Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Not Returning in Future Marvel Installments, New Actors Cast
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) remains one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest box office hits, after grossing $1.3 billion worldwide last summer. But while the film was a return to form for the MCU, which has experienced plenty of turbulence on the big screen and on Disney+ in its post-Avengers: Endgame (2019) era, it seems Disney and Marvel aren’t interested in bringing the unlikely superhero duo back into the fold anytime soon.
Will they return in the upcoming superhero ensemble, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), or have they been tossed aside to make way for other returning iconic Marvel superheroes?
With the Russo brothers (Captain America: The Winter Solider, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame) directing, and Tony Stark/Iron Man actor/legend Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the role of Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, as seen in this year’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Doomsday is set to be the MCU’s biggest movie since 2019’s Endgame.
So big, that it looks like there isn’t any room for Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s adamantium-clawed mutant. In other words, the lineup is pretty epic.
Actors returning from previous MCU films include Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm / The Thing), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), and Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic).
A number of actors from non-MCU Marvel movies are also returning, such as Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier/Professor X from the X-Men movies (and 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) and Kelsey Grammer’s Hank McCoy/Beast from some of the earlier X-Men films (who also appeared in 2023’s The Marvels).
Several confirmed X-Men actors/characters yet to have their MCU debut will also be appearing: Ian McKellen’s Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Alan Cumming’s Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn’s Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, and James Marsden’s Scott Summers Cyclops.
Even Channing Tatum’s Remy LeBeau/Gambit — yes, the same one from Deadpool & Wolverine — is back. But what about Deadpool and Wolverine?
There are many rumors floating around that Ryan Reynolds, at the very least, will reprise his role as Deadpool in the upcoming superhero epic.
However, reports are conflicting. And not only was his name not included in the livestream announcement earlier this year, but he hasn’t been mentioned since.
A name like Deadpool would more than likely be included from the get-go, especially considering his last theatrical outing grossed an obscene amount of money worldwide.
Of course, it’s possible Marvel is keeping cameos close to its chest in the same way Deadpool & Wolverine kept many familiar faces a secret until audiences were in theaters.
Either way, Reynolds himself has spoken about his future as the Merc with a Mouth numerous times, at one time even saying he’s unlikely to return in a fourth film, telling Collider last year, “Right now’s the time to just kind of hang it up [the Deadpool suit] for a bit and see what happens next.” With that said, Deadpool himself will be returning.
Deadpool Has Been Recast
A new Deadpool game is in the works, but don’t expect to see Reynolds voice the beloved hero. Instead, Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) will lend his vocal talents.
“Deadpool VR” will see the titular character pulled into a portal to Mojoworld, where he’s able to visit multiple locations across the Marvel universe (not unlike his 2024 outing). And, unsurprisingly, Deadpool will be breaking the fourth wall — this time poking fun at the fact that he’s in a video game and not a movie or a comic book.
“A sick sense of humor. Brutal parkour. Full-on mayhem. Get freaky with it—a wild combat system where if you can imagine it, you can probably do it,” Marvel’s synopsis reads. “This frenetic, arguably psychotic hit is coming soon, exclusively on Meta Quest 3/3S.
Made by Twisted Pixel and Oculus Studios in collaboration with Marvel Games, “Deadpool VR” will be released in late 2025 for Meta Quest 3 and 3S. Watch the trailer below:
Wolverine Game
Not a great deal is known about “Wolverine” other than the fact that it’s a self-contained story that shares its continuity with Insomniac’s other Marvel titles and is set for release on PlayStation 5. And also that Hugh Jackman won’t be reprising his role in the game.
But it’s worth noting that the teaser trailer (below) dropped four years ago. So, what makes us think that this title hasn’t ended up in “development hell”? Well, four years is development hell, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Insomniac hasn’t said that “Wolverine” is on the scrapheap, so, as far as we know, it’s still moving ahead, slowly but surely. That’s the gaming industry for you. For more information, visit the official website.
Related: Ryan Reynolds’ Future as Deadpool in Doubt Amid New Superhero Projects | Disney Dining
Future of Deadpool and Wolverine in the MCU
There are currently no plans for a fourth Deadpool movie. Wolverine himself also remains in limbo; however, Avengers: Doomsday is expected to mark the end of “The Multiverse Saga” and pave the way for “The Mutant Saga”. But whether or not the two actors will return to play their respective characters in that brand-new MCU era remains to be seen.
Other upcoming theatrical projects include Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Armor Wars, Black Panther 3, Blade, an untitled Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel, and an untitled X-Men film are also on Marvel’s slate of new releases; however, none of them have release dates attached as yet.
Would you like to see Deadpool and Wolverine return to the MCU? Let us know!
