Deadpool 3 trailer breakdown: Pyro, Wolverine & more

Daisy Phillipson
Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

Deadpool 3, officially titled Deadpool & Wolverine, dropped its hilarious trailer over Super Bowl Sunday 2024 – with so much going on, here’s a full breakdown of the “Marvel Jesus” teaser. 

The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the US, so it’s no surprise movie studios want to get in on the action by releasing trailers for their upcoming titles – and 2024 was no different, with teasers for the Wicked movie, Twisters, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and more. 

But arguably the most talked about is Deadpool 3 – not only is the Merc with a Mouth (Ryan Reynolds) set to make his MCU debut, but Hugh Jackman is making his anticipated return as Wolverine.

And they’re not the only characters from the X-Men universe showing their faces – so, ahead of the film’s July release, here’s a full breakdown of the trailer. 

Deadpool 3 trailer breakdown

Below, you will find a breakdown of the new trailer for Deadpool 3, aka Deadpool & Wolverine, from Pyro’s return to an Avengers easter egg and more. 

X-Men icon Pyro makes his grand return

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

One of the biggest reveals in the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer is Aaron Stanford making his surprise return as the fire-controlling X-Men mutant Pyro. It’s been nearly 20 years since his last appearance in the Marvel movie world, his last entry being 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand.

In the trailer, he’s wearing a similar outfit to the henchmen, suggesting he may be an antagonist again. Between clips of Deadpool fighting the big bads, Stanford’s Pyro says (enthusiastically), “God, I love this part.”

Is that… Cassandra Nova?

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

Speaking of X-Men characters, the Deadpool 3 trailer also teases the movie’s potential supervillain: Cassandra Nova. Having started life without a body, Nova copied none other than Charles Xavier’s DNA, essentially becoming his “twin.” With powerful telekinetic and telepathic capabilities, she became one of the X-Men’s most powerful big bads, and could represent a major threat in the MCU moving forward. 

Although it’s yet to be confirmed, the trailer shows the silhouette of a bald person wearing a wide-shouldered jacket. Reports widely suggest that Emma Corrin – who has been confirmed in the Deadpool and Wolverine cast – will be taking on the role of Nova. 

Secret Wars easter egg 

Although the biggest-ever MCU team-up, Avengers Secret Wars, isn’t out for another three years, Deadpool 3 teased its relevance with a Secret Wars comic easter egg. In the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, the Merc with a Mouth can be seen lying on the floor as Wolverine approaches, and beside him is a copy of the 2015 comic Secret Wars #5.

Whether this has anything to do with the storyline or it’s simply a nod to Deadpool’s MCU entry is yet to be seen, but it certainly could indicate where the multiverse might be heading. Especially as it features Doctor Doom – aka the archenemy of Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, as well as the Avengers and the X-Men.

Deadpool is coming for Disney

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

In his usual fourth-wall-breaking style, Wade takes a jab at Disney now that Deadpool is officially MCU property. In the trailer, when the TVA comes for him (more on this in a bit), they pull out their Time Sticks. “Is that supposed to be scary? Pegging isn’t new for me, friendo, but it is for Disney,” quips Wade as he looks at the camera. 

Later, as he’s being introduced to a plan featuring clips of the Avengers, including Chris Evans’ Captain America, Deadpool says, “Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever. I’m the messiah. I… am… Marvel Jesus.” Amen.

Loki’s TVA make an appearance 

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

As said, the troops who come to collect Wade – during his birthday party no less – are from the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the bureaucratic organization featured in Loki that serves as timeline monitors. Their appearance in Deadpool and Wolverine makes sense, given the Merc’s previous time-jumping antics. 

One of the strongest theories is that the events in Deadpool 3 will lead to the collapse of the multiverse and the TVA will pluck Deadpool and Wolverine from their dying universes to help save the world.

20th Century Fox is dead

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

Last year, leaked set photos showed a gigantic 20th Century Fox logo on the set of Deadpool 3, a meta-reference to the 2019 Disney-Fox merger that led to Deadpool and Wolverine’s MCU entry. And this can be seen in the trailer in the background of some action-packed fighting scenes. 

Wade’s friends celebrate his birthday

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

The opening scene of the Deadpool 3 trailer shows a whole host of Wade’s friends from the first two movies at his birthday party. The list includes Vanessa (Morena Baccarin); Shatterstar (Lewis Tan); Dopinder (Karan Soni); Colossus (Stefan Kapicic); Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand); Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna); Blind Al (Leslie Uggams); and Peter (Rob Delaney). 

One character who doesn’t make an appearance is Josh Brolin’s Cable, and it’s currently unclear whether he’ll cameo in the upcoming threequel. 

Succession star makes his MCU debut

The Deadpool and Wolverine trailer also gave us our first look at Succession icon Matthew MacFadyen as Paradox – an agent of the TVA who recruits Deadpool. Quite frankly, we’re excited to see him bring his acting talents to the MCU. 

Deadpool 3 teases Wolverine’s Patch

Still from the Deadpool 3 trailer

Wolverine scenes are kept to a minimum in the Deadpool 3 trailer, although there is a snapshot of the back of the character donning his trademark hairstyle – but rather than his yellow suit, he’s in white attire, leading some to believe it’s a tease of his alter-ego Patch. 

Wolverine adopted this disguise – wearing an eyepatch and a white suit – in the Marvel comics while living undercover. We’ll have to wait and see whether this is the case in Deadpool 3 when it arrives in cinemas on July 26, 2024.