Earlier this week, the news broke that Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine in Marvel Studios' Deadpool 3. Fans have understandably started losing their minds about what that could be leading to, and while we're sure the Merc with the Mouth is eventually going to wind up in the MCU, all signs point to the threequel taking place in Fox's X-Men Universe.
With the now defunct studio no longer in charge, that doesn't bother us too much. Remember, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige got his start on the X-Men franchise, so he's bound to want to take this opportunity to reunite with some old friends from the past.
In this feature, we're looking at the various heroes and villains from the X-Men movies we'd love to see in Deadpool 3. The focus should undoubtedly remain on Wade Wilson's long-awaited team-up with Logan, but that doesn't mean a few other familiar faces from the past can't show up along the way.
To take a look through this list of characters, all you guys need to do is click the "Next" button below!
Honourable Mention: Human Torch
Okay, we know he isn't a member of the X-Men, or a mutant, for that matter. However, assuming the original Fantastic Four movies took place in the same world (and that was the original plan), why not take the opportunity to bring Chris Evans back as the Human Torch?
It would be a genius cameo, and one that would give the former Captain America the chance to have some fun in the MCU again. There's a lot of speculation about the actor returning as Steve Rogers, but what better franchise than Deadpool to turn those expectations on their head and have Evans play Johnny Storm again instead?
We'd pay good money to see Deadpool and Wolverine square off with this member of the Fantastic Four, and the Multiversal cameo would come right in time for the team's MCU reboot a couple of months later.
5. Rogue
From the very start, Rogue was a key part of the X-Men franchise. The problem is, those movies too often focused on her inability to touch her boyfriend and not the fact that she can absorb the powers of others and kick some serious ass.
We're talking about a mutant who went toe-to-toe with Captain Marvel once upon a time, so it would be a blast for Anna Paquin to suit up as a comic-accurate Rogue. She always had a special bond with Wolverine, so the two of them teaming up during an early X-Men mission would be no bad thing.
Of all the original mutants who first appeared in 2000's X-Men, Rogue should be a top contender. For starters, we'd love to see what she'd make of Deadpool and how wacky things could get if the hero were to absorb Deadpool's abilities.
4. Cyclops
There's no denying that the Wolverine/Cyclops/Jean Grey love triangle grew tiresome as time passed, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't have fun seeing Logan and Scott Summers' dynamic revisited. As much as we loved Tye Sheridan's version of the character, it's obviously James Marsden who should appear here.
Whether it's during a visit to the X-Mansion or the aforementioned mission with Wolverine and Rogue, seeing what Cyclops makes of the Merc with the Mouth would be a riot.
Deadpool 3's R-Rating also opens the door to a unique use of Scott's powers; just imagine him losing his cool and blasting Wade in half, for example! Cyclops is a great character who never got his due in those original X-Men movies, so we'd love Kevin Feige to make that right.
3. Beast
Poor Beast had a hit-and-miss time of it in Fox's X-Men Universe, with both Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Hoult doing the best they could with the material they were given. The latter gaining the ability to transform back and forth into Beast majorly missed the point of this character's affliction, and we hope Marvel Studios doesn't repeat that mistake.
That's a discussion for another day, though, and our hope is that Grammer will be asked to return for a cameo appearance in Deadpool 3. The actor has expressed a desire to make that happen on more than one occasion and we'd love to see him get a proper farewell here.
It would only be a minor cameo in the grand scheme of the threequel, but why not give the legendary Frasier star the chance to suit up and send Beast off in style? The MCU probably won't revisit Hank McCoy for a while given how overexposed he's been, so his return to match wits with Wade would be welcomed.
2. Cable
Josh Brolin played Thanos in the MCU, but that doesn't mean he can't return as Cable. We certainly enjoyed his take on that time-travelling mutant in Deadpool 2, though his role in this movie would be more to serve the plot than a reason to celebrate like some of the other characters listed here.
That time-travel device of his could be what takes the Merc with the Mouth and Wolverine on a trip through the Multiverse. We're guessing that will be how he lands in the MCU, anyway, but why not have some fun before he arrives?
As for Cable, we'd probably just have him show up for a quick back and forth with Wade and Logan to better explain time travel before they embark on whatever mission this movie will take them on. It doesn't sound like Brolin enjoyed his time working on the Deadpool sequel as much as his stint in the MCU, though he could surely be convinced to return for this.
1. Ajax
We're betting you didn't expect to see this name here! Ed Skrein did a great job playing a grounded version of Ajax in 2016's Deadpool and was, of course, the reason Wade Wilson gained those powers...and some hideous scars to go with them.
While he was gunned down by the Merc with the Mouth and killed in a pretty definitive fashion, the joy of comic book movie storytelling means he could be resurrected as a comic-accurate Ajax. He'd make a suitably formidable choice of opponent for Deadpool and Wolverine, and would serve as a fitting foe to wrap up Wade's time in Fox's X-Men Universe.
Ed Skrein is a great actor and someone who we'd love to see get another chance as this big bad. It would probably be for the best if Gina Carano doesn't join him this time around, though...