We’ve known for a while that “Deadpool & Wolverine” will be a who’s who of Marvel film characters from before “MCU” was the hottest buzzword in Hollywood. The first “Deadpool 3” trailer showcases Pyro (Aaron Stanford) for the first time in 18 years after causing chaos in the 20th Century Fox X-Men universe. The second trailer has brought numerous other villains into the mix, with the Russian only being the beginning.
The most recognizable antagonists are closest to the helmet’s entrance. Azazel, played by Jason Flemyng in “X-Men: First Class,” can be found standing near the
Russian. Meanwhile, Lady Deathstrike, portrayed by Kelly Hu in “X2: X-Men United,” is on the other side, gazing toward the behemoth skeletal structure of the fallen Avenger. We can also make an educated guess that Toad, played by Ray Park in “X-Men,” is the hunched-over figure in the group, even after getting electrocuted by Storm (Halle Berry) and seemingly dying in that movie.
However, a good explanation exists for how Toad and others can appear in “Deadpool 3.” If they’re in the Void, they’re all probably from pruned timelines, meaning these characters may not be precisely who they were in the X-Men films audiences have already seen. It could explain why the Russian looks different from his 2004 outing. Even if they’re all variants, they’re bound to give viewers a serious case of déjà vu when “Deadpool & Wolverine” comes out in theaters on July 26.
