Now that Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox is complete, Marvel fans are highly anticipating the Marvel Cinematic Universe debut of the X-Men. At the top of that list is Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool, who already has two solo movies under his belt and is well on his way toward a third. While mutants remain an uncertain distance away, the immediate future for the MCU is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. That film will center around Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange and Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff, but it could also be the launching pad for the X-Men.
Thanks to the sequel's second full trailer from Super Bowl LVI, hype is building exponentially for classic versions of the X-Men to find their way into the Marvel Studios narrative. Sir Patrick Stweart's Professor Charles Xavier is already confirmed to be part of the movie as a member of Marvel's Illuminati, and that could be just the start of it.
Looking closely at the movie's first official poster, fans have seen a possible sign of Deadpool's presence, leading to plenty of chatter about Doctor Strange 2 featuring the Merc with a Mouth's MCU debut. Being the number one source of news for all things Deadpool, Reynolds has heard those rumors, but has shut them down for the time being.
Ryan Reynolds Reacts to Doctor Strange 2 Rumors
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds spoke with Variety about his rumored appearance in Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness during a press tour for The Adam Project.
After first being asked if he's playing Deadpool in the Doctor Strange sequel, Reynolds made a number of jokes and comparisons before saying he's "not really supposed to say anything" about the matter. He concluded that first statement by admitting that he's not a part of the MCU's next theatrical release:
“Oh wow, Marc, that’s like the least covert trap I’ve ever seen in my life… No, that was a 1978 leg-hold trap from Russia, like I saw that from 100 miles away… Yeah I don’t, I’m not really supposed— I guess I’m not really supposed to say anything about that but I’m really not in the movie.”
Reynolds did admit that he could be lying with his response, but he promised that he was telling the truth:
“I could be lying, but I promise you I’m not in the movie.”
The outlet asked the actor to give his response directly to the camera, but Reynolds joked about there being "a team of people that will neutralize you" as soon as the interview was complete:
“We’re good, we’re good, we’re good! There’s a team of people that will neutralize you as soon as you leave here.”
Reynolds also touched on Deadpool 3. The actor was asked if The Adam Project co-star Walker Scobell had a role in the Marvel Studios production. Reynolds wants that to happen, even making claims about "one billion brown M&M's" and "unicorn hair" being in Scobell's dressing room should that be the case:
Reynolds: “I sure as hell hope so. [Talking to Scobell] How do you feel about it? Are you gonna like come with some crazy rider?"
Scobell: “I’ll do it.”
Reynolds: “One billion brown M&Ms and like y’know, thrice-combed unicorn hair in your dressing room everyday?”
When asked about how Deadpool 3 is progressing, Reynolds confirmed that "it's coming along" but refused to give any more specific details on his first MCU solo project:
“It’s coming along… You’re not getting anything today, Marc. I’m sorry.”
No Wade Wilson In the MCU Yet?
It's become quite clear over the last year alone that there are levels to the truth in regards to what's coming in the MCU.
Fans just saw this in the end results from Spider-Man: No Way Home, which became the biggest movie of the year thanks to its inclusion of major cameos and Multiversal crossovers. Alfred Molina publicly shared exactly how he would be involved with the threequel ahead of release, while Andrew Garfield became a vault of secrets in regards to any signs of his presence in the MCU.
Reynolds is in a unique situation, as fans already know that he'll be bringing his Wade Wilson into the MCU at one point or another - Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige made that clear in January 2021. Exactly when Reynolds plays Deadpool again is much more of a question mark, with some thinking it could come as early as May with Doctor Strange 2.
Now, the actor did indicate that he was taking a short sabbatical from filmmaking in October 2021, which could lead to his comments being true about him not showing up in Doctor Strange 2. Considering how secretive Marvel Studios is and how often rumors about Phase 4 have flooded the internet, nothing can be ruled out, especially for a film like this one.
Regardless of whether Reynolds is being honest about this subject, excitement is building for both his own arrival as Deadpool and the X-Men's debut as a whole. Professor X will kick this off in Doctor Strange 2, and after that, the flood gates will be wide open for the mutants to take their place alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will come to theaters on May 6, 2022.
