As the July 26 release of "Deadpool & Wolverine" approaches, speculation and rumors have reached fever pitch about who might grace the silver screen. Jennifer Garner, the star of "Elektra," Taylor Swift, and even characters from the original X-Men trilogy like Halle Berry, James Marsden, and Patrick Stewart have all been mentioned. Shawn Levy, the director, is well aware of this frenzy. Observing the sheer joy Marvel fans derive from speculating online, he assures that his latest collaboration with Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and the franchise newcomer, Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine, will exceed all expectations.
In a Tuesday interview with Entertainment Weekly, Levy confessed that "some rumors are true, some are way off base" — but emphasized that they're not the crux of the movie's narrative. "We didn't want any of the cameos or characters to be the story of the movie," he clarified. "But they are indeed sprinkled throughout. The film boasts an impressive array of characters, and the internet has taken to speculating with gusto about the many potential cameos. Some rumors are spot on, while others are farfetched."
One thing is indisputable: Marvel enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the film, eager to see which cameos will materialize on the big screen. As reported by TheWrap on Wednesday, "Deadpool & Wolverine" is poised to shatter R-rated box office records, aiming for a staggering $160 million opening weekend. This would not only crown "Deadpool" as the holder of all three top R-rated openings (with the original 2016 film currently leading at $132.4 million, closely trailed by its 2018 sequel "Deadpool 2" at $125.5 million), but also potentially surpass the opening weekend of "Barbie" and become the highest-grossing opening weekend since "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" raked in $181.3 million in November 2022.
Presales for "Deadpool & Wolverine" have been skyrocketing since late May, and industry insiders are optimistic about its prospects. Long-time comic book movie aficionados are thrilled to witness Ryan Reynolds' iconic character join the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Hugh Jackman reprise his role as Wolverine in a comic-faithful costume. The buzz surrounding this film is reminiscent of the hype surrounding "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in December 2021.
