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From playful jibes at the creator of Deadpool to a world full of Easter eggs, “Deadpool & Wolverine” doesn’t pull any punches in the tiny details. The film is bursting with moments that reward close watching for anybody who is a fan of the Marvel Universe—or someone who simply enjoys a good inside joke. But did you catch them all? Let’s check out some of the most interesting ones.
The Wolverine Multiverse Montage
One of the film’s early highlights is a montage where Deadpool searches the multiverse to find a living Wolverine. Most of the Wolverines he encounters, however, aren’t exactly eager to help him. The sequence is packed with Easter eggs for comic book fans.
Among the more memorable Wolverines, there’s a notably short version of the character. The fact is Hugh Jackman stands at 6’2″, while the Wolverine in the comic book is actually around 5’3″. The film exaggerates this for comedic effect but stays true to the character’s original stature.
The montage includes Old Man Logan aiming a shotgun from beneath his blanket at Deadpool and a Wolverine from “Wolverine versus Hulk,” wearing the character’s brown and tan costume. There’s even a Wolverine with glam-rock hair, a throwback to his first solo series. But Deadpool opts for a Wolverine who has seen better days and enjoys his whiskey—a humorous choice that speaks volumes about Deadpool’s rather unconventional decision-making.
Telepathic Battles and the Power of Helmets
Telepaths such as Xavier and Cassandra Nova are not to be messed with in the X-Men series. They can control minds—often controlling the battle. However, some characters have helmets, like Magneto and Juggernaut, that effectively protect them from telepathy. Deadpool uses this trick to his advantage.
During a climactic fight, Deadpool throws one of these helmets onto Cassandra Nova, turning the tables on her. This is an interesting device that references a scene from the “Uncanny Avengers” comics where Deadpool used the same trick to free Rogue from mind control. It’s a clever reference that comic fans will appreciate.
Cassandra Nova and the Mysterious Sling-Ring
Cassandra Nova, a huge villain in the movie, has been trapped in the Void since her birth and made it her home. After Deadpool and Wolverine defeat her, she lets them leave and opens a portal back to Deadpool’s world using a sling-ring. If you’ve seen “Doctor Strange,” you’ll recognize the sling-ring as the device sorcerers use to open portals.
The fact that Cassandra possesses one suggests that a sorcerer went to the Void before her. And since the sorcerer is no longer around, it’s safe to say Cassandra came out on top. This moment makes us wonder: just how difficult is it to use a sling-ring?
A Salute to Deadpool’s Co-Creator
When Deadpool and Wolverine crash back into Deadpool’s home universe, they burst right through the front window of a business—Liefeld’s Just Feet. To the casual eye, there’s not much to notice here, but to a comic geek who knows history, this is a subtle jab at Rob Liefeld, one of Deadpool’s co-creators, who is regularly criticized for his apparent inability to draw feet. This has been an ongoing gag for years now, and Liefeld himself is totally in on the joke, even showing posts of approval online.
Some Sharp Celebrity Jokes
“Deadpool & Wolverine” isn’t all about superhero antics—the film sprinkles in some sharp celebrity humor. There’s a scene where Deadpool mocks Wolverine for getting pudgy after his divorce. This seems to be a nod to the real-life divorce between Jackman and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness, who ended their 27-year marriage recently. That this joke made it into the movie suggests, at the very least, that Jackman can take it.
Another nod to divorce, and perhaps a more interesting one, occurs when Deadpool interacts with Elektra, played by Jennifer Garner. After Deadpool references Daredevil’s death, Elektra, Garner’s character, brushes it off, alluding to her real-life breakup with Ben Affleck, who played Daredevil in the 2003 film.
Reunion with Blade
The movie also reunites Wesley Snipes as Blade and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, despite reports of a complicated working relationship between the two during “Blade: Trinity.” The two share a couple of scenes together, making light of the old controversy as Deadpool acknowledges that Blade never liked him—a cheeky reference to their rumored off-screen animosity.
Lady Deadpool’s Surprise Cameo
One of the more surprising cameos in the film comes from Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds’ wife, who voices Lady Deadpool. Although Lady Deadpool never removes her mask, Lively’s voice is unmistakable. But that’s not all—this fun little family connection adds another layer to the film. And Lady Deadpool gets props for bouncing back into shape after having a baby—a sly reference to Lively and Reynolds’ real-life family growing by one more.
The Shawarma Connection
Near the end of the movie, there’s a scene where Deadpool and Wolverine share shawarma. This is a direct reference to “The Avengers.” While Deadpool humorously attributes the discovery of shawarma to the Avengers, the scene underlines how the MCU has brought this Middle Eastern dish into the spotlight, even boosting sales in the U.S. after “The Avengers” was released.
Honoring Those We’ve Lost
Superhero movie credits often include special dedications, and “Deadpool & Wolverine” is no different. The film honors Henry Delaney, the young son of actor Rob Delaney, who plays Peter in the film. Henry passed away from a brain tumor at the age of two-and-a-half.
Another dedication goes to Raymond Chan, a supervising art director on several Marvel movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” Chan passed away in 2023, and Ryan Reynolds honored him with a respectful comment about his work in cinema.
X-23’s Iconic Sunglasses
One of the best moments in the movie comes when the next generation of Weapon X, played by Dafne Keen, pops on a pair of sunglasses before a fight. These aren’t just any sunglasses—they debuted in “Logan.” It’s a small detail, but one that fans of the “Logan” film will surely appreciate.
Musical References and More
The movie doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to musical references. In one fight scene, Logan presses against the radio and triggers a snippet of a song from “The Greatest Showman,” another Hugh Jackman film. This isn’t the first time the “Deadpool” franchise has made fun of musicals—there was a running gag in “Deadpool 2” about a song from “Frozen” sounding like one from “Yentl.”
Marvel Relics in the Void
The Void, a desolate wasteland filled with remnants of past Marvel adventures, serves as a final resting place for numerous iconic vehicles and objects. From Red Skull’s Hydra car to the Fantasticar, the scene is packed with nods to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond. There’s even a decaying Chitauri Leviathan and what might be a SHIELD Helicarrier, offering fans plenty of visual treats.
Stark Industries and a Lesson in Heroism
In a flashback, Wade finds himself in the office of Stark Industries’ Happy Hogan, trying to convince him to let him join the Avengers. Happy, however, reminds Wade that being a hero isn’t just about the title—he needs something to fight for. The scene is filled with memorable items, including Tony Stark’s heart monitor and a toy helmet worn by a young Peter Parker in “Iron Man 2.” Happy’s office also includes Captain America memorabilia, a nod to the wider Marvel universe.
Cassandra Nova’s Magic Collection
The mystic arts play a role in the film, particularly through Cassandra Nova’s collection of magical artifacts. Among them is Doctor Strange’s Cloak of Levitation, hinting that Nova might have defeated a variant of the Sorcerer Supreme in the Void. This raises the stakes for future encounters between Deadpool and the Marvel universe’s magical forces.
With all these details and more, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a film that rewards fans for paying close attention. Whether you’re a die-hard comic book fan or just love a good superhero movie, there’s no shortage of hidden gems to discover in this action-packed adventure.
