Like Spider-Man: No Way Home before it, Deadpool & Wolverine is a superhero fan’s ultimate dream come true. A nostalgic love letter to various pre-MCU franchises and properties, the 34th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe also proves every bit as fantastic as the previous two Deadpool films. Seizing advantage of its sprawling canonical universe (or rather, in this case, alternative universes), Ryan Reynolds and team never wastes an opportunity to make some kind of reference to Marvel’s intricate past.
Of course, for every surprise cameo from Blade, Elektra, Gambit, or Johnny Storm, several lesser-known references in Deadpool & Wolverine go soaring by without most audience members noticing. From villainous returns to alternative versions of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, here are some of the many references viewers might have missed in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Short Wolverine
One of the first Wolverine variants Deadpool comes across in the film appears as a comically short version of the famous X-Men hero. Though it’s certainly hilarious seeing Hugh Jackman shrunken down from his natural height of 6 ‘2, this undersized Wolverine is actually a reference to the character’s comic-accurate height of 5’ 3. Despite his rather short stature, though, it’s clear that this comic-accurate Wolverine is every bit as feisty as his far taller cinematic counterpart.
Wolverine vs. The Hulk
It might be somewhat hard to believe, but Wolverine wasn’t always the grizzled comic book hero fans know and love. In his earliest inception, the character was actually introduced as a adversary of the Hulk, leading to his initial appearance in 1974’s The Incredible Hulk #180. Sporting a brown and tan costume and going mano a mano with Bruce Banner’s fiery-tempered alter ego, this original incarnation of Wolverine turns up as Deadpool searches for a potential variant to bring into his universe.
Age of Apocalypse Wolverine
Affectionately dubbed “Glam Rock Wolverine” by casual viewers, the unkempt Wolverine that Deadpool encounters near the beginning of the film is actually a careful recreation of Age of Apocalypse’s Wolverine variant. In this timeline, Charles Xavier’s son, Legion, has gone back in time and accidentally killed his father, allowing Apocalypse to seize control of the Earth 10 years earlier than expected. With the planet left in shambles, Earth’s heroes were reduced to shadows of their former selves, with Wolverine in particular becoming an animalistic vigilante known as Weapon X.
The Blob
If you look closely at the various minions in Cassandra’s employ, you might spot a few familiar faces from Marvel’s cinematic past. Along with a returning Pyro, Sabretooth, Toad, and Juggernaut, one key cameo viewers might notice is the X-Men villain, The Blob, who appears in several scenes set at Cassandra’s Void fortress. A variant of Kevin Durand’s Blob from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this version of Fred Dukes seemingly acts as a muscled-up enforcer for Cassandra’s ragtag mutant group.
The Russian
Eagle-eyed Deadpool & Wolverine audience members might notice a physically imposing gentleman in a red and white striped tank top wandering around Cassandra’s mutant camp. This character is none other than The Russian, a recurring adversary of The Punisher. A near invincible hitman with a love for American pop culture, this version of The Russian returns to live-action film 20 years after his original debut in 2004’s Punisher film.
Lady Deathstrike
While most audience members’ eyes are immediately drawn to the crimson outline of Azazel or the foreboding Juggernaut, it’s also worth highlighting the other villains dwelling within Cassandra’s camp. Among these characters is the razor-fingered Lady Deathstrike, the brainwashed protege of Colonel William Stryker last seen in X2. The twisted successor to Wolverine, Lady Deathstrike underwent the same adamantium-bonding procedure as Logan, outfitting her with adamantium fingernails and a near-unbreakable metallic bone structure.
Bullseye
Another blink-and-you’ll-miss it cameo from 20th Century Fox’s Marvel films, Daredevil’s sworn arch-enemy Bullseye is similarly featured in Deadpool & Wolverine. A background member of Cassandra Nova’s camp, this version of Bullseye bears a strong resemblance to Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the character from 2003’s Daredevil. Dressed in a long leather trench coat and distinctly marked with a target insignia on his forehead, it’s worth wondering if this version of Bullseye is as unhinged as his original cinematic counterpart. (Although it’s safe to say he probably is.)
Stan Lee’s Cameo
It wouldn’t be a Marvel movie without a cameo from Stan Lee. While the legendary comic book sadly passed away in 2018, that hasn’t stopped the iconic head of Marvel from appearing in the most surprising of places. In Deadpool & Wolverine, for example, Lee provides the likeness for the Stanlee Steamer advertisement on the city bus through which Deadpool and Wolverine take on the Deadpool Corps. In a touching nod to Lee’s memory, the advertisement even includes the slogan, “Your friendly neighborhood cleaner” – an obvious reference to Spider-Man’s lighthearted moniker.
