Image credit: Lionsgate

 

The surprise cameo of Henry Cavill as a Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine has sent shockwaves through the fandom. Fans are now speculating about the potential of a long-term collaboration between the actor and the MCU. The question on everyone’s minds is whether this is a one-off appearance or a strategic move by Marvel Studios, hinting at a possible role for Cavill in the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars.

Here is everything we know about whether Cavill will return as Wolverine in a future MCU project.

Will Henry Cavill return as Wolverine in Avengers: Secret Wars?

As of late July 2024, Disney or Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed whether Henry Cavill will return as Wolverine in Avengers: Secret Wars.

His appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine is most likely a surprise cameo, a way to make the fans who have been speculating on it happy. However, the general reaction to Cavill’s appearance has been positive. So, with him not being DC’s Superman any longer, he might return as Wolverine in Avengers: Secret Wars, which is slated to premiere in theaters on May 7, 2027.

In Deadpool & Wolverine, the Merc with a Mouth visits multiple universes to find a replacement for the Wolverine of his universe after the latter’s death. In one of these universes, he encounters a bulked-up Wolverine working on a motorcycle and smoking a cigar. It is soon revealed that Cavill portrays this particular variant.

If Wolverine is to appear in Secret Wars, Jackman will most likely portray him. However, that doesn’t mean Cavill can’t make another cameo appearance in the film. Perhaps, he can even work together with Jackman’s character.

Will Henry Cavill become MCU’s new Wolverine after Hugh Jackman?

Throughout the last few years, Cavill has been one of the fan-favorite actors to take up the Wolverine mantle after Jackman alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Taron Egerton. After his official introduction in the MCU, Cavill can be a potential replacement for Jackman in the MCU down the line. However, as mentioned above, Disney and Marvel have not yet provided any confirmation on the subject.

Here’s Everything You Need to Watch Before ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

What to Watch Before ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

 

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These days, being a Marvel fan can get pretty exhausting. It feels like you need to do a lot of homework before watching any of the latest releases within The Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then you’ll need to do even more after, trying to connect the dots and get the full picture! That’s exactly why the MCU needed Deadpool & Wolverine! It’s refreshing to get two characters that are new to the scene and don’t carry any old MCU baggage. These vigilante super soldiers are reintroducing themselves and kinda-sorta-ish starting off with clean slates. And while Deadpool films like to include flashbacks of clips from previous films as a refresher, it helps to know their pre-MCU history.

Here’s everything you need to watch before Deadpool & Wolverine.

So, is it okay if I don’t watch anything before Deadpool & Wolverine?

There is absolutely no need to watch all the shows and movies from Marvel phases one to five. But it is important to remember that this film is a sequel. It’s kind of a two-in-one deal, picking up where Deadpool and Wolverine left off back in their own separate universes. So to optimize your viewing experience and to totally avoid feeling lost, you might want to brush up on some movies. Plus, if you’re someone who doesn’t want to miss any of the inside jokes, references, and Easter eggs—which this movie is full of—you’ve got a decent amount of ground to cover.

What do I need to watch to understand Deadpool & Wolverine?

Again, this is a sequel. So it only makes sense to watch the movies that came before this film. But if you don’t want to miss a single beat, you’re going to have to go further than that. Here are the films you’ll want to get familiar with:

Deadpool

This movie is essentially an origin story and gets to the core of who Deadpool really is. It also sets the tone for the rest of the films that follow it—including Deadpool & Wolverine. Here, Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of Deadpool is cemented as this edgy, campy, fun, and sarcastic, fourth-wall-breaking character who says and does whatever he wants.

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Deadpool 2

Here’s where the universes actually begin to meet. In Deadpool 2, everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed mercenary works with the X-Men. Though one of them (Colossus) makes an appearance in the first film, this is where we really get an idea of how the superhero worlds might collide. Deadpool goes to the X-Mansion to ask for some backup to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from a time-traveling cyborg

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Logan

There are going to be other X-Men films on this list but none more essential for this article’s purposes than this one: Deadpool & Wolverine heavily references Logan, as it provides a lot of important context for the film.

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Loki

One of the essential elements in the plot of Deadpool & Wolverine is the TVA or the Time Variance Authority, which is the organization that protects the main MCU timeline known as “the sacred timeline.” While the film does explain what the TVA is, it does so in more of a broad stroke and doesn’t go into its complexities. While you may not need to watch all of the Loki and its two seasons, it’s good to get a better idea of what the TVA is to get all the nuances in Deadpool & Wolverine.

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X-Men, X-2, and X-Men: The Last Stand

It’s been literal decades since the first of these movies was released, but trust me when I say that it’s still pretty important to understanding the Wolverine we’re meeting in Deadpool & Wolverine. He is haunted by his past with the X-Men and what went on in that world. While these films might add another dizzying layer, I’d still suggest watching them if you want to dive deep.

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