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It may surprise you to learn that, long before the third Deadpool movie had a Wolverine in its title, Ryan Reynolds was thinking about hanging up his red tights. In an interview with Business Insider published in November of 2022, the actor posited that his third outing as the raunchy Marvelite he worked so hard to bring to the big screen would be his last, saying "I will only be doing Deadpool for the next two years [...] That's it. Just this one movie."

Now that Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters (and making a killing, at that), Reynolds's old plans to retire the character seem less than likley to come to fruition. In fact, it's our opinion that Reynolds will definitely be picking up his katanas and wise-cracks again, and if you'll stick with us for a moment, we'll explain why.

Ryan Reynolds on returning to Deadpool

As we said earlier, those comments Reynolds made to Business Insider were all of two years ago, long before the current hypebeast that is Deadpool & Wolverine started its promotion. More recently, however, Reynolds touched on the subject again in an interview with Variety, telling them he "didn't know" how long he could imagine himself continuing to portray the character. 

"I could see any version of it," Reynolds said, "I can imagine a solo movie, being part of an ensemble. I can imagine that this is also the last time. I never feel anything other than that. "

While it's hardly a confirmation that he'll return, it's a much more positive outlook on his chances of returning than his statement in 2022. That said, Reynolds was also recently on the Jimmy Fallon show, telling the late nite host that "My wife and children will divorce me," if he tries to make Deadpool 4. 

"I will be capital B Broke," he said, to audience laughter.

In Reynolds's defense, the actor has poured a lot of his own funds into all three Deadpool movies. And if there were a reason to quit the character, a lack of finances would be a good one. But here's the thing: if Deadpool & Wolverine continues raking in the cash it's expected to, Reynolds might not have to put up any more money of his own. According to Deadline, the third Deadpool movie is breaking records for the debt weekend of an R-Rated film. And though we can't speak for Marvel Studios, that sounds like a pretty big incentive, on their part, to get Ryan Reynolds back in the suit.

But how could there be a future for Deadpool if, as of now, the actor playing him isn't committing to a Deadpool 4? We think we have the answer.

Deadpool - the ultimate cameo character

For a healthy chunk of the MCU's history, one character was showing up in just about every other movie, despite not headlining his own. That was Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, who played major roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain America: Civil War, and of course, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. This makes a great deal of sense - Tony Stark was the character that started it all in 2008's Iron Man; it's only natural that he be there for some of its biggest moments. But with Tony Stark gone (spoilers?), that role needs to be filled. 

The internet is buzzing these days with stories of Deadpool & Wolverine "revitalizing" the MCU, perhaps even warding off the "superhero fatigue" that many assumed Marvel was battling against. So stay with me here - if the MCU's first Captain of Cameos was the guy at its birth, could the second one be the guy at its rebirth? More than this logical progression, Deadpool's wiseassery fits pretty well into the Marvel brand of one-liner humor. Though we'll admit; he'd have to go a little less blue to show up in a new Spider-Man flick.

Whatever the reason, Deadpool's status as most-desired cameo would be a "best of both" worlds situation for his on-screen decision-makers. For Reynolds, it would be less of a commitment, financially and otherwise. For Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios, they'd be able to inject the energy of Deadpool & Wolverine into the new wave of MCU movies. And with a win-win like that, it's hard to imagine Reynolds following through on his retirement as Wade Wilson.

Provided, of course, he doesn't die in this new movie.

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Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:

• How to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in release or chronological order
• The best Marvel Comics stories of all time
• All the MCU movies ranked from best to worst
• Our weekly Marvel insider's column, Marvel Matters