Deadpool will travel across the multiverse in the MCU’s Phase 5, so Deadpool & Wolverine could revive one exciting but unused Phase 4 cameo.

Marvel Studios may revive one scrapped MCU Phase 4 cameo in the multiversal adventure of 2024’s upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. Shortly after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized in 2019, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige and Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds confirmed the Merc with a Mouth would be returning in the MCU proper. Since then, Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine has been revealed to be an epic tale spanning multiple realities across the MCU’s multiverse, including the franchise’s main continuity and Fox’s X-Men Universe, but even more alternate worlds could be visited in the highly-anticipated Phase 5 project.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were quickly confirmed to be reprising their roles of Wade Wilson’s Deadpool and James “Logan” Howlett’s Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine. Following this, Deadpool & Wolverine’s first trailer revealed that several other X-Men franchise characters would be returning, proving that the Phase 5 project will spend time in Fox’s X-Men Universe, while also exploring the Void at the end of time, first seen in Phase 4’s Loki series. This creates the opportunity for many variant heroes to make cameo appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, with the project perhaps revisiting major events in the MCU’s history.

Dadpool Almost Appeared In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Deadpool & Wolverine won’t be the first time that the MCU has explored alternate universes and variant characters, as Phase 4’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Doctor Strange and America Chavez embark on a multiversal journey of their own. This allowed Earth-838’s Illuminati variants, including John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter and Anson Mount’s Black Bolt, to appear, but one planned cameo unfortunately didn’t happen. MCU writer Michael Waldron confirmed to Comicbook.com that there had been discussions about including Deadpool in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but this “didn’t feel the right place.”

Yeah, we talked about it. I think we talked about everything in this movie. So, [it] would’ve been crazy to not raise that, but it ultimately didn’t feel like… It just didn’t feel the right place. But yeah, of course we talked about it.

Deadpool & Wolverine Can Revisit The Illuminati On Earth-838

Following the release of Deadpool & Wolverine’s first trailer in February 2024, a major theory arose suggesting that Deadpool may actually be traveling through the MCU’s history in the upcoming project. Speculation suggests this could see him journey to the opening of Avengers: Age of Ultron and to Sakaar during Thor: Ragnarok, but this could also feature Deadpool journeying to other alternate realities that have already been seen in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. This could potentially include Earth-838, which may provide Marvel Studios with the perfect opportunity to revive Deadpool’s scrapped cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Illuminati team including John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Lashana Lynch’s Captain Marvel, Anson Mount’s Black Bolt, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Baron Karl Mordo, of which only the latter survived.

Michael Waldron didn’t go into detail about what Deadpool’s role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have been, had it gone ahead. However, some have theorized that the Merc with a Mouth may have occupied the mysterious empty chair in the Illuminati’s chamber, suggesting he could have had a key role in the Phase 4 movie. Deadpool & Wolverine set photos and promotional material have already confirmed that several Deadpool variants will be appearing in the project, so it’s possible Deadpool could come across his own variant from Earth-838 in the moments after the Scarlet Witch’s massacre.

Deadpool Traveling Back To Earth-838 Can Introduce New Heroes To The MCU Before Secret Wars

Following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, many suspected that the surviving heroes of that alternate universe could play a crucial role in the remainder of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, specifically in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. After the Scarlet Witch massacred the Illuminati, it’s possible that their related heroes, such as Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman, the mutant Magneto, the Inhuman Medusa and the Avengers of Earth-838, could seek vengeance on Wanda Maximoff’s powerful hero-turned-villain. Deadpool & Wolverine may present the perfect chance for this storyline to be explored, as Deadpool himself may introduce these other variants to the MCU.

Secret Wars is expected to feature several incursion events, and perhaps the most likely universes set to collide are the MCU’s Earth-616 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Earth-838. Introducing a number of Earth-838’s other heroes in Deadpool & Wolverine could set the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars’ roster to be dramatically increased, while also allowing Marvel Studios to give more weight and substance to Deadpool’s own scrapped cameo in Phase 4. Deadpool & Wolverine is primed to be one of the most transformative MCU projects ever, and perhaps the most important fixture in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.