A fleeting image from the official Deadpool & Wolverine trailer has confirmed even more Marvel villains will appear in the hotly-anticipated sequel.
Spoiler alert! This article contains Deadpool & Wolverine theories and references to set photos.The official trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine has confirmed a swathe of returning Marvel movie villains for the titular duo to encounter. Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine features the thrilling reprisal of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, teaming up with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool to save part of the multiverse. Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, Disney regained the rights to several famed characters who can now appear. As Marvel prepares to introduce the X-Men into the MCU timeline, Deadpool & Wolverine is primed to celebrate the end of Fox’s superhero universe in style.
Deadpool & Wolverine is in many ways a love letter to the early 2000s superhero movies, especially those produced by 20th Century Fox. Many of these were presumed to be primarily heroes, though a couple of villains were confirmed through set photos, and many have been officially confirmed. However, one shot from the official trailer has revealed even more Marvel cameos than expected. Standing outside a giant Ant-Man helmet is a line-up of previous Marvel movie villains. This, combined with other trailer reveals, has confirmed a litany of classic Marvel baddies for Deadpool & Wolverine.
9. Alioth The Time Monster
Loki Season 1 (2021)
Alioth is a monstrous amorphous entity that in the MCU resides in the Void. Alioth was described in Loki season 1 as “a living tempest that consumes matter and energy.” Alioth appears like a cloud of black smoke that consumes the multiversal variants that the Time Variance Authority has banished into the Void. In the comics, Alioth dominated the first few billion years of creation and boasts some intelligence. Whereas the Alioth from the MCU seems more like a lumbering behemoth, serving more as a guard dog for He Who Remains and the Citadel at the End of Time.
Alioth can be seen throughout the Deadpool & Wolverine teaser trailer, most notably as Deadpool is battling TVA agents. In the official Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, Alioth is depicted thundering across a desolate wasteland, confirming that the Void will play a central role in the movie. The implication from the trailers suggests that several mutants from Fox’s X-Men movies are trapped in the Void and are at risk of being consumed by Alioth forever.
8. Aaron Stanford’s Pyro
X2: X-Men United (2003) & X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Aaron Stanford’s Pyro was introduced in X2: X-Men United, working with the X-Men to stop William Stryker. Through this, Pyro met Magneto and, at the end of X2, joined the Brotherhood. Pyro later fought the X-Men as part of the Brotherhood during the Battle of Alcatraz in X-Men: The Last Stand and was last seen being knocked unconscious by Iceman. Pyro’s lighter is later shown in X-Men: Days of Future Past – The Rogue Cut as part of a tribute for fallen mutants, suggesting that Pyro survived the Phoenix but not the Sentinels. Pyro also had a cameo appearance in X-Men (2000), played by Alexander Burton.
Pyro appeared prominently in the Deadpool & Wolverine teaser trailer, stoking the initial speculation about returning Marvel mutants. He is depicted atop Red Skull’s car from Captain America: The First Avenger. Pryo also appears in the official Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, sitting atop Red Skull’s car on the far right of the villainous mutant line-up. Pyro’s appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine is notable for boasting a comic-accurate costume – much like Wolverine.
7. Kelly Hu’s Lady Deathstrike
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Kelly Hu portrayed a version of Lady Deathstrike in X2: X-Men United. Like her comic book counterpart, this version was enhanced with an adamantium skeleton and an advanced healing factor. Rather than the character’s typical talons, Hu’s Deathstrike is armed with adamantium fingernails, which she can grow into deadly claws. Deathstrike was last seen at the climax of X2, being pumped full of liquid adamantium and dying after a grueling and iconic fight with Wolverine.
Kelly Hu’s Deathstrike appears alongside the other mutant villains by the giant Ant-Man head in the Deadpool & Wolverine official trailer. Standing just left of the stairs, Deathstrike’s distinctive fingernail claws are unsheathed. Deathstroke is also adorned in a comparable outfit and hairstyle, as seen in X2. Deathstrike’s inclusion in Deadpool & Wolverine suggests the potential for more thrilling fight scenes starring Lady Deathstrike. While her fight with Wolverine in X2 is an undeniable highlight, the villain was underutilized – a wrong that Deadpool & Wolverine is seemingly correcting.
6. Jason Flemyng’s Azazel
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Azazel appeared as part of the Hellfire Club in X-Men: First Class. A demonic-looking mutant with the power to teleport, Azazel is Nightcrawler’s father in the comics. This is not depicted in First Class, but the pair boast comparable abilities, including their nimble acrobatics, prehensile tail, and devastating swordsmanship. Azazel is a particularly villainous presence in First Class, relishing his violent executions of CIA agents and taunting his adversaries in battle. Following Sebastian Shaw’s defeat, Azazel joins Magneto’s Brotherhood but is captured, experimented on, and killed by the Sentinels before the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Azazel is also present in the Void in the Deadpool & Wolverine official trailer, easily spotted thanks to his distinctive red skin, tail, and slicked-back black hair. Azazel is standing just to the right of the stairs leading into Ant-Man’s giant helmet, looking back towards the opening. Like Deathstrike, Azazel is a dynamic and fascinating X-Men villain who felt underused in his previous live-action appearances.
5. A Variant Of The Russian
The Punisher (2004)
The Russian is a Marvel Comics villain who typically battles Spider-Man and the Punisher. The Russian appeared in 2004’s The Punisher, serving as an assassin employed by John Travolta’s Howard Saint. The Russian attacks the Punisher in his home, leading to a brutal confrontation that ends with the Punisher stabbing and killing the Russian. In The Punisher, the Russian was portrayed by the wrestler Kevin Nash, who sadly won’t be reprising the role in Deadpool & Wolverine.
4. Dania Ramirez’s Callisto
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Dania Ramirez’s Callisto appeared throughout X-Men: The Last Stand as the leader of the Omegas. Callisto and her mutant team join Magneto’s Brotherhood for the Battle of Alcatraz, quickly establishing her rivalry with Storm, as seen in the comics. Callisto’s ability to track mutants proved useful for Magneto, while her impressive fighting ability made her a challenging opponent. Callisto was last seen defeated by Storm during the climactic The Last Stand battle, electrocuted to death by Storm’s lightning.
Callisto appears in the Marvel villain line-up in the Deadpool & Wolverine official trailer. Callisto is standing second from the left, wearing the same costume and ponytail as seen in X-Men: The Last Stand. Callisto’s presence in Deadpool & Wolverine suggests that other members of her Omegas could also appear. Though Callisto is depicted very differently in Fox’s X-Men movies than in the comics, she was a captivating presence and a formidable leader.
3. Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth
X-Men (2000
Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth was a fearsome presence in 2000’s X-Men, capturing the character’s raw ferocity and animalistic nature. Mane’s Sabretooth fought as part of Magneto’s Brotherhood and fought savagely against Jackman’s Wolverine. Mane’s Sabretooth was the quintessential depiction of the villain, with a towering stature, long blonde hair, and beastly facial features. Despite this, the role was recast for X-Men Origins: Wolverine for an equally effective but less comic-accurate rendition.
Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth is seemingly visible on the far-left side of the Deadpool & Wolverine villain line-up. His long blonde hair and ragged coat are taken straight out of his X-Men appearance, though the rest of him is quite hard to discern. However, Sabretooth is one of two characters confirmed in set photos, ensuringhis appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. Mane’s appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine teases another almighty clash between the bitter rivals Sabretooth and Wolverine, which was established way back in the first X-Men movie.
2. Ray Park’s Toad
X-Men (2000)
Ray Park starred as Toad in X-Men (2000), where he brought the amphibious mutant to life with maniacal glee. Toad was one of Magneto’s Brotherhood members and helped in his fight against the X-Men. Park’s Toad was a notable departure from the comic books but updated the character for a modern audience with a more mature tone. Toad was infamously struck by Storm’s lightning during X-Men, sending him hurtling into the Hudson River, and he was never seen again. A different version of Toad later appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Toad is seen in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, standing slightly crouched between Callisto and the bald character. Assuming his trademark stance, Toad is easily spotted among the villains. Though, like Sabretooth, set photos previously confirmed that Ray Park’s Toad will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine. As another criminally underused character in the X-Men movies, seeing Park’s Toad again will be a thrilling tribute to the Fox movies.
1. Other Theorized Villains In Deadpool & Wolverine
From Previous Marvel Movies
There are numerous other potential villains teased by the Deadpool & Wolverine official trailer, with many theories that are difficult to confirm. The bald character standing next to Lady Deathstrike could be several villains, including the Vanisher or Quill from X-Men: The Last Stand‘s Omegas. Some have theorized that he could be Bullseye, which would be appropriate considering Jennifer Garner’s Elektra is confirmed to appear. Both characters debuted in 2003’s Daredevil, so would be an apt villain to include – though whether Colin Farrell will appear is unclear.
The bald villain in Deadpool & Wolverine also bears a distinct similarity to Starfish, a minor but memorable character from The Last Stand, who fought Wolverine during the Battle of Alcatraz using his ability to regrow limbs. Additionally, the two characters with short, cropped hair wearing vests (on the right next to Pyro and on the left next to Lady Deathstrike) are both reminiscent of Arclight from X-Men: The Last Stand. While these villains are only speculations, the other confirmed villains promise a bombastic send-off to the early 2000s superhero boom in Deadpool & Wolverine.
