Deadpool & Wolverineincludes plenty of improv from its star-studded cast, but one of its best Easter Eggs was no accident, and I’m relieved to see it was included in the script.Deadpool 3was a huge win forMarvelin 2024. It delivered box office success and was a crowd-pleaser for audiences and critics. Part of this franchise’s charm is that it’s unafraid to get meta, with plenty of references tothe MCU timelineand the entire film industry. Deadpool is constantly winking and nodding at the camera, mocking Marvel, Disney, and anything that fits a scene’s context.
The film is now streaming on Disney+, allowing audiences to rewatch it multiple times and catch references they may have missed in theaters. One sequence especially worth a rewatch that includes dozens of niche references to comic books and Marvel films is theWolverine variant scene. It includes several popular versions of Wolverine, such as Old Man Logan,Age of ApocalypseWolverine, a comic book-accurate Wolverine, and Patch. It also includes an alternateWolverine played by Henry Cavill, and I’m thrilled that his cameo included a reference to Cavill’s underappreciated career.
1 Important Part Of Henry Cavill’s Cameo Was In Deadpool & Wolverine’s Script
Henry Cavill’s cameo as The Cavillrine inDeadpool & Wolverineis layered with meta references. It delivers on a popular fan casting for the MCU’s Wolverine and includes a dig at DC, who arguably mishandledCavill’s Superman in the DCEU. It also references Cavill’s role inMission: Impossible - Fallout.
Before Cavillrine punches Deadpool through a TVA portal, he unsheathes his claws in a similar style to his “arm reload” - wherein the actor punches his arms out as though he’s reloading them like a gun - fromFallout. However, this was no accident.Deadpool & Wolverine’sscript is available on Disney’sFor Your Considerationpage, and it includes the arm reload.
I Want Henry Cavill’s Wolverine To Break An MCU Cameo Trend & There Are Multiple Ways To Do It
Henry Cavill’s Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the movie’s most talked about moments, and I hope he can escape a negative MCU cameo trend.
Cavill is under an alias in the script to hide his cameo titled “the Hopper-Rene,” but the scene still notably says he “loads his arms Mission Impossible style.” I’m delighted to see that this niche reference wasn’t an accident, and the writers remembered Cavill’s iconic moment, especially since Cavill said it was an accident inFallout. In an interview on theHappy Sad Confused podcast, Cavill revealed he did it to loosen up his biceps, but director Christopher McQuarrie liked it so much he decided to keep it in the final cut.
“I did it once, and I thought ‘oh, god that probably looked really stupid’… And I said, ‘oh sorry [to director Christopher McQuarrie], I’ll do that again.’ And he’s like, ‘do what?… And then I did another take without doing it, and he’s like, ‘why didn’t you do that thing? That was really good.’ And I was like, ‘that was good?’ And he said, ‘yes! Definitely do that.’ And we did.”
I’m Happy That Marvel Gave Henry Cavill Some Well-Earned Respect
Cavill is a well-respected actor who is still searching for his career-defining role. He has starred in many franchises, including DC andThe Witcher, playing Superman and Geralt of Rivia. While audiences showed appreciation for his iteration of Superman, the DCEU’s messy journey impacted the amount he was able to perform in the role, despite hisbrief return inBlack Adam. Cavill played Geralt for three seasons of Netflix’sThe Witcher, but decided to leave after season 3, and has been replaced by Liam Hemsworth.
Henry Cavill is also known for roles in films likeEnola Holmes,The Man From U.N.C.L.E., andMission: Impossible - Fallout, but he still doesn’t have a role he’s more permanently attached to. While hisDeadpool & Wolverinerole was brief, I’m glad the film paid respect to his career and noted how celebrated his version of Superman was, and how much of a missed opportunity his casting ended up being in many ways. Even if he doesn’t play the MCU’s Wolverine, Marvel should find a way to give him the role of a lifetime in its universe.
