Movies News Talk
Throughout production, the much awaited Marvel film Deadpool & Wolverine was the target of numerous infamous leaks and rumors. To keep the several shocks the film had, some of these were deliberately created by producers of Deadpool & Wolverine. Producer Wendy Jacobson verified that the numerous cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine were kept from being spoilt too early by means of coordinated fake leaks. These rumors directly addressed the plot of Deadpool and Wolverine, their position in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and their effects on the future of the MCU.
Many rumors about the Deadpool & Wolverine ensemble were floating around, and a few seemed validated by Hollywood insiders and even hinted at by past X-Men movie stars. These all had the same effect even though it's unknown which of them was a deliberate attempt to mislead the viewers. Although some of the leaks were real, the directors went to great care to keep the viewers wondering.
When Halle Berry posted a picture on Instagram showing her short, white hair—akin to her legendary hairstyle as Storm in the X-Men series, especially in X-Men: Days of Future Past, she created buzz. This generated a lot of conjecture about Berry possibly playing Storm in the then-coming Deadpool & Wolverine film. As expected Hollywood insiders started to verify her participation in the project, the buzz grew and fans started to excitedly await her comeback to the superhero franchise. Still, Storm never showed up in Deadpool & Wolverine despite the growing whispers and fan expectations. Berry's short cut was actually for her part in The Union for 2024. But Berry's comeback to the X-Men franchise seems like a perfect chance to throw viewers off the scent by teasing.
A fake leak from Deadpool & Wolverine generated buzz when it showed James Marsden in the Void sporting a comic-accurate Cyclops outfit. Published on social media, this apparently verified his comeback to the film's role. But Cyclops was conspicuously absent when the movie came out, implying that the leak was meant to be a setup. Emerging in the wake of the legendary Toad and Sabretooth leaks that proved accurate, the picture revealed that this was a calculated action by the directors to offset possible spoilers and preserve the surprises of the movie. Having Marsden dress in the uniform while on the Void (as Toad and Sabretooth were shown) gave the picture great authenticity. This deft misdirection draws attention to the extent to which producers of Deadpool & Wolverine went to maintain the mystery and suspense around the much awaited release.
Early on in Deadpool & Wolverine pre-production, rumors emerged that Owen Wilson would return as Mobius the TVA agent from Loki. Mobius never showed up in the movie's final cut, despite the excitement and the credibility Sneider's report added. This absence led some to conjecture about whether Wilson's participation had always been a false lead, if last-minute script revisions had taken place, or if the rumor was based on antiquated information. Wilson's Mobius has allegedly been replaced for Deadpool & Wolverine with another character. The TVA's Paradox is the most qualified applicant, but it seems highly improbable that he would have taken on a villainous role.
Following his cameo in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Patrick Stewart hinted to a future comeback as Professor Charles Xavier. Stewart said he and Ian McKellen were "not done" portraying their legendary X-Men characters. He also mentioned a discussion about Xavier's comeback in Deadpool & Wolverine, which stoked rumors that the two X-Men movie stars would play their parts in the much awaited film. As several insiders on social media verified the actors' participation, this conjecture gathered momentum and many people excitedly expected to see Professor Xavier and Magneto in Deadpool & Wolverine. Though there was increasing buzz and apparently reliable insider confirmations, neither Stewart nor McKellen showed up in Deadpool & Wolverine. This absence left some perplexed and somewhat disappointed since it suggested that the conversations either fell short or were never as specific as claimed on social media.
After Stewart hinted at both of Patrick Stewart's and Ian McKellen's returns, Hollywood insider MyTimeToShineH confirmed on X that both would show in Deadpool & Wolverine. The idea excited many, especially given Stewart's hints and the insider's confirmation seemed to confirm their participation. Though both characters were mentioned in the movie, neither really showed on-screen in Deadpool & Wolverine. Magneto had died in Deadpool & Wolverine, and Professor Xavier would have sought to save Cassandra Nova, his sister. Though they gave the story more complexity, the debates of their characters within the film did not fulfill the wish to see Stewart and McKellen perform their legendary parts. Stewart's strong hint points to the existence of another project under development whereby the legendary pair will make future returns.
X was informed by Insider DanielRPK that Daniel Radcliffe would be performing a "secret role" in Deadpool & Wolverine Radcliffe, often fan-cast as Wolverine for the MCU because of his amazing physical metamorphosis for Miracle Workers, seemed a great fit for a Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine. After the confirmation, rumors flew wild, with many thinking Radcliffe would play a version of Wolverine, maybe as Patch, referencing his popular fan-casting - much as Henry Cavill's cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. The concept of Radcliffe assuming such a legendary role created a lot of buzz since viewers would be delighted to see Radcliffe in such a lighthearted nod to fan expectations. But none of these theories came to pass when the film came out. Whether this was a calculated diversion or a baseless rumor verified by DanielRPK is unknown. Radcliffe is still being proposed as the legendary mutant for the MCU, though.
According to Insider DanielRPK, Liev Schreiber will once more be Sabretooth in Deadpool & Wolverine. Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic podcast also carried this rumor. Many were happy to see Schreiber back since they remembered his unique portrayal as the savage villain in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Later on, though, a real leak revealed that Tyler Mane would be playing Sabretooth, returning from the 2000 original X-Men movie. As did the return of Ray Park's Toad, this surprising but wonderful turn paid a nostalgic nod to the start of the franchise. This rumour was quite misleading even if it was most likely a misinterpretation or assumption of Schreiber's involvement. It also confirmed Mane's involvement, which was far less than the teaser for Deadpool & Wolverine implied.
There has been a lot of conjecture around rumors that Taylor Swift would feature in Deadpool & Wolverine. It is said they started when Shawn Levy, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, and director were seen with the singer during a Kansas City Chiefs game. Initially, insider MyTimeToShineHello suggested that Swift would portray Dazzler, a mutant known for her musical abilities. Reynolds and Levy fueled these rumors by frequently teasing Swift's possible appearance and refusing to deny the pop star’s involvement. This led to speculation that Swift would play Ladypool in Deadpool & Wolverine, a female counterpart to Deadpool. Despite the excitement over the idea of Swift joining the Marvel universe, none of these roles occurred. Though they would have fit well considering Deadpool wore a t-shirt with Swift’s cats on it in Deadpool 2.
Many rumors swirled around Wesley Snipes's return as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine. Initially, these rumors were dismissed by several reputed insiders, who cited the purported feud between Snipes and Ryan Reynolds during the filming of Blade: Trinity as a major obstacle. Wesley Snipes himself addressed these claims, denying his involvement with the MCU while also responding vaguely to reports about his potential return, specifically in Deadpool & Wolverine. This ambiguity only fueled further speculation about his participation in the project. Adding to the confusion, some reports suggested that instead of Snipes, the Blade character from the Spike TV series, played by Sticky Fingaz, might appear in the film. Ultimately, Snipes did appear, with Deadpool himself referencing their infamous feud - though Snipes and Reynolds have since described this as overblown and have referred to each other as friends.
Insiders claimed that Deadpool & Wolverine would serve as a direct lead-in to the MCU's Avengers: Secret Wars. They claimed that the plot detailed characters from numerous Marvel universes, including Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, being recruited by the TVA for a Multiverse Army. This army was expected to later confront the Council of Kangs in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, setting the stage for a multitude of multiverse variants to join the battle in Avengers: Secret Wars. None of these Deadpool & Wolverine rumors proved true. Instead, the movie turned out to be a fun, self-contained romp that, while introducing some intriguing concepts to the MCU, did not significantly alter the franchise's overall trajectory. Deadpool & Wolverine focused on its titular characters' dynamic and humor, standing on its own rather than laying extensive groundwork for future MCU events.