Well, how about that? Ryan Reynolds just dropped a new video on his social channels in which he announces that Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3! The sequel’s release date? July 26, 2024.
No doubt created by Reynolds’ advertising agency Maximum Effort (and featuring his other products like Aviation American Gin), the video, which you can watch below, starts off with the actor talking about how hard they’ve been working on Deadpool 3.
“Hey everyone, we’re extremely sad to have missed D23, but we’ve been working very hard on the next Deadpool film for a good long while now,” Reynolds says. “I’ve had to really search my soul on this one. His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel special.”
He continues: “We need to stay true to the character, find new depth, motivation, and meaning. Every Deadpool needs to stand out and stand apart. It’s been an incredible challenge that has forced me to reach down deep inside. And I… have nothing. Yeah, it’s just completely empty up here. And terrifying.”
Then he says: “But we did have one idea,” as Hugh Jackman walks by in the background. “Hey Hugh, you want to play Wolverine one more time?” Reynolds asks him.
“Yeah, sure, Ryan,” Jackman replies. Reynolds gives the camera an eyebrow raise as Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” starts playing, and a “Coming Hughn” tag comes up. The Deadpool logo appears and is then sliced up by Wolverine’s claw.
Shawn Levy, who directed Reynolds in Free Guy and The Adam Project, is helming Deadpool 3. The first two films’ writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, will also return.
Back in July, Disney brought Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and Logan (Jackman’s last appearance as Wolverine) to the Disney+ streaming service, giving fans access to more from the Marvel collection in one place.
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool (2016) tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool.
Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
In Deadpool 2 (2018), foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool) brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable.
Logan (2017) is set in the near future, where a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
UPDATE: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have posted a second video in which they answer all our questions. Okay, maybe not…
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.