Deadpool returned to theMCUinWhat If…?season 3, and the appearance of a new variant of the Merc with a Mouth has me convinced that Marvel Studios will continue to do him justice. Ryan Reynolds is one of my favorite actors, but none of his roles please me more than Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, as it seems he was born to play this violent, hilarious and fourth wall-breaking antihero.Deadpool made the move from 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise to the MCUin 2024, and I reckon this will only become more enjoyable.
Ryan Reynolds first appeared asWade Wilson in 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine, but reinvented the character to be more comic-accurate in 2016’sDeadpooland its 2018 sequel. This is the version that we saw in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverine, fighting to save his universe from the TVA and Cassandra Nova, and succeeding. Reynolds' Deadpool is not the only iteration, however, asDeadpool & Wolverineintroduced a slew of fantasticDeadpool variants to the MCU, andwe saw yet another appear at the end ofWhat If…?season 3’s emotional finale.
What If…? Season 3 Introduced A New Deadpool To The MCU
What If…? Teased Several New Variants We Might Never See
There was some anger directed at the finale ofWhat If…?season 3, as this season was the final chapter of the animated Multiverse Saga series, but took the opportunity to tease a number of intriguing variants right at the end that we might not see revisited. Among the likes of aThanos and Wolverine crossover, a Samurai Ghost Rider and the Maestro version of the Hulk, a variant of Deadpool was also glimpsed.This marked Deadpool’s first appearance since his MCU debut inDeadpool & Wolverine, and made me very excited about the future possibilities with the character.
From Ghost Rider, Thanosverine & Sorcerer Hulk to Deadpool: Every Multiverse Character Hidden In What If…?’s Ending
What If…? season 3 episode 9 features several cameos by wild multiversal variants never seen before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s unclear exactly what kind of reality this variant of Deadpool would have come from, but the fact that he carries an entire arsenal of weapons on his back suggests that he might be far deadlier than Ryan Reynolds' iteration from the live-action MCU. In fact,some theories have suggested that this could be the version of Deadpool from Marvel Comics’Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universeevent from 2011. This makes me think that Marvel Studios is willing to take Deadpool to places 20th Century Fox never would have, which is very exciting.
What If…?’s Deadpool Proves Marvel Is Willing To Take Him To The Extreme
Deadpool’s Variants Are Wild In The MCU
Every version of Deadpool’s appearances inDeadpool & WolverineandWhat If…?have me thinking that Marvel Studios will be pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the Merc with a Mouth in the future.The fact that a variant of Deadpool has recently been seen wielding a huge number of powerful weapons suggests the MCU will make Deadpool more violent and unabashed than ever, and this has already been glimpsed in live-action.Deadpool & Wolverineshockingly opened withDeadpool fighting TVA Minute Menusing Logan’s adamantium skeleton, for instance.
Deadpool’s various fights withHugh Jackman’s Wolverinewere also especially brutal, while the titular pair’s battle against the Deadpool Corps was also completely unhinged.The fact that so many different and interesting Deadpool variants appeared alone makes me think Marvel are taking every opportunity they can with Deadpooland pushing him to every extreme. Since this has been the case in only a matter of months, I’m incredibly excited to see what the future holds for Deadpool and his wild multiversal variants.
What Could Deadpool’s MCU Future Include After Deadpool & Wolverine & What If…? Season 3?
Deadpool Hasn’t Yet Been Confirmed To Be Returning To The MCU
AfterDeadpool & Wolverinemanaged to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, and since the movie left the door open for more adventures, it seemsinevitable that Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool will be returning to the MCU. Even so, neither Reynolds nor Marvel Studios have yet revealed when this might happen. So, whilewe can hope that Deadpool will appear alongside Earth’s Mightiest multiversal Heroes inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars, it’s possible we could be waiting longer than that.
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BothDeadpool & WolverineandWhat If…?season 3 demonstrated the multiversal potential of introducing Deadpool to the MCU. Even if Ryan Reynolds wants to take a break from the character, I would love to see theDeadpool Corps return in the Multiverse Saga, allowing the likes of Lady Deadpool, Cowboypool, Headpool, Zenpool and Deadpool 2099, among many others, to get some actual development. It’s possible that we could even see the version of Deadpool fromWhat If…?make the move to live-action, paying off the tease from season 3’s final moments perfectly.
What If…?
Cast
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
