 2 focused on the X-Force team had been planned. Marvel Studios could revive these plans for the MCU, which could see Deadpool form a new version of the team comprising Marvel Studios’ new mutant heroes. A Deadpool & Wolverine sequel could also see Wade Wilson team up with new heroes, rather than bringing back Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. There is even speculation that a possible spinoff could see Wolverine actually battle Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, though this hasn’t been confirmed.

9 What If…? Season 3

What If…? Season 3 Could Develop The Deadpool Corps Better

Work on What If…? season 3 began in July 2022, with Matthew Chauncey taking over from A. C. Bradley as the series’ head writer. Although the upcoming season doesn’t yet have a scheduled release date, What If…? season 3 is expected to premiere quite soon, and since the series may follow the policy of only featuring heroes who have previously been seen in live-action, Deadpool could now make an appearance. Deadpool & Wolverine showcased some of the multiverse’s weird and wonderful Deadpool variants, and What If…? could expand on their story.

The Deadpool Corps played a brief but key role in Deadpool & Wolverine, introducing the likes of Lady Deadpool, the Deadpool Kid, Headpool, Kidpool, Babypool, Dogpool and Nicepool to the MCU, among others. What If…? season 3 would be a fantastic place to develop the stories of some of these Deadpool variants, perhaps detailing how they came to reside in the Void and their connections to Cassandra Nova. What If…? could even answer why Deadpool is considered to be so important to the MCU’s multiverse.

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8 Marvel Zombies

Marvel Zombies Could Bring Headpool Back To The MCU

One member of Deadpool & Wolverine’s Deadpool Corps could actually have a much larger role in another upcoming Marvel Animation series. In Marvel Comics, Headpool comes from the zombie-infested universe of Earth-2149. A version of this reality was introduced in What If…? season 1, episode 5, “What If… Zombies?!”, and will be developed further in the MCU’s upcoming Marvel Zombies. After Deadpool & Wolverine debuted Headpool, it’s very possible this unusual variant could return in Marvel Zombies.

Headpool was voiced by Nathan Fillion in
Deadpool & Wolverine
, who previously appeared as a Kyln prisoner in
Guardians of the Galaxy
and as Master Karja in
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
.

Marvel Zombies probably wouldn’t feature an appearance from Ryan Reynolds’ better-known version of Deadpool. However, if the series includes Headpool, Deadpool’s mythos can be developed much further in the four-part series, further cementing him into the wider world of the MCU’s multiverse. The animated series is also Marvel Studios’ best bet if wanting to expand on Headpool’s history and personality, as he looked pretty weird and jarring in the live-action Deadpool & Wolverine.

7 Thunderbolts*

Deadpool Wants To Be An Avenger, But He Would Fit In Better With The Thunderbolts

Deadpool & Wolverine revealed that Wade Wilson had approached Earth-616’s Happy Hogan in the months before Avengers: Infinity War in the hopes of joining the Avengers. While he was unsuccessful, there is another upcoming MCU team that might be a better match for the beloved antihero: the Thunderbolts. Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* movie will introduce this rag-tag team to the MCU, and Deadpool’s rough-around-the-edges persona and penchant for murderous heroism means he’d fit right in.

MCU Thunderbolts	Played By	Debut Project
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine	Julia Louis-Dreyfus	The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier	Sebastian Stan	Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Yelena Belova	Florence Pugh	Black Widow (2021)
Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian	David Harbour	Black Widow (2021)
Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster	Olga Kurylenko	Black Widow (2021)
John Walker’s US Agent	Wyatt Russell	The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Ava Starr’s Ghost	Hannah John-Kamen	Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Deadpool has been featured as a member of the Thunderbolts team in Marvel Comics, so there is precedence for this to take place in the MCU. Deadpool joined Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts, alongside Elektra, the Punisher, Venom and others, in 2012’s Thunderbolts (Vol. 2) #1, though this team was more heroic than previous iterations of the group. With Harrison Ford debuting as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World, it’s possible he could bring together a version of this team in the MCU, and Deadpool would make an excellent addition.

6 Spider-Man 4

Spider-Man 4 Could Feature One Of Marvel’s Most Hilarious Team-Ups

Spider-Man and Deadpool’s friendship in Marvel Comics was unexpected, but hugely entertaining, so it would be fantastic to see this bond realized in live-action. Tom Holland is set to return as Peter Parker in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man 4, and while little is known about his new MCU trilogy, it’s very likely that he’ll make connections with several new heroes. This could include Wade Wilson’s Deadpool, which may reimagine some of the pair’s adventures from Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man/Deadpool series, which ran between 2016 and 2019.

Peter Parker is completely alone in the world after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, so he desperately needs some new allies. Matt Murdock’s Daredevil and other street-level heroes have been popular suggestions, but Deadpool would bring a sense of comedy and theatrical flare to the MCU’s Spider-Man 4. This could also be used as a test for Marvel Studios, as Deadpool would need to fit himself into Spider-Man’s family-friendly tone, but this could lead to him being able to show up in even more upcoming projects.

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5 Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

A New Version Of Deadpool Could Appear In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

While Marvel Studios’ live-action Spider-Man 4 could certainly include Deadpool, the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series could also feature a version of the Merc with a Mouth. This Marvel Animation series is expected to take place in an alternate universe, exploring a new Peter Parker’s origin story as Spider-Man. Charlie Cox has been confirmed to be reprising his role of Matt Murdock’s Daredevil in the series, meaning Spider-Man will likely team up with several other heroes, and one of these could be Deadpool.

In the universe of
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
, Norman Osborn becomes Peter Parker’s mentor instead of Tony Stark.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, similarly to What If…? and Marvel Zombies, could develop the story of a Deadpool variant from Deadpool & Wolverine’s Deadpool Corps. This could even provide the opportunity to focus on a younger version of Wade Wilson, perhaps Kidpool, who may be a more appropriate age to be friends with the younger Peter Parker. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is expected to premiere on Disney+ later this year, so Deadpool could return to the MCU very soon if he appears in the series.

4 Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil: Born Again Could Build Team Red In The MCU

Deadpool’s team-up with Spider-Man in Marvel Comics is legendary, but the wall-crawler wasn’t the only New York-based street-level hero the Merc with a Mouth partnered with. In fact, Daredevil and Deadpool’s adventures together are just as iconic, so it would be great to see these brilliant vigilantes come together in live-action. This could take place in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, which will see Charlie Cox return as Matt Murdock for a battle against Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, who may become the Mayor of New York.

If Deadpool makes a visit to Earth-616’s New York as he did during Deadpool & Wolverine, he could arrive in the midst of Kingpin’s reign over the city. This could lead to him banding together with Daredevil and other street-level heroes to take on Wilson Fisk, which could lay the foundations for Team Red to appear in the MCU. 2009’s Deadpool: Suicide Kings brought Deadpool, Daredevil and Spider-Man together, each sporting their red costumes, and this would be a brilliant team-up to see in the live-action MCU.

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3 X-Men

Marvel Studios’ X-Men Reboot Is In Active Development

Marvel Studios confirmed that the MCU’s X-Men reboot was in development back in September 2023, though the movie isn’t expected to release until after the Multiverse Saga ends in 2027. It’s more likely that Deadpool will return to the MCU during the Multiverse Saga, but an X-Men movie would be a great place for the mutant antihero to make an appearance. Deadpool was never featured in the X-Men team in 20th Century Fox’s franchise, though he did become an X-Men trainee in Deadpool 2.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
writer Michael Lesslie was in talks to pen the script for the MCU’s
X-Men
reboot by May 2024.

Deadpool has been an outcast from the X-Men team throughout his entire Marvel Comics history, and this will probably continue in the MCU, with his stories being kept separate from the new team. However, since he is now one of the MCU’s most-established mutant characters, featuring Deadpool in an X-Men reboot would help to solidify the team as a clear part of the MCU. He could, of course, be a member of the team briefly, though the X-Men would soon realize that he’s not cut out for the job.

2 Avengers: Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday Could Pit Deadpool Against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom

It was previously reported that Avengers 5, now titled Avengers: Doomsday, will feature over 60 returning MCU characters, and it’s very possible that one of these could be Wade Wilson’s Deadpool. Marvel Studios revealed at this year’s SDCC that the Russo brothers would be returning to direct Doomsday and its sequel, Secret Wars, with both projects featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Deadpool and Doctor Doom have fought many times in Marvel Comics’ history, so the former’s inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday makes sense.

Robert Downey Jr. previously played Tony Stark’s Iron Man for ten MCU movies between 2008’s
Iron Man
and 2019’s
Avengers: Endgame
.

Phase 6’s Avengers movies are expected to explore the concept of the multiverse in great detail, which could give weight to Deadpool & Wolverine’s tease of Deadpool being a very special and significant figure in the multiverse. Avengers: Doomsday could see Earth-616 and Earth-10005, the designation of Fox’s X-Men universe, converge, which would easily bring together Deadpool and Doctor Doom. While this would make sense, Doomsday’s sequel might be a better place for Deadpool to return.

1 Avengers: Secret Wars

Deadpool Is Most Likely To Return In Avengers: Secret Wars

While more multiversal characters are expected to appear in the MCU prior, 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars is thought to be bringing all these characters together in an adaptation of Marvel Comics’ 1984 and 2015 Secret Wars events. This is the perfect place for Deadpool to return to the MCU, as Secret Wars could feature the destruction of the multiverse and the establishment of Battleworld by Doctor Doom. This means Secret Wars could bring together the heroes and villains of Earth-616, Earth-10005 and many other realities.

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In 2015, Marvel Comics released Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars, which placed the Merc with a Mouth in the original 1984 Secret Wars event, which he’d previously been missing from. Exploring this storyline in Avengers: Secret Wars would be hugely entertaining, and would give Ryan Reynolds some focus in what promises to be a jam-packed adventure. After Deadpool & Wolverine proved Deadpool’s popularity in the MCU, it’s clear he deserves much more attention in the franchise’s future.

Deadpool & Wolverine RAction Sci-FiComedySuperhero

A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Runtime 127 Minutes prequel(s) Deadpool , Deadpool 2 Expand

Upcoming MCU Movies	Release Date
Captain America: Brave New World	February 14, 2025
Thunderbolts*	May 2, 2025
The Fantastic Four	July 25, 2025
Blade	November 7, 2025
Avengers: Doomsday	May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars	May 7, 2027