Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to playing with fan expectations, especially when it comes to teasing what’s next for his beloved Merc with a Mouth. And now, the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ star has sent Marvel fans into a frenzy with a cryptic post that could hint at his return to the MCU in one of its biggest upcoming projects.
Fresh off the success of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Reynolds has everyone wondering where Wade Wilson will pop up next? With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ already in production and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ looming on the horizon, the possibilities are endless. Additionally, Reynolds is only adding fuel to the fire.
Ryan Reynolds’ Cryptic “Anarchy A” Has Marvel Fans On Their Feet
Ryan Reynolds recently posted a photo on instagram featuring the iconic Avengers logo, except it wasn’t the clean, polished version Marvel fans are used to. Instead, the familiar “A” was graffitied over with an anarchic red “Ax”. It was almost as if Deadpool himself had vandalized it. No caption. No explanation. Just chaos, as only Reynolds can deliver. The image instantly lit up the internet. Was this his way of confirming Deadpool’s appearance in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?
Related: Ryan Reynolds’ Secret Marvel Project Includes Deadpool Team-Up With An X-Men Ensemble
Only time will tell. Marvel Studios has remained silent on the matter, and as of now, Reynolds’ only confirmed future MCU project is another Deadpool-led film involving X-Men characters, which is still in development. However, with Kevin Feige previously stating that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ casting announcements were still on the way, fans can’t help but hope Reynolds’ tease was more than just mischief.
If Deadpool does join ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, it would mark his first official interaction with the MCU’s mainline Avengers team. This is something fans have been dreaming about ever since Disney acquired Fox’s Marvel assets. And if not ‘Doomsday’, there’s always ‘Secret Wars’, the multiverse-shattering event where nearly every hero (and antihero) could collide.
James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Passes ‘Deadpool 2’ At Domestic Box Office
While Ryan Reynolds is busy stirring MCU speculation, his most famous superhero alter ego just took an indirect hit from James Gunn’s new ‘Superman’. After a month in theaters, the film has not only secured a spot among the 100 highest-grossing movies in domestic box office history, but it has also officially outpaced ‘Deadpool 2’s lifetime domestic total.
In case you missed it: Deadpool And Wolverine Rumored To Appear In Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
‘Superman’ currently sits at $325 million domestically, edging past ‘Deadpool 2’s $324 million haul. That’s no small feat, especially considering ‘Deadpool 2’ was one of the most successful R-rated blockbusters of all time when it released in 2018. The comparison is interesting because both movies benefited from strong fan followings and big-name leads.
‘Deadpool 2’ had reignited Reynolds’ career and proven that a snarky, R-rated superhero movie could be a box office juggernaut. Produced for around $120 million, the film expanded the world, introduced Josh Brolin’s Cable, and embraced even bigger, bloodier set pieces. Fast forward to 2024, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘ raked in over $1.3 billion worldwide. Gunn, meanwhile, has his own history with Reynolds.
Before ‘Superman’, Gunn jokingly tried to lure Reynolds back into the DC fold, as Green Lantern, a role Reynolds has publicly roasted ever since its disastrous 2011 release. Unsurprisingly, Reynolds’ answer was a firm “no.” Globally, ‘Superman’ has already passed $560 million and is expected to cross the $600 million mark, proving Gunn’s DCU is off to a strong start.
