Ever since Disney acquired Fox’s film assets, bringing the X-Men under Marvel Studios’ purview, speculation has run rampant about who will play the MCU‘s Wolverine, with many hoping it would be Henry Cavill. The British actor was the face of the DCEU for many years, playing the DC film franchise’s Superman, but has since officially set down the cape. Ostensibly, that has left him free to join the MCU as the adamantium-clawed member of the X-Men.

In a surprise move, Marvel Studios did actually cast Cavill in the MCU as Wolverine – for a brief cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. The scene is part of a montage in the first act of the movie, wherein Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool goes in search of a Wolverine variant that can replace the one in his universe who died. Among other Wolverine variants in the sequence, Deadpool stumbles across a motorcycle-revving, cigar-chomping Wolverine played by Cavill. For those unaware of the actor’s history of being tied to the role, here’s a brief rundown of the Henry Cavill MCU Wolverine casting rumors.

Henry Cavill Has Long Been A Popular Fan-Cast For The MCU’s Wolverine

The Actor’s Talent And Appearance Lend Him To Being A Good Pick

Hugh Jackman has, of course, become synonymous with the role of Wolverine, but there will always be the desire to discuss alternative castings, whether that’s what would’ve happened if Dougray Scott had starred in 2000’s X-Men, or who should play Logan next. One name that comes up often in the latter conversation is Henry Cavill. Since he starred in 2013’s Man of Steel, Cavill has proven to have the superhero look, and his performances in a variety of projects, from The Witcher to The Tudors, show an acting ability that would make him an excellent choice to play Wolverine.

However, for a long time, the possibility of Cavill playing Wolverine remained solely a fun topic of discussion among fans. Cavill’s name was bandied about alongside other popular choices like Daniel Radcliffe and Taron Egerton – two actors whose heights are more in line with the comic character – but that’s all it ever was. While fans argued for or against Cavill as the MCU’s Wolverine, there was nothing to suggest it would be taken any further beyond fun fan speculation. That is, until a few years ago.

The First Widespread Rumor That Henry Cavill Was Cast As Wolverine Came In 2020

The Rumor Claimed Cavill Had Been Cast As Wolverine In Captain Marvel 2

In early 2020, rumors originated on YouTube that Henry Cavill would play Wolverine in the then-untitled Captain Marvel 2. These rumors became so pervasive that outlets like Just Jared and Forbes commented on them, though the latter cast doubt on the veracity of the rumors. At the time, the rumors may have gained traction because of the enthusiasm to see the MCU finally add Wolverine to its universe. Plus, Cavill’s name certainly added to the excitement, given his status as a beloved superhero actor.

Of course, now we know these rumors were not true. Captain Marvel 2, which became The Marvels, didn’t include Cavill in the cast, let alone as Wolverine. Instead, The Marvels post-credits scene did feature a member of the X-Men, but it was Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as Beast from the Fox Marvel franchise. It’s unclear if plans changed at any point in time, but the fact remains, the rumors didn’t come true. However, this wasn’t the last time that Cavill’s name was tied to the role of Wolverine in the MCU.

Henry Cavill MCU Rumors Resurfaced Earlier This Year & Came True

The Actor’s Appearance As Wolverine Was Rumored

In the years since the Captain Marvel 2 rumors, there have been myriad reports of Henry Cavill joining the MCU in one role or another, whether it was as Hyperion, Captain Britain or Doctor Doom. However, earlier this year, rumors began to circulate that Cavill would indeed be joining the MCU, with some claiming he’d be Wolverine. Given the sheer amount of rumors pertaining to Cavill and the MCU that have spread throughout the internet over the years, it was difficult to know what to believe. But, in the case of Cavill as Wolverine, that turned out to be true. The scene featuring Cavill’s Wolverine is short, but memorable, especially for those who have long wanted to see him in the MCU.

In the scene, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool gets a chance to fanboy over the actor, and promises that Marvel will treat him better than his last superhero gig. The joke is clearly a dig at DC, who brought back Cavill’s Superman in 2022’s Black Adam, only for it to be announced two months later that James Gunn would be rebooting the character and casting a new actor. Although the brief scene ends with Cavill’s Wolverine attacking Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth’s comment begs the question of whether the British actor’s appearance is a one-off or something more.

Is Henry Cavill The MCU’s New Wolverine?

Could His Deadpool & Wolverine Appearance Lead To More?

As of this writing, neither Henry Cavill nor anyone at Marvel, including Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, have commented on whether the actor will return as Wolverine after his Deadpool & Wolverine appearance. It’s possible that Marvel is trying to keep Cavill’s cameo a secret and won’t discuss the potential future for his Wolverine until further into the movie’s theatrical run. Or, there simply might not be a future for Cavill’s Wolverine.

Marvel Studios hasn’t yet officially confirmed their upcoming MCU X-Men movie, despite reports they’ve hired Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) to pen the script. Further, the X-Men movie doesn’t have a director or a release date yet, so it’s unclear when it might premiere. It’s been speculated that MCU Phase 7 will launch the Mutant Saga, following the conclusion of the Multiverese Saga in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, so it’s possible it won’t be released until that point.

All that’s to say, it’s unclear whether Marvel will want to cast the currently 41-year-old Cavill as Wolverine in the MCU for a movie whose release date may still be 3–4 years away, or if they might cast someone younger. Of course, Cavill’s age might not be a factor. It’s unknown what Marvel is planning for their X-Men movie, but if he doesn’t fit that vision, it seems unlikely he’ll return. So, while it remains to be seen what comes of Cavill’s Wolverine after his cameo in the MCU‘s Deadpool & Wolverine, at least it finally delivered a long-wanted, and long-rumored Marvel hero casting.