I’m now more eager than ever to see ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool in the MCU’s upcoming Avengers movies after ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s “Dancepool” recently posed for a pH๏τo with Robert Downey Jr. With ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine being one of the MCU’s most successful releases to date, sitting behind the Avengers movies and Spider-Man: No Way Home to be the MCU’s sixth-highest-grossing movie, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s return seems certain. Although Ryan Reynolds has recently ᴀsserted that he would like to take a long break from making ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool movies, he has proved ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s wide appeal – something Marvel probably won’t want to ignore.

Thankfully, Reynolds stipulated that while he wouldn’t appear in a solo movie anytime soon, a possible co-starring role is still on the table. Ever since he was confirmed to be a part of the MCU, I’ve been extremely curious as to how Marvel Studios would navigate ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s fourth-wall-breaking interactions with grounded MCU characters while eagerly anticipating his interactions with more irreverent characters like Star-Lord or even Thor. Even more pertinently, recent developments in the MCU have laid the groundwork for a particularly fun ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool moment I am keen to see after this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine’s Dancepool Actor Posed With RDJ At The Oscars

Nick Pauley Attended To Dance As ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Onstage

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was snubbed at this year’s Academy Awards. Although it isn’t commonplace, MCU movies are not entirely ostracized from the event, with Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever bagging several Oscars while many more like Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 have all received nominations (typically for the “Best Visual Effects” category). Despite the snub and Ryan Reynolds’ absence, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool still made an appearance as Nick Pauley, the person responsible for ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s now-iconic opening dance sequence, appeared onstage to dance alongside host Conan O’Brien, a moment that Pauley posted to his Instagram below.

\n”‘};

window.arrayOfEmbedScripts[“instagram”] = “null”;

In a touching caption for the post, Pauley thanks Ryan Reynolds for advocating for the idea to appear as Dancepool at the Oscars, and for believing in the idea to incorporate Dancepool in the ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine opening sequence. As is apparent in the post, Pauley also managed to snap a pH๏τo with Robert Downey Jr, whom he can also be seen fist-bumping in a video posted by Comicbook. This meet-up is the closest we’ve gotten to seeing ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool sharing screen time with Robert Downey Jr., and now I can’t wait to see this replicated in an upcoming MCU movie.​​​​

I Can’t Stop Thinking About Ryan Reynolds And RDJ Sharing A Screen In Marvel’s Avengers Movies

The Situation Is Perfect For Meta-Jokes

With Ryan Reynolds stipulating that he would appear alongside other MCU heroes rather than work on another ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool movie so soon, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars seem like the best candidates. Unfortunately, Ryan Reynolds is not among the confirmed cast members for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, but that doesn’t mean his appearance isn’t still in the pipeline. I would wager the most likely scenario is an appearance in Avengers: Secret Wars, given its presumed focus on Battleworld is more likely to spotlight characters from other universes.

Should this be the case, we’re all in for a treat. Robert Downey Jr. being cast as Doctor Doom after making such an indelible mark on the MCU as Tony Stark is exceptionally fertile ground for a meta-joke that might even ᴀssuage some of the ill feelings toward the development. Furthermore, it’s hard to think of an MCU co-star that will be more severe than Doctor Doom, giving the anтιтhetically irreverent ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool plenty to work with off the back of the rage-fueled “Worst Wolverine” in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine.

I’m Convinced Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Will Make Marvel’s Avengers Movies Even Better

He’ll Bring A Dynamic That Will Keep The Newest Avengers Movies Fresh

This leads me to wonder how Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars will navigate ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s involvement. I believe it would be remiss of Marvel to exclude him entirely, as he has now become a firm fan-favorite after ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine re-established him six years after his last appearance in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2. Short of his comedy feeling out of place, however, I think the MCU has an opportunity to deliver something completely fresh with the dynamic of Avengers: Secret Wars‘ main stars, with ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool possibly filling a comedic void left by Tony Stark.

Then, there’s the other side to ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s unique personality: the wanton violence. It isn’t as if Avengers: Secret Wars is going to come close to the scale of violence seen in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, but that doesn’t mean ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool can’t ramp up the action sequences with some incredible fights. Let’s not forget also that ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool is the perfect conduit for Marvel Studios to poke fun at itself, primed to deliver a punchline that helps to end the Multiverse Saga on a high note.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  Powered by

  
  

  
  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

Source: Instagram/Nick Pauley, Instagram/Comicbook