Ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' debut in theaters, the MCU's 28th film featured a laundry list of potential cameos and character inclusions from across Marvel's history. While some included legacy heroes like Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider, one report even teased a potential MCU debut for Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool.
The Merc With a Mouth was in a different spot than most with regard to his move from 20th Century Fox to Disney, as fans already knew Reynolds would reprise the role in the oft-discussed Deadpool 3 when it arrives. Ideas floated around the internet about where he could possibly make his first MCU appearance if it came before that, starting as early as Doctor Strange 2.
Those rumors about Deadpool joining this film became even more real in February when eagle-eyed fans thought he showed up in the movie's official poster. Now, following the MCU sequel's first week in theaters across the world, the films head writer revealed whether Wade Wilson was ever considered to appear in the first place.
Deadpool Almost In Doctor Strange 2
In an interview with ComicBook, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldon revealed that Deadpool was considered for an appearance in the latest MCU film.
While the team ultimately decided against bringing Ryan Reynolds' Merc With a Mouth into play, he admitted that they "talked about everything in this movie" and had to put the idea on the table:
"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's Doctor Strange 2 Debut Discussed
Warning - the rest of this article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Of all the characters that were in talks for a potential appearance in Doctor Strange 2, almost none garnered more excitement and intrigue than Deadpool due to his own flexible status with the Multiverse. Even after Reynolds firmly denied that he was in the film, almost everybody truly believed he was pulling an Andrew Garfield and lying to save the reveal for the movie itself.
While the Multiversal sequel brought in some major players like Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Anson Mount's Black Bolt in the Illuminati, it's interesting to think about how Deadpool would have fit into the story. Could he have snuck his way onto that team? Maybe his role could have been akin to Bruce Campbell's Pizza Poppa cameo? Perhaps the movie was saving him for a funny post-credits stinger where he dropped the MCU's first F-bomb?
Whatever the ideas were for Deadpool, even the fact that Waldron and the team discussed it shows just how close the anti-hero is to joining the MCU and interacting with Marvel's biggest names. Even with Deadpool 3 still in the early stages of development, this fan-favorite character should be on fans' radars in the coming months as his first credited role inches closer to reality.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.
