Marvel fans may want to keep their expectations in check when it comes to the Merc with a Mouth. Two of Hollywood’s top trade outlets — The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline — are publishing directly contradictory claims about whether Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool will appear in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
THR Says Deadpool Is In — With a Catch
On August 15, 2025, The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision newsletter confirmed that Reynolds will reprise his role as Wade Wilson in Avengers: Doomsday, set to release on December 18, 2026.
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©.” In other words, Deadpool is in the film, but not as part of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This detail was quickly picked up by outlets like CinemaBlend and ComicBook.com, which framed the news as an exciting cameo that keeps Deadpool in his outsider lane amidst the broader Avengers: Doomsday team up.
Deadline Pushes Back: “He’s Not in Either Film”
Just one day later, Deadline appeared to shut the door on those claims. The outlet reported that Reynolds will not appear as Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Their reasoning? He hasn’t been spotted on set, and insiders allegedly downplayed the viral social media post Reynolds shared earlier this week — an Avengers-styled logo with the caption “Don’t give me hope.”
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Fan accounts and entertainment reporters amplified Deadline’s position across social platforms, with viral posts stating plainly: “Deadpool will not appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars.’”
A Rare Trade Disagreement
This isn’t just speculation from fan blogs — it’s a head-on clash between two of Hollywood’s most respected industry sources. The Hollywood Reporter is telling readers that Deadpool is in Avengers: Doomsday, albeit not as an Avenger, while Deadline insists he won’t appear at all in either.
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©. It suggests either Marvel is deliberately keeping details clouded in secrecy, or that different sources within the production are offering competing information.
What makes this clash even more unusual is that The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline aren’t rivals in the traditional sense. They’re both owned by the same parent company, Penske Media. Under normal circumstances, outlets within the same corporate umbrella tend to avoid publishing directly contradictory reports, which makes the divide over Reynolds’ Deadpool all the more striking.
Why the Confusion?
Several factors could explain the divide:
- Secrecy at Marvel Studios: The studio has a long history of planting misdirection to preserve surprises.
- Cameo vs. Full Role: Reynolds could have filmed a smaller appearance off main sets, making it easy for Deadline’s sources to claim he’s not involved.
- Strategic Silence: With Deadpool & Wolverine still fresh in fans’ minds, Marvel may prefer to leave Deadpool’s future ambiguous until closer to release.
What Deadpool Fans Should Expect for Avengers: Doomsday
Until Marvel Studios officially comments, the only certainty is uncertainty. If THR is correct, fans will see Deadpool pop up in Avengers: Doomsday — but not cracking jokes in the Avengers’ war room. If Deadline is correct, then the viral tease was simply Reynolds trolling the internet in true Deadpool fashion.
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Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.Either way, the Merc with a Mouth has once again managed to dominate headlines without even appearing onscreen.
Bottom Line: Two of the most trusted Hollywood trades are saying completely opposite things about Deadpool’s MCU future. Until Marvel itself breaks its silence, fans are left with one of the biggest question marks heading into Avengers: Doomsday.
Do you think Ryan Reynolds will appear in Avengers: Doomsday? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
