Summary
Deadpool 3promotional art offering a closer look at Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine mask might have subtly confirmed the appearance of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s project’s most strongly rumored cameos from the wider Marvel film anthology.
Deadpool3’s headline addition to the cast isJackman’s return to his iconic Wolverine role. However, other big names were rumored to have joined, including star Jennifer Garner, reportedly reprising her role as the assassin Elektra from 2003’sDaredeviland the character’s eponymously titled 2005 spin-off. Still, Marvel Studios hasn’t confirmed the casting, and Garner denied her role inDeadpool 3.
While fans got afirst look at Jackman’s Wolverine mask from aDeadpool 3promo image, a new look image might have shown fans more than just the mutant character’s outfit. As highlighted by the accountMyTimeToShineHelloon X, the promo image features Wolverine in an iconic pose while flanked by various weapons stuck to the logo behind him, including darts, a katana, some throwing stars, and most notably, a pair of sai. The weapons are the signature carry of Elektra, which fans immediately took as confirmation of Garner’s rumored involvement in the film. The comments, in addition to the smug fans delighting in the confirmation, also featured several commenters intentionally misinterpreting the sai as signs of something else, likeMortal Kombat’s Mileena or theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Raphael making a cameo, much to the amusement of everyone else.
There’s a lot of potential for Garner’s involvement in the film, as the character of Elektra has a history with both Wolverine and Deadpool and could even be an important avenue in the MCU’s current quest to bring their heroes down to more grounded struggles. The Hand, an organization the character is more than frequently associated with, would fit the mold perfectly and complement other decisions like thepotential villain choice for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4, which is geared towards more (relatively) low-level threats. Some fans also pointed out that the throwing stars could represent a cameo by the character Bullseye, another Marvel merc in Deadpool’s orbit. However, it’s worth noting that Deadpool himself has been known to use all the weapons showcased and more, making the inclusion of throwing stars potentially inert in the absence of a prior report like Garner’s casting.
While it certainly seems like a good thing thatDeadpool 3is the MCU’s only 2024 theatrical release, this is entirely dependent on the film’s positive performance amid a record-high amount of fan apathy towards the MCU and superhero movies in general. While there’s a lot of confidence behind the scenes that Reynolds, Jackman, and company will deliver at the box office, there’s also an unprecedented amount of hardship for the franchise that the rated-R release will have to overcome to do so.
Deadpool 3is currently set for theatrical release in the United States on June 09, 2025.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes, including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
