The Deadpool franchise has become a defining part of modern superhero cinema, combining R-rated humor, intense action, and meta-commentary that has resonated with audiences since the original film’s release in 2016.
The success of both Deadpool and Deadpool 2 cemented Wade Wilson as one of the most beloved antiheroes in recent memory. Most recently, Deadpool & Wolverine broke box office records, earning more than $1.3 billion worldwide, and fueling speculation about the franchise’s future. Fans have since debated whether Ryan Reynolds will return and what a fourth film would even look like after last year’s high-energy, action buddy movie.
Now, Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy, who’s currently working on the Ryan Gosling-starring film Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), has shared his thoughts on a potential Deadpool 4. Levy said that he’s “already contemplating a possible fourth outing” for the series (which is music to our ears), while acknowledging the challenges sequels present.
“I’m a fan of a lot of threes in the trilogies of movies,” he said in a recent interview with Kevin McCarthy (via The Playlist). “I love Back to the Future 3. I love Return of the King. [Endgame was] such a superior audience experience.”
He continued: “When you are telling a story that has the benefit of [a] legacy connection between the audience and the characters, you’re sort of like on second base already. When I look at Deadpool & Wolverine, that became a love letter to that [20th Century Fox] legacy. We were also able to tap into years of legacy storytelling.”
Related: Confirmed: Neil Patrick Harris Taking Over Role of Deadpool
Levy acknowledged the challenges of making sequels, describing them as “dauntingly hard” and “stressful” due to the pressure.
“I don’t know about rule of threes, ’cause the truth is, as I contemplate, for instance, ‘Okay, how do we make another Deadpool movie?'” he explained. “Sequels are hard. They are dauntingly hard. I made three Night at the Museum movies. It kicked my ass every time. And so, yeah, having seen how the sausage of sequels is made, I find the whole subject a little stressful because you want to get it right.”
While he didn’t commit to a fourth film, his comments suggest that he is actively considering the direction of the Deadpool franchise. One interesting development in the Deadpool universe lately is the “Deadpool VR” game. Unlike the live-action films, the new title stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Wade Wilson, offering fans a new iteration of the character.
The VR format also allows players to engage with the character in ways movies can’t, from exploring chaotic environments to wielding Deadpool’s signature humor and weaponry.
It seems unlikely that Harris would appear in a live-action role, though, unless the story involved Multiversal cameos like Deadpool & Wolverine. Nonetheless, the VR game reflects the franchise’s willingness to expand into new media while maintaining its distinct tone. With that said, Reynolds has suggested on more than one occasion following the release of the third film last year that he’s unlikely to return to the role anytime soon.
Either way, between Levy’s openness to a fourth film and the VR spin-off, it’s clear that the Deadpool universe is far from finished, even with no official word on Deadpool 4 and Ryan Reynolds missing from the extensive Avengers: Doomsday (2026) lineup.
Are you hoping to see Ryan Reynolds return as Deadpool in a future film? Share your thoughts with us below!
Daniel…are you ever embarrassed at the fabricated drivel that you present with a blatant lies of a header. If you write for many entertainment websites, I can only assume THEY are as choosy as ITM. Come on, find some professional pride, man.
If Ryan Reynolds is in it, I won’t watch it. He’s shown his true colors lately.