Leading up to the release of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, the internet was flooded with speculation and theories about how the film would impact the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, many of which proved false. Audiences theorized that the film would be the key to unlocking the MCU’s future, setting up the next major saga, and introducing long-awaited elements into the main Marvel timeline. While ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine delivered a thrilling, irreverent, and action-packed multiversal adventure, it did not shake up the MCU in the ways many had expected.
Ever since the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney, it has been speculated on how characters from Fox’s X-Men universe would be integrated into the MCU. The announcement of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine – which officially brought Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine together – only intensified this speculation. The film’s multiversal elements, combined with Marvel’s larger Multiverse Saga, led many to believe that it would serve as a pivotal moment for the MCU’s future. However, the film ultimately functioned more as a conclusion to the Fox X-Men era rather than a direct restructuring of the MCU.
10
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Directly Set Up Avengers: Secret Wars
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Had Seemingly No Connection To Secret Wars
One of the most persistent theories was that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would directly set up the MCU’s Avengers: Secret Wars, the highly anticipated conclusion to the Multiverse Saga. Given that Secret Wars is expected to involve a multiversal collision and feature characters from various realities, it seemed logical that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s chaotic antics would trigger events leading into it. The theory suggested that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine’s adventures through the multiverse would create the conditions necessary for Secret Wars to occur.
The apparent universe-melding nature of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would instigate the multiversal chaos predicted in Secret Wars. Instead, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine had little direct connection to Secret Wars. At best, it opened the door for franchise characters such as Jackman’s Wolverine to return in Secret Wars, but it did not serve as the linchpin for Marvel’s major crossover event.
9
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Rewrite MCU History
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Barely Crossed Into The MCU
Another major theory suggested that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would act as a soft reboot for the MCU, allowing Marvel Studios to integrate characters and elements from Fox’s X-Men franchise while discarding what no longer fit. The idea was that by the end of the film, the MCU would be reshaped, blending aspects of Fox’s continuity with the mainline MCU in preparation for future films. This theory gained traction due to the film’s multiversal premise and the growing perception that the MCU needed a creative refresh.
Many believed ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine could be used to erase or rewrite elements of the past, streamlining the narrative for a new era. Given that Marvel has faced criticism for its increasingly complex timelines, some saw this as an opportunity for a reset. However, the film did not take this approach. Instead, it acted as a send-off for the Fox era, giving closure to its characters rather than rewriting history.
8
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Was Manipulated By A Spider-Man Villain
Humans In Fact Killed The X-Men
One of the most intriguing theories suggested that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would incorporate a major plot element from Old Man Logan that had been left out of Logan. Specifically, some posited that Wolverine had been tricked by Mysterio into murdering the X-Men, similar to the comic storyline where an illusion led Logan to kill his own teammates. The trailers for ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine showed Wolverine near what appeared to be X-Men graves, leading many to ᴀssume that this confirmed the Mysterio illusion theory.
This theory was strengthened by the idea that Marvel could use a major Spider-Man villain depicted in Spider-Man: Far From Home to connect the universes in a surprising way. However, this turned out not to be the case. Instead, the film revealed that the X-Men in Wolverine’s universe were killed by humans in his absence, not due to Mysterio’s deception.
7
The TVA Hunt Wolverine Because Of His Actions In Days Of Future Past
Wolverine’s Death Triggered His Universe Being Destroyed
A prevalent theory suggested that Wolverine’s time-traveling actions in X-Men: Days of Future Past had drawn the attention of the Time Variance Authority. Given that the TVA polices timeline disruptions, some believed that Wolverine altering history in Days of Future Past would have made him a prime target. This theory was bolstered by the fact that the TVA was confirmed to play a role in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, and it made sense that their pursuit of Wolverine would be linked to his past timeline meddling.
Similarly, it was also suggested that the TVA was involved because of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s time-travel in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2. Neither of these were true, and instead revealed that Wolverine’s death in Logan doomed his timeline and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool was being offered a chance to jump into a different timeline. This shift in focus made the TVA’s role more about monitoring doomed realities rather than tracking timeline alterations.
6
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Begin The MCU’s Mutants Saga
No MCU Mutants Appeared In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine
For years, audiences have been waiting for the MCU to formally introduce mutants. Though there are a handful of characters established, it seemed that the franchise was struggling to justify an entire mutant population appearing in the timeline. With the knowledge that the MCU was making the third ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool movie, some speculated that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would be the moment when mutants were officially integrated into the MCU.
It was thought that this could potentially feature characters from the Fox universe crossing into Marvel’s main timeline, including Wolverine and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool themselves. However, while ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine acknowledged the existence of mutants in the multiverse, it did not bring any of them into the MCU timeline. Mutants remain primarily a multiversal concept rather than a part of the main MCU narrative, with very few notable exceptions.
5
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Permanently Join The MCU Timeline
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool And Wolverine Remained In The Fox Timeline
One of the most widely believed theories was that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would permanently place both characters into the main MCU timeline. Given that Disney had acquired 20th Century Fox, and with ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s established ability to break the fourth wall, many ᴀssumed the film would use its multiversal chaos to make the transition official. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, in particular, was expected to fully integrate into the MCU for future team-ups, while Wolverine’s fate remained more uncertain.
However, the film did not take this route. Instead, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine remained in their own universe, separate from the primary MCU timeline. The movie makes numerous jokes about Disney’s acquisition of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine, but ultimately, they were not integrated at all. They now exist within the Marvel multiverse, so could reappear in the MCU’s future, but they have not officially joined the main timeline.
4
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Lead Into Doctor Strange 3
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Had No Real Connection To Doctor Strange
Given the film’s multiversal elements, some speculated that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would directly tie into Doctor Strange 3. The appearance of a sling ring and portals in the trailers fueled theories that Doctor Strange himself might appear, or that the film would set up the next major multiversal conflict. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended on a cliffhanger, with incursions threatening the multiverse, and some believed ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would further this plot.
However, these expectations were not met. While ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine featured elements of the multiverse, Doctor Strange did not make an appearance. The sling ring was used for portals, but there was no direct setup for Doctor Strange 3, nor any further explanation of incursions. The film stayed focused on ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine’s journey rather than expanding the larger multiversal storylines of the MCU.
3
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Is Building A Multiverse Avengers
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Did Not Recruit A Team
Some theories suggested that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would see ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool recruiting heroes from across the multiverse to form a new Avengers-style team. This theory gained traction because of rumors about multiple legacy characters appearing, as well as ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s reputation for ᴀssembling ragtag groups of heroes in previous films. While the movie does feature ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool encountering various familiar characters in the Void, he does not build a Multiverse Avengers team.
Instead, the story remains centered on his partnership with Wolverine. The film does not establish a larger team outside of the characters residing in the Void, nor does it hint at ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool ᴀssembling heroes for a grander mission. While some classic Marvel characters make cameo appearances, they do not join ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool on any ongoing journey, making this ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine theory one of the most inaccurate.
2
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Would Be Transported To The Endgame Final Battle
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool And Wolverine Did Not Transport To Endgame
One of the more outlandish theories posited that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine would be transported to the final battle of Avengers: Endgame. This idea was based on the presence of portals in the trailers, which led some to believe that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine would somehow find themselves in the climactic fight against Thanos, either as active participants or comedic observers. However, this did not happen at all.
The portals in the trailers were used for different purposes, and the Endgame battle remained untouched. The film stayed within its own multiversal setting, never directly interfering with past MCU events, despite many rumors that the movie would deconstruct the MCU’s history. While ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine played with time travel and alternate universes, it did not include any sequences involving the Endgame final battle, rendering this theory completely inaccurate.
1
The Myriad Of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Casting Rumors
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & wolverine Had Many Cameos But Not As Many As People Expected
Prior to the release of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine a flood of casting rumors emerged, with supposed industry insiders claiming that numerous classic X-Men actors would return. Reports suggested that Storm, Cyclops, Magneto, and Professor X would all make appearances, and some rumors even claimed that Liev Schreiber’s Sabretooth would return. Additionally, speculation ran rampant that Taylor Swift would cameo as Dazzler, and that Daniel Radcliffe might appear as a Wolverine variant.
While ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine did feature many thrilling cameos, none of these rumored appearances came to fruition. Many of the supposed leaks were exaggerated or entirely fabricated, and the final film did not include the large-scale X-Men reunion that some audiences had subsequently expected. Although there were still plenty of surprises in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, this wave of casting rumors ultimately turned out to be inaccurate.
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