Spider-Man: No Way Home was only the beginning, Marvel fans. After a year of avid speculation about web-slinging cameos, Doctor Strange 2 is now following suit in terms of its Multiversal cast; but this time, the range of possibilities is much broader. Since the film's trailers have already confirmed Doctor Strange variants and Patrick Stewart's Professor X, fans are now wondering just who else the studio is keeping a secret; and one of the leading theories is a cameo from Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool.
Following fan claims that Deadpool is hiding in the poster for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Reynolds dismissed the theory, promising audiences that he's not in the upcoming sequel. However, in the wake of Andrew Garfield's adamant denials about his No Way Home role, the Deadpool star's claims did little to stem the speculation.
Now, a new rumor suggests that fans have more reason to hope for Deadpool's sooner-than-later MCU debut.
Ryan Reynolds' Rumored Doctor Strange 2 Role
When discussing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' latest trailer and the potential for a Deadpool cameo, The DisInsider Show's Derek Cornell compared Reynolds' Deadpool denial to that of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man reprisal in saying, "Well, Ryan Reynolds is pulling an Andrew Garfield right now, so we'll see."
However, Editor-in-Chief Skyler Shuler was much more confident, asserting that, "Deadpool's in it:"
"Deadpool's in it. I wouldn't say it's a rumor of the week, but I have it on good authority that Ryan Reynolds is in Doctor Strange."
In July of 2021, both Schuler and Cornell reported that What If...?'s Captain Carter would have a role in Doctor Strange 2, which now appears to have been confirmed. They have also teased Tobey Maguire's role in the film, as well as that of Owen Wilson's Mobius and Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie from Loki on Disney+.
Could Ryan Reynolds & Deadpool Rumors Both Be Right?
Of all MCU films on Marvel's Phase 4 horizon, it's hard to deny that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the perfect entry for Fox's irreverent hero. The sequel to the original 2016 film is already ushering in a Fox Marvel property courtesy of Stewart's Professor X; and if Strange is set to fall through the worlds involving dinosaurs, why not Deadpool's?
Still, while The DisInsider has said Reynolds is involved, movie insider John Campea has backed up Reynolds' claim that audiences won't see Deadpool's MCU debut in the Multiversal film.
While who is correct remains to be seen, it's also possible that they're both right and Reynolds wasn't lying or telling the truth.
After all, Reynolds only promised that he's "not in the movie." That doesn't mean he won't be in a post-credits scene, setting the stage for his upcoming Deadpool 3. In fact, his debut via a post-credits stinger may be best for both Reynolds' character and the film itself, given its already crowded cast.
Fortunately, fans won't have to wait too much longer to find out as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 6, 2022.
