What you need to know about Deadpool & Wolverine
The Merc with a Mouth’s third outing promises to be his biggest yet
Hugh Jackman is back, and he’s ready to carve himself a new legacy as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine — previously known as Deadpool 3. The X-Men alumni is teaming up with Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson for the threequel, as the Merc With a Mouth is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following Tim Miller’s Deadpool in 2016 and David Leitch’s Deadpool 2 in 2018, it’s all change once again with Free Guy’s Shawn Levy taking the reins as director.
With Disney having bought the rights to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in 2019, Deadpool 3 marks a milestone moment for mutants in the MCU — being the first movie to officially include those gifted youngsters.
Read more: Deadpool and Wolverine Easter Eggs and cameos
Here’s everything you need to know about Deadpool & Wolverine, including its cast, plot, and more.
How can I watch Deadpool & Wolverine?
Deadpool & Wolverine is out in UK cinemas now, having landed on Thursday, 25 July. It will later be available to stream on Disney+.
Filming began in May 2023 in Vancouver, Canada and wrapped in January 2024, having been disrupted by the Hollywood strikes. The walkouts caused several other Marvel films, like Thunderbolts, Blade and Captain America: Brave New World, to be pushed from their previous debut dates.
Read more: How is Wolverine alive in Deadpool & Wolverine?
The movie brings Deadpool into the MCU. We know there are more mystery projects lined in Phase 6, and while we’re hopeful for an X-Men reboot, it’s more likely Deadpool & Wolverine will pave the way for them.
What have critics said about Deadpool & Wolverine?
After a long wait, Deadpool & Wolverine reviews have finally made their way online — and according to early write-ups, critics appear split on the Marvel-Fox merger.
The Evening Standard called the film “two hours of absolutely crass, glorious chaos", but before that review had time to sink in, The Independent hit the film a sucker punch, labelling it a meeting of “the most irritable guy in superhero cinema history, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and the most irritating guy in superhero cinema history, Reynolds’s Deadpool”.
Then again, The Guardian appeared to have fun with it. Their review said “it’s amusing and exhausting”, adding that “Reynolds is often funny, sometimes very funny, periodically entirely unbearable, often a weird and interesting mix of the three.”
Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter thought the film was a bit “overstuffed,” saying it’s one that’s hard to review, adding that audience reaction will “depend entirely on what you want out of it.”
Read full reviews below:
Evening Standard: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman dish up wonderful, crass chaos (3-min read)
The Independent: A tedious and annoying corporate merger of a film (5-min read)
The Guardian: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s sarky gagathon mocks the MCU back to life (3-min read)
The Hollywood Reporter: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Rely on Smirks and Sentiment in Overstuffed Team-Up (6-min read)
Is there a trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine?
Yes. The official trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine was released online in April. It shows Deadpool recruiting a down on his luck Wolverine to help him save the world, but be warned: It’s not safe for kids.
The first teaser trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine was released during the 2024 Super Bowl, where it revealed the film’s official title, as well as a hint at the plot which sees Wade Wilson being brought into custody by the TVA (Time Variance Authority), the fictional organisation that keeps the Marvel timeline in check, first introduced in Loki.
Watch the trailer below.
Who is in the Deadpool 3 cast?
The clue is in the name of Deadpool & Wolverine, but front and centre is Reynolds as the titular Deadpool. He’s sharing top billing with Hugh Jackman, who confirmed his surprise return in a viral announcement in 2022.
The official synopsis for Deadpool & Wolverine reads: “Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.”
Jennifer Garner reprises the role of Elektra, the Marvel superhero she played in 2003’s Daredevil, and her own 2005 spin-off. Dafne Keen plays Laura/X-23 for the first time since 2017’s Logan.
Other new additions to the cast include Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen and The Crown star Emma Corrin, who plays telepathic villain Cassandra Nova.
Also returning are original Deadpool stars Karan Soni, who played taxi driver Dopinder, and Leslie Uggams, who played Blind Al. Other familiar faces include Morena Baccarin as Wade’s girlfriend Vanessa, and Serbian actor Stefan Kapicic as the metal Colossus.
Brianna Hildebrand is back to the Deadpool-verse as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, with Deadpool 2’s Yukio AKA Shioli Kutsuna also coming back for more.
Speaking of Deadpool 2, Rob Delaney’s fan-favourite Peter AKA Sugar Bear returns in the third film. Despite meeting a grizzly end after his inaugural X-Force mission, he was later resurrected by Wade towards the end of the movie.
Do I need to see the other Deadpool films first?
If catching up with previous MCU, Deadpool or X-Men films seems like much too like homework, then fear not. Levy has assured fans that no prior knowledge of the Marvel timeline or Wolverine’s previous movie appearances is necessary to enjoy his new movie.
“I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies...” said Levy in April. “This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.”
Deadpool & Wolverine is out now in UK cinemas
