Ryan Reynolds Speaks Out on Marvel Future After Confirming Main Character Deadpool No Longer Exists

Marvel Studios scored one of its biggest modern successes with 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, but according to Ryan Reynolds, fans shouldn’t expect Wade Wilson to continue as the face of future Marvel projects–or should they?

Released in 2024 as Marvel Studios’ first R-rated film, Deadpool & Wolverine marked the official arrival of Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after years of existing under the former 20th Century Fox banner. Directed by Shawn Levy, the crossover became a massive commercial hit, earning more than $1.3 billion worldwide and helping Marvel rebound after a difficult 2023 that saw Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels fall short of expectations at the box office.

Much of the film’s success was driven by the long-awaited return of Reynolds and Jackman, whose portrayals of Deadpool and Wolverine had become fan favorites across multiple films. Their chemistry, combined with the franchise’s signature R-rated humor, helped make the movie one of Marvel’s biggest theatrical events in years.

Despite that success, neither Deadpool nor Wolverine has officially been announced for Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives on December 18, 2026. The next Avengers installment will feature an enormous ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr.’s return to Marvel as Doctor Doom, alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, and characters introduced through the Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts.

While speculation continues to swirl around who else could appear in the film—including unconfirmed reports involving Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man—Marvel Studios has remained silent on the project’s full roster as it keeps story details under wraps.

Although many fans still expect Deadpool to return, Reynolds recently suggested the character’s role within the MCU has fundamentally changed.

Speaking during TODAY Sunday Sitdown Live earlier this year, the actor explained that he no longer sees Deadpool carrying his own stories. “I don’t think I’m going to center [Deadpool] again,” Reynolds said. “I think he’s a supporting character, you know? He’s a guy that’s great in a group.”

The comments echo remarks Reynolds made shortly after Deadpool & Wolverine debuted. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2024, he admitted he wasn’t interested in repeating the same formula for another solo outing.

“Centering Deadpool works best if you take everything away from him and put his back against the wall. I can’t really do that again. A fourth time feels a little iterative and redundant,” the actor explained. “That doesn’t mean sacrificing fun. There is still an arc for Deadpool, which is fulfilling and powerful.”

Rather than leading another standalone adventure, Reynolds believes Deadpool functions best alongside Marvel’s larger teams while remaining an outsider looking in.

“I think Deadpool works so well appearing with the X-Men and Avengers, but he always needs to stay an outsider. His ultimate dream is to be accepted and appreciated. But he can’t be accepted,” he said. “His coping mechanism of deflecting shame through humor works only when used to pave over his many inadequacies. If and when he does become an Avenger or X-Man, we’re at the end of his journey.”

Those comments suggest Reynolds envisions Deadpool taking on more of a supporting role as Marvel shifts beyond Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) and into the franchise’s next era, widely expected to focus on mutants and the arrival of the X-Men.

However, just a few months on, and Reynolds has given the clearest evidence that the Deadpool journey is not over.

Deadpool 4 Is in Development

Speaking at Fanatics Fest 2026, the Marvel star confirmed that a fourth outing for the Merc with a Mouth was in development, albeit extremely early on in the process.

“There’s a few really deep cuts that I think are missing behind the movies. I think there’s a few deep cuts missing from some of the comics. There’s certainly some stuff that, you know, I love that Fabian Nicieza [co-creator of Deadpool] wrote that is incredible. Gerry Duggan, who was a friend, was an incredible comic writer,” Reynolds said during a panel at the New York event (via Deadline). “There’s stuff upcoming. There’s eventually, you know, remotely another Deadpoolfilm. It’s going to be great.”

A fourth Deadpool movie doesn’t necessarily mean a sequel to Deadpool & Wolverine sequel or rule out future appearances throughout Phase Six and beyond. Marvel still has several untitled theatrical release dates on its calendar, leaving plenty of room for Wade Wilson to return in his own feature or as a supporting role in another.

However, if Reynolds’ latest remarks are any indication, audiences can now expect the Merc with a Mouth to remain the central figure he has been since Deadpool debuted in 2016.

How do you feel about a fourth Deadpool movie coming to the MCU? Let us know in the comments down below!