WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine. (But, then again, I’ve already given away the big cameos in the thumbnail of this article, so there, I’ve ruined it for you. You may as well continue reading.)
It comes as no surprise that the third instalment in the Deadpool franchise is full of self-referential, meta humour, including more cameos than the writing credits of the hit-song Candy. (For anyone under the age of, like, 45, Candy was a song performed by the funk band Cameo. I suppose it’s kind of funny, right?)
Nathan Aspell and I both agreed that Chris Evans’ return to the MCU – this time as his Fantastic Four role of Johnny Storm – topped the list of the surprise appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, with the likes of Henry Cavill as a Wolverine variant, and Channing Tatum finally fulfilling his dream of starring as Gambit, closely following.
However, there were a few cameos that didn’t sit quite right with me. (Who the hell do I think I am? As if some gonky bloke with a blog is out here telling Marvel – a company which makes, like, a billion dollars every time I blink – how to do their job.)
Ladypool was repeatedly teased in the film’s trailers, with many speculating that it was going to be Ryan’s off-screen wife, Blake Lively, donning the mask. Lo and behold, it was. But if you ask me, her appearance didn’t have the impact I was expecting.
Speaking on The Movie Dweeb Podcast, we discussed how Blake Lively’s appearance could have been improved, saying that Ryan should sarcastically nod to the camera, saying, “No-one knows who this is. Wink, wink,” before Ladypool approached and removed her mask, revealing herself as Blake.
Then, Blake would break the fourth wall saying, “Ryan, mate. The kids haven’t seen you in two years, while you’re making this movie. Come home, otherwise it’s a divorce,” only for Ryan, as Deadpool, to pull out a script and keep reminding her that it’s not her line, but Logan’s instead.
We also toyed with the idea that Ryan Gosling should have played Nicepool, another Deadpool variant, given that so many people have confused the Ryans over the years, and this would fit perfectly with his recent stints in the likes of Barbie and The Fall Guy.
Sure, it would have essentially doubled the budge of Deadpool & Wolverine but, like, you’re really trying to tell me that Marvel couldn’t afford that?
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