Marvel Studios Officially Addresses Deadpool's Upcoming 2026 Return

2 hours ago 11

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine

Published Jun 13, 2026, 8:55 PM EDT

2026 is about to get a lot busier for Marvel Studios, with several major projects lined up for the summer and the rest of the year.

One of the biggest characters to finally enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline during the Multiverse Saga was Wade Wilson, with Ryan Reynolds reprising the iconic role in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine. However, the Merc with a Mouth is coming back through a different Marvel Studios project this summer.

During an exclusive interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley, who moderated the X-Men '97 season 2 panel at the Tribeca Film Festival, Brad Winderbaum, who is the Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics and Franchise, was asked about that Deadpool cameo in the first trailer for the show's upcoming return, where Morph is seen turning into Wade briefly and if viewers are closer to finally meeting the real deal in the animated universe.

Winderbaum cryptically stated, "You never know... There are some fun plot lines coming up for some other characters that you caught only brief glimpses of in the OG series that I am so flippin' excited to get on screen." In the initial X-Men '97 season 2 trailer, several heroes and villains tied to the team were revealed.

Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.”

🐺 Wolverine The Loner

🧠 Professor X The Visionary

🧲 Magneto The Survivor

ACTIVATE CEREBRO →

Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do?

ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever

Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move?

AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices

A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into?

AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails

A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond?

APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause

A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do?

AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes

What’s your biggest flaw?

AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong

Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move?

AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation

What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants?

ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything

REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY →

Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity

🐺

Wolverine (Logan)

“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.

Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed

🧠

Professor X (Charles Xavier)

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.

Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful

🧲

Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)

“Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.

Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding

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X-Men '97 season 1 featured several big Marvel cameos, including various Avengers characters, as Winderbaum was also asked if the world-building goes deeper in season 2, especially as several mutants are now missing from the present timeline. The Marvel Studios executive responded with, "One of the things I love about X-Men '97 and tapping into that 90s Saturday morning mythology is that it is like the full breadth of the 616."

However, Winderbaum stressed that the new season is not necessarily going to see other Marvel players trying to fill a hero void: "[It] kind of exists in the background, so the Avengers are around and other characters are around, and you really never know who you're gonna bump into, and like reading Marvel Comics, it's always fun when there [are] those collisions." During X-Men '97 season 1, Iron Man, Captain America, and Daredevil were some of the major cameos.

While it's unclear whether Wade will have a more extensive role in the series, the X-Men: The Animated Series sequel initially couldn't include a Deadpool appearance. When ScreenRant spoke with Winderbaum in May 2024, he shared that "I don't know that it was like a hard and fast rule that we couldn't use Deadpool. We would have had to have an insanely compelling reason to bring Deadpool in."

Given that Deadpool & Wolverine and X-Men '97 were being developed at the same time, Winderbaum explained, "Unless it was something that really was an undeniable creative idea, it seemed like, 'Why would we do it?' But also, I'll say, the season is so chock-full of big, giant, amazing fulfilling ideas that throwing Deadpool in there almost feels like arbitrary at a certain point. Is there a potential for Deadpool to come in? Absolutely, he was in the original series, briefly as we all know, and certainly we're all fans, so we'll see what happens."

Even though viewers will probably only get to see Deadpool briefly in X-Men '97 season 2, there is still plenty of time for him to have a proper appearance down the line. Not only has season 3 already been confirmed, but the creative team is also developing season 4.

Whether or not the X-Men '97 writers will get to bring in Deadpool through animation before Reynolds' MCU version comes back in live-action remains to be seen. While he is supposedly not in Avengers: Doomsday, the actor is developing various ideas for a team-up film that would feature Wade as a supporting player rather than the lead.

X-Men '97 season 2 is set to premiere on July 1 on Disney+.