Ryan Reynolds just revealed that a beloved Marvel character will be returning to our screens, and fans can’t get enough! The Golden Globe nominee, 45, revealed in a new social media post that Wolverine, one of the most popular X-Men heroes, will appear alongside his titular character in Deadpool 3, which will reportedly begin filming in 2023.
And the best news of all? Hugh Jackman will reprise his legendary role in the upcoming action flick, and he even joined Reynolds in a comedic and wholesome video last week to announce it all to fans. In the clip, which Reynolds uploaded for his 45.7 million followers on Instagram and 20.4 million Twitter devotees, Reynolds can be seen sitting on a couch and speaking directly to the camera. As the video opens, the actor explained that his absence at the D23 Fan Expo event last month was due to preparing for his new film.
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“We’re extremely sad to have missed D23 but we’ve been working hard on the next Deadpool film for a good long while now,” Reynolds said while wearing a blue button-down top, white shirt underneath and brown khaki pants. “I’ve had to really search my soul on this one.” Reynolds continued, acknowledging how meaningful his Deadpool joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will be to fans, “His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel special.”
The two previous films centering around Reynold’s sarcastic and witty superhero— 2016’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2— were produced by 20th Century Fox and existed in the same universe as other X-Men-related films. However, as Disney acquitted Fox, Marvel Studios can now incorporate the famous mutants into the MCU (and Deadpool appears to be the singular franchise established pre-acquisition that will move forward under Disney). Fans will also remember that Reynolds appeared as Wade Wilson/ Deadpool in the 2009 film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, showing just how far back his and Wolverine’s connection goes and how special their reunion will be to viewers!
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A montage in the clip then showed the Free Guy actor hard at work, contemplating while walking through a forest, and in a kitchen and later a bathroom. “We need to stay true to the character, find new depth, new motivation, new meaning. Every Deadpool [movie] needs to stand out and stand apart,” he added in a voiceover. “It’s been an incredible challenge that has forced me to reach down deep inside and I … I have nothing. Yeah — just completely empty up here. And terrifying.”
A blurry figure then walked into the background as Reynolds said (to many fans’ delight), “But we did have one idea. Hey Hugh, you want to play Wolverine one more time?” Jackman, 53, was already walking up the stairs and casually replied, “Yeah, sure, Ryan” before the instantly viral clip ended.
Soon after, Whitney Houston’s “And I Will Always Love You” blasted as the screen teased, “Coming Hughn.” The teaser video topped it all off with a Deadpool logo slashed by Wolverine’s three claws before concluding and revealing the Deadpool 3 release date— September 6, 2024. Fans had to say goodbye to Jackman’s Wolverine in 2017, when he played the hero in Logan, and seemed to bring the storyline to a close.
In August of 2021, Jackman sat down with Jake’s Takes and said, “It’s still a character I hold close to my heart, but I know it’s done.” He then added, poking fun at Reynolds’ persistence in getting him to join a future film, “Tell that to whoever you want, but please tell it to Ryan [Reynolds]. Because he doesn’t believe it. He thinks I’m joking.” (Looks like Reynolds’ hard work paid off!) Deadpool 3 is reportedly set to film in 2023, as a source told Us Weekly. “The next business priority for the family is to get Ryan’s Deadpool franchise back on track,” the insider allegedly said.
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In another video soon after, Jackman sat down next to Reynolds on the same couch where the Adam Project star shot the first video. The Oscar nominee wore a dark black t-shirt and blue jeans and playfully joked along with Reynolds that they would be answering fan questions while also not spoiling their long-awaited film.
The dynamic duo answered one major fan question by noting that Jackman’s Wolverine will not be the same character fans saw in 2017’s Logan, as this is set in a different universe. As the two started explaining timelines and plot points, “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham! drowned out everything being said. (We can’t wait to see what really happens in 2024!)
