Marvel is bringing back several legacy X-Men actors for Avengers: Doomsday (2026), but one major name remains absent from the extensive cast list: Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.
So far, several actors from Fox’s X-Men universe are confirmed to return. They include Ian McKellen as Magneto, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, James Marsden as Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and Kelsey Grammer as Beast.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has also been the subject of nonstop speculation ever since Deadpool & Wolverine crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide in 2024.
But despite that film becoming one of Marvel’s biggest recent successes, Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth has yet to officially appear anywhere else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Still, that hasn’t stopped Marvel from teasing the character elsewhere.
Related: ‘Deadpool' Star Officially Replaced as Iconic Hero in Live Action : Disney Fanatic
The new trailer for X-Men ’97 Season 2 includes a brief nod to Deadpool when the shapeshifting mutant Morph transforms into Wade Wilson.
The moment appears to reference a similar transformation from the original X-Men: The Animated Series that aired from 1992 to 1997. Watch the official trailer below (he appears around the 1:29 mark):
While it’s hardly an appearance from Deadpool himself, the cameo has reignited speculation surrounding Reynolds’ future in the MCU, particularly where Doomsday is concerned.
During an appearance on TODAY Sunday Sitdown Live earlier this year, Reynolds suggested that Deadpool works best as part of a larger cast rather than as a central character. That comment immediately reignited rumors that Reynolds could secretly appear in Doomsday despite currently being absent from Marvel’s confirmed lineup.
Meanwhile, rumors surrounding Jackman’s Wolverine appearing in Doomsday also continue, with some reports claiming the character is set to appear opposite Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man during the film’s opening sequence.
However, none of these rumors have been officially confirmed by Disney or Marvel.
Questions also remain over whether there are plans to move forward with Deadpool 4.
In 2024, while speaking with Kevin McCarthy (via The Playlist), Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy discussed the pressure of making sequels and how trilogies are usually enough.
However, TJ Miller — who played Weasel in both Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018) — recently suggested another sequel could still happen. Speaking with 101 WRIF Detroit, the actor said that Reynolds already has ideas for another film in the series.
For now, Reynolds continues to publicly question whether he’ll ever wear the costume again. During the press tour for Deadpool & Wolverine, the actor told Collider: “I have no idea if I’ll ever wear that Deadpool suit again. I hope I do — but I don’t know.”
Whether that changes before Avengers: Doomsday reaches theaters on December 18, remains one of Marvel’s biggest unanswered questions.
For now, at least the character is being used in other corners of Marvel, including last year's Deadpool VR, in which he's voiced by Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother).
X-Men '97 Season 2 premieres on Disney+ on July 1.
Avengers: Doomsday releases in theaters on December 18.
Would you like to see Ryan Reynolds return as Deadpool? Let us know in the comments below!
