Credit: Marvel StudiosWith a worldwide gross of $1.338 billion, Deadpool & Wolverine is currently the second best-performing movie of the year behind Disney’s other hit, Inside Out 2 (2024). The success of the third Deadpool franchise film may give the green light for a fourth outing, but it seems the time is up for the Merc with a Mouth as the main character.
The Deadpool franchise, comprising Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018), shattered expectations and redefined superhero cinema with its irreverent humor, over-the-top action, and unapologetically R-rated charm.
The original film, helmed by director Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, reintroduced audiences to Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of Wade Wilson, the wisecracking antihero who became an instant fan favorite.
Joining him was a stellar cast, including Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Ed Skrein as Ajax, and Brianna Hildebrand as the sarcastic Negasonic Teenage Warhead, alongside Stefan Kapičić lending his voice to the iconic Colossus.
The film grossed an astonishing $782.6 million worldwide, setting records as the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time and establishing a new standard for adult-oriented superhero films.
Directed by David Leitch, Deadpool 2 (2018) saw Reynolds return with even sharper wit, joined by Josh Brolin as the time-traveling Cable and Zazie Beetz as the luck-infused Domino. Deadpool 2 outperformed its predecessor, raking in $785.8 million globally and securing its place as one of the most successful R-rated films ever.
As a cultural phenomenon, Deadpool became a trailblazer, proving that superhero films could thrive outside the constraints of family-friendly fare. Its success paved the way for Deadpool’s eventual integration into Kevin Feige’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Disney promising to retain Deadpool’s R-rated roots.
After months of rumor and speculation, a level which can only be compared to the discourse associated with 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine finally hit theaters in July.
As Marvel Studios’ only movie dropping this year, there was a lot riding on the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman vehicle. Luckily, the third outing for the Merc with a Mouth–and his mutant companion–was a record-breaking hit, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It surpassed the likes of Oppenheimer (2023) and Joker (2019).
Director Shawn Levy previously stated that this was a firm two-hander character adventure and not “Deadpool 3.” The Multiverse epic saw not only Reynolds and Jackman make their official MCU debut but also a number of the 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) cast of comic book characters.
Disney, of course, acquired 21st Century Fox—including the studio that distributed franchises like X-Men, Daredevil, and Fantastic Four—in 2019 and scrapped the upcoming slate of projects.
From Jennifer Garner’s Elektra Natchios to Wesley Snipes’ Eric Brooks/Blade and even Channing Tatum’s Gambit from the ill-fated solo Gambit movie, Deadpool & Wolverine was a riot of cameos and acted as a love letter to the superhero stories that came before—and were later overshadowed—by Feige’s billion-dollar cinematic universe.
The stage might be set for more Deadpool-centric stories; there have certainly been whisperings of a potential Deadpool & Wolverine 2. But it seems that Ryan Reynolds won’t be stepping back into the limelight.
Speaking to fellow Marvel actor Andrew Garfield during Variety‘s Actors on Actors series, Reynolds acknowledged how much attention and energy it takes to make a Deadpool movie. When asked by Garfield what the future holds for the characters, Reynolds shared that he doesn’t see Deadpool coming back as a main character.
“I don’t know. Honestly, my feeling is that the character works very well in two ways. One is scarcity and surprise,” he told Garfield. “So it had been six years since the last one, and part of the reason is that it swallows my whole life. I have four kids, and I don’t ever want to be an absentee [father.]”
The Hollywood actor explained that he “[dies] inside” when he has to let his kids down by not attending sports events or other things. He went on to add that Deadpool & Wolverine was made as “a complete experience instead of a commercial for another one.”
There’s always a case of never say never when it comes to any popular character, but it seems, for now, that Reynolds won’t be coming back to the MCU as a leading character.
“Deadpool’s a supporting character much more than he is the center,” Reynolds added. “We center him sometimes because that’s what they want, but you can’t center him unless you take everything away from him. You have to create a situation where he’s so much the underdog. I don’t think I can do that again.”
He did say that he would “happily be a fifth banana in [a Channing Tatum Gambit] movie or anyone else.” Many anticipate that Deadpool and Wolverine will be back for the huge upcoming Avengers team-up movies, Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), but nothing has been confirmed.
The latest on those projects is that Anthony Mackie and Chris Evans will appear alongside the Fantastic Four and Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom. Mackie will most likely return as Sam Wilson/Captain America, but the jury is still out on whether Evans will play Steve Rogers or Johnny Storm, as he did in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Watch the full Variety Actors on Actors below:
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