Ryan Reynolds hit up Twitter this afternoon to announce that Hugh Jackman will officially be reprising his iconic role as Wolverine for Deadpool 3, which – as of today – has a release date of September 6th, 2024. The role will mark Jackman’s eleventh appearance as Wolverine since the character’s debut in X-Men (2000).
In 2021, Ryan Reynolds first announced that Deadpool 3 would be entering filming in 2022, news which Kevin Feige reportedly backed up. The film has reportedly entered production as of this summer, and Reynolds himself confirmed that the team behind the film is hard at work crafting Deadpool’s entrance to the MCU, but not much is currently known about the film. We know Ryan Reynolds will be appearing as Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, and Leslie Uggams will be reprising her role as Blind Al, Wade’s elderly roommate. As of today, Hugh Jackman will be coming back as Logan, aka Wolverine.
Shaun Levy, who has a history with Ryan Reynolds as the director for Free Guy (2021) and The Adam Project (2022), has been confirmed to direct Deadpool 3, with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the first two Deadpool films, returning for the threequel, according to Variety. Deadpool 3 will also mark Reynold and Jackman’s second run-in as Deadpool and Wolverine after Deadpool’s first appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), though that iteration of the character had the “Merc with a Mouth” with his mouth sewn shut and lacking his iconic red-and-black suit.
Ryan Reynolds Surprises Fans with Hugh Jackman
Ryan Reynolds announced the news about Hugh Jackman’s casting with a video posted to his Twitter account this afternoon. The video – which is available in the full post below – opens with Reynolds seated on a couch and speaking to the camera. Deadline reported the following speech:
“Hey everyone, we’re extremely sad to have missed D23, but we’ve been working very hard on the next Deadpool film for a good long while now. I’ve had to really search my soul on this one. His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel special. We need to stay true to the character, find new depth, motivation, meaning. Every Deadpool needs to stand out and stand apart. It’s been an incredible challenge that has forced me to reach down deep inside. And I…I have nothing. Yeah, just completely empty up here. And terrifying. But we did have one idea.”
Behind Reynolds, Hugh Jackman walks by, brushing his teeth.
“Hey, Hugh, you want to play Wolverine one more time?” Reynolds asks, to which Jackman replies with an ever-so-casual “Yeah, sure, Ryan,” before disappearing up the stairs, and the video ends with the release date announced.
Hard keeping my mouth sewn shut about this one. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OdV7JmAkEu
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) September 27, 2022
The entire announcement is rich with Ryan Reynolds’s incredibly unique brand of humor, that’s for sure, and it also showcases the legendary friendship between Reynolds and Jackman, a dynamic that has transferred to their characters in interesting ways.
Deadpool 3, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, will be hitting theaters on September 6th, 2024, amidst Phase 5 of the MCU. Shaun Levy will direct, with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick writing.
