Deadpool has officially earned the title of ‘Marvel Jesus’.
The anti-hero’s threequel, Deadpool & Wolverine barged into theatres like a messiah with a record-breaking opening of USD 444.1 million (HKD 3.5 billion approx.) worldwide, compensating for all the subpar Marvel movies released in the past five years. Released on 26 July 2024, the Shawn Levy directorial starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman unleashed the wrath of the Merc’s foul-mouth glory onto Marvel, Fox and Disney all at once.
It almost seemed like Reynolds put on his nerdy Marvel glasses and conjured up all the possible ways he could offend the studio giants in a single movie. The film is co-written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells and Levy. From jesting about the notorious accusations of long working hours on Marvel to mentioning endless dead characters, the Deadpool & Wolverine inside jokes were manufactured specifically for the know-it-all MCU fans. Thankfully, Marvel greenlit these jokes and let Deadpool explore his full potential of being an annoying blabbermouth.
Leaving fans hoping for a fourth instalment already, Deadpool 3 is full of inside jokes, cameos and subtle references with a side of excessive fourth-wall-breaking humour. We are not complaining! Deadpool & Wolverine also contains Easter eggs — some blatantly obvious and some hidden in true MCU style.
To help you decode them, here is a list of all the notable and hidden Easter eggs you might have missed in Deadpool & Wolverine. Also, check out the theories behind them.
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(Spoiler Alert: This article contains as many spoilers as Deadpool’s hilarious fourth-wall-breaking moments in Deadpool & Wolverine.)
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Easter eggs you might have overlooked
The Void is filled with memorabilia
Deadpool & Wolverine provided numerous Easter eggs in The Void, which was filled with many abandoned pre-Disney-acquisition characters. With a keen eye, you can spot several important artefacts from Marvel and Fox films scattered in the deserted location. Some notable objects are the SHIELD Helicarrier, a piece of Thanos’ Q-Ship, Thor’s winged helmet, a Chitauri Leviathan and the Guardians of the Galaxy ship. It is impossible to miss the decrepit logo of 20th Century Fox Logo.
Captain America’s shield is also seen lying around in The Void. This successfully tricked fans into believing that Chris Hemsworth finally returned to play his iconic MCU Avenger character. But the theatre erupted in a wondrous cheer after hearing “Flame on!”. Johnny Storm was back in action as the Human Torch but he was gone just as quickly, courtesy of Deadpool.
Stan Lee’s cameo
Some of the most wholesome moments of Marvel films are the unexpected yet hilarious Stan Lee cameos. Although he died in 2018, the godfather of the franchise makes a cameo in the threequel — of course not in the flesh. We do not blame those who missed it amid the gory and bloody mess of Deadpool and Wolverine fighting off the Deadpool horde inside a bus.
In the scene, the camera pans from the front to the back of the bus. There is an advert on the side of the bus for a company called ‘Stanlee Steamer’ with an image of Stan Lee in his signature glasses. It is a pleasant nod to the Marvel co-creator.
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The Iron Man connection
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Given his infamous history of messing up the timelines, Deadpool ends up in the Earth-616 reality with the help of Cable’s (Josh Brolin) time travelling machine (reality hopping) device to apply to join the Avengers.
He meets Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) who interviews and later rejects him. However, interestingly, Wade Wilson reveals that he was expecting Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) to interview him. The event took place on 14 March 2018. Does this particular date ring any bells?
The date indicates that the interview happened on Earth-616 a few months before the Infinity War. In this timeline, the Avengers formed two groups to go against each other after the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016). Had Deadpool been given a chance to join the Avengers, the Battle of Wakanda would have been a lot different — much bloodier. As an Iron Man fanboy, Deadpool would have sided with Stark, assuming the latter would have let him join.
In addition to his regenerative powers and exceptional combat skills, Deadpool would also have Cable’s time-travel gadget. The time-travel gadget that Tony Stark builds in the Avengers: Endgame (2019) is likely the earlier version of Cable’s gadget. We would have gotten that device much earlier. Call it wishful thinking or an educated wish, but perhaps with Deadpool’s involvement as an Avenger, Iron Man would not have died at all.
But alas, it was not to be! The events on Earth-616 were predestined and Kang the Conqueror would not have allowed it. Deadpool will never live his fanboy moment as Iron Man is dead. However, there is still a chance that he will run into Doctor Doom someday.
For now, Deadpool decides to stay in his reality, Earth-10005, and keeps Wolverine with him. They become one happy big family of misfits who once almost caused their universe to go extinct. Additionally, in the film’s post-credits scene, the loudmouth Merc still has access to the Time Variance Authority (TVA).
Why was Thor crying?
It is important to note that the events of Deadpool & Wolverine take place six years after Deadpool gets rejected as an Avenger. The first official connection between Deadpool and the Avengers has been established in the movie. After getting kidnapped by the TVA, Paradox accidentally shows Deadpool a future MCU event that left all the fans intrigued. In the scene, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is seen crying while holding an injured Wade Wilson.
Fans were instantly reminded of Thor’s emotional reaction to Loki’s death in Thor: The Dark World (2013). This mysterious scene opens up several possibilities about the future MCU timeline. However, it establishes Deadpool’s integration into the Avengers and his critical role in the future timeline.
Another theory also suggests that a variant Deadpool could be the one dying in Thor’s arms instead of Loki. In Deadpool & Wolverine, Wilson from Earth-10005 is seen murmuring Thor’s name in his sleep. Interestingly, it was established in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) that dreams can provide glimpses into one’s multiversal self. But in true Deadpool fashion, it could simply be a hilarious gag to please the MCU fans still stuck in the Endgame era.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man almost made a cameo
At one point during Wade Wilson’s interview with Happy, a shot around the office shows a framed photograph of Tony Stark on the shelf. It is the same picture that Tony Stark was looking at in Avengers: Endgame. In the 2019 film scene, Stark is seen reminiscing on his relationship with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) whom he lost in Thanos’ Blip. This particular photograph holds great significance as it becomes a catalyst that motivates Stark to bring back his friends and defeat Thanos.
Interestingly, in the Deadpool & Wolverine scene, the photograph is obscured by an object to hide Parker. This detail sheds light on the consequences of the events in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) where Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) wipes out the universe’s memories of Parker.
At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Happy spots Parker at Aunt May’s grave but seemingly does not recognise him. The consequences of Doctor Strange’s spell are yet to be explored to his full extent in the MCU. Moreover, Wilson’s interview with Happy takes place in 2018 on Earth-616 while the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home take place in 2024.
Happy obscuring Parker’s image with Stark in Deadpool & Wolverine could mean Doctor Strange erased him from across the timeline.
Deadpool makes another fun nod at Spider-Man during his long ride with his buddy Wolverine in Nicepool’s car in The Void. Continuing his usual antics, the Merc with a Mouth hilariously imitates Spider-Man’s web-shooting action while making the mandatory sound effects. It successfully pisses off Wolverine but entertains the MCU fans.
Blade vs Deadpool’s hilarious off-screen rivalry
It would be an understatement to say that the fans were flabbergasted over Blade’s (Wesley Snipes) entry in Deadpool & Wolverine. Snipes made his debut as the superhero in the 1998 movie titled Blade. It was followed by a Guillermo del Toro directorial sequel in 2002 titled Blade 2. The 2004 film Blade: Trinity concluded the trilogy in which a young Ryan Reynolds played Hannibal King, a fellow vampire hunter.
The off-screen animosity between Snipes and Reynolds on the sets of Blade 3 went public. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, following the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, Snipes addressed the infamous feud and hinted that the rumours stemmed after he admitted that Reynolds’ humour was a “little over the top” for him.
Deadpool 3 did not miss this opportunity to break the fourth wall indirectly. In a scene, Blade says, “I don’t like you” to Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth counters, “You never did”.
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(Header and feature image courtesy: Deadpool & Wolverine/ IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Deadpool & Wolverine has many Easter eggs throughout the film including a post-credit scene revealing Deadpool's access to the TVA.
Deadpool & Wolverine has numerous cameos. Some of the prominent ones include Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, Channing Tatum as Gambit, Dafne Keen as X-23, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Henry Cavill as Cavillrine.
