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Until I watched Deadpool and Wolverine, I firmly believed that no one other than Hugh Jackman could ever do proper justice to our favorite adamantium-clawed X-Man. But then, Henry Cavill’s surprise appearance as “Cavalline” completely changed my mind. Is there anything Henry Cavill can’t do? With just a 20-second cameo, this man had us all going wild in theaters.
MCU fans had always speculated how the former Man of Steel would look as various Marvel heroes. Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned our fantasy into a beautiful reality, we can’t seem to get over it. Henry Cavill’s unexpected cameo as a Wolverine variant in Deadpool and Wolverine has taken the fandom by storm, sparking wild speculations. Fans are buzzing with questions—was this a one-time appearance, or does Marvel Studios have bigger plans for Cavill in the MCU?
Cavill fit into this role like a glove. Given the method actor he is, it looks like his take on Wolverine could be the iconic reimagination we’ve been waiting for. So, is there a possibility for the former Superman to return as Wolverine in future MCU projects? Let’s dive into it.
The Iconic Appearance of Cavillrine in Deadpool and Wolverine
If you’ve seen the movie, you know it starts with Deadpool focused on saving his home in the timeline of Earth-10005, rather than the MCU’s main timeline, Earth-616. The film also introduces the idea that the events in Logan were part of the same X-Men universe, and Logan’s death at the end triggered the slow collapse of that timeline, as he was the anchor of that world.
We see around nine different variants of Wolverine as Deadpool jumps from one timeline to another, searching for the perfect Logan to save his timeline. Amidst all this, he comes across Henry Cavill’s variant. Wade Wilson dubs him “Cavalline,” playfully acknowledging the ongoing fan casting of Cavill as Wolverine in the MCU. This montage truly deserves all the hype—nobody expected the DCU’s most popular superhero to join the MCU as a cigar-biting mutant with adamantium claws. And to top it all off, we got to witness the most epic arm reload in cinematic history.
This version of Wolverine is seen fixing a motorcycle before turning around to reveal himself, acing Wolverine’s signature hairstyle and chomping on a cigar. When they meet, Henry Cavill’s Wolverine wastes no time—he instantly draws his claws and stabs Deadpool right through the time door. However, this version of Wolverine doesn’t seem to be from the comics and was likely added just to bring Cavill in as fan service.
True to form, Deadpool breaks the fourth wall, suggesting that Cavill should join the MCU while quipping that they’d treat him better than “the folks down the street,” implying how DC and Warner Brothers treated him. This line humorously mocks the DCU’s abrupt reboot, which derailed Cavill’s plans to return as Superman after James Gunn and Peter Safran took over.
Just to be clear, there’s no bad blood between DC Studios and Cavill—it’s just a bit of a letdown how things turned out, leading many fans to suggest certain characters that Cavill could play in the MCU. Nonetheless, just imagine seeing Henry Cavill in the classic brown and yellow Wolverine suit—picture-perfect, right? But seriously, is there a role this guy can’t tackle?
Henry Cavill’s Method Acting as Wolverine Took a Toll
Henry Cavill was genuinely determined to make his portrayal of a Wolverine variant as authentic as possible, but his dedication came with a cost. Even though his screen time was brief, Cavill’s Wolverine was one of the most memorable moments in the film, especially with that cigar he kept in his mouth. It was actually the director of Deadpool and Wolverine, Shawn Levy, who shared that Cavill insisted on keeping the cigar lit and held it in his mouth throughout the entire eight-hour-long shoot. Because he wasn’t used to it, Henry got really sick from it, but nobody even realized his condition at the time, as he never showed any signs of discomfort during filming.
In another interview, Shawn Levy talked about Henry’s big cameo, saying it was Ryan Reynolds who came up with Henry’s official credited name as “Cavillrine.” Everyone on the production team knew the name was perfect when Ryan coined it, and even Henry didn’t need much convincing to join the cast for a 20-second cameo. He agreed right away because he saw it as a fun, subversive twist. Apparently, it was all done with a lot of affection for him and his career, especially playing off his legacy as a DC hero now taking on a Marvel hero variant.
While both the studio and the actor did a fantastic job keeping his shocking appearance a secret, after the film’s release, Henry Cavill took to social media to talk about playing the character. He posted a photo of himself in the role, complete with the lit cigar and all. This post alone racked up more than 3 million likes—a fine representation of the shock waves his cameo sent through the fan base. In the caption, Cavill even joked about how he shaved the mustache off for his role, gently poking fun at the infamous digital removal of his facial hair during the Justice League reshoots when he played Superman.
For those unaware of this whole fiasco, the entire world went crazy when the DCU did that horrible CGI job of digitally removing Henry’s Mission Impossible mustache, which he couldn’t shave due to prior commitments.
Will Henry Cavill Return as Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Since Deadpool always engages with pop culture by breaking the fourth wall, casting Henry Cavill in a role where he absolutely nailed his 20-second cameo allowed the MCU to have some fun by taking a playful jab at the other comic book movie studio. As Ryan Reynolds openly claimed, if anyone can take on the daunting task of matching Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal, it’s definitely Henry Cavill.
Naturally, his cameo has sparked a lot of speculation about his future in the MCU, especially with the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon. Now that fans expect the film to feature various variants and cross-universe cameos, one viral theory suggests that Henry Cavill could be the Earth-616 variant of Wolverine. It’s quite possible they used his cameo to test the waters, and now that the studio knows the response to Cavill is overwhelmingly positive, it makes more sense to give him a bigger role.
However, if Wolverine shows up in Secret Wars, it’s more likely that Hugh Jackman will take on the role. Still, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of Cavill making another cameo, given the whole MCU multiverse setup. Who knows? He might even team up with Jackman’s Wolverine.
But it makes sense for him to reprise his role a bit more permanently. Henry Cavill brings with him a massive fan base from his days as Superman, and his portrayal of Wolverine has the potential to attract many DC fans, who would be inevitably curious about his new role, thus boosting the MCU’s already massive viewership.
Cavill’s physical presence and acting skills are a great fit for Wolverine. Time and again, he’s proven that he can handle intense, action-packed roles, and his rugged looks suit the character almost perfectly. With Hugh Jackman’s long tenure as Wolverine, any new actor who tries to replace him needs to bring something fresh to the role, and Cavill offers a unique mix of charm, intensity, and physicality that could redefine Wolverine for a new generation.
Known for his deep passion for his roles, Cavill’s dedication would ensure he does Wolverine justice. His enthusiasm could resonate with fans who want an actor that truly cares about the character. But since Kevin Feige announced at Comic-Con that there aren’t any immediate plans to recast Wolverine, it implies that Hugh Jackman might return for Secret Wars and possibly even for a Wolverine vs. Hulk movie.
However, Feige also noted that any new Wolverine would need to bring a fresh approach rather than just copying Jackman’s portrayal. This opens the door for Cavill, whose version of Wolverine already stands out enough to be distinct from Jackman’s while still staying true to the character from the comics.
Plus, Feige is known for surprising fans with multiversal stunts. I’m sure you remember the excitement when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returned as Spider-Man variants. But as of now, Disney and Marvel haven’t officially confirmed whether Henry Cavill will return as Wolverine in Avengers: Secret Wars or any future MCU projects.
Even then, the signs are promising. Henry Cavill’s cameo in Deadpool and Wolverine was a hit, and both fans and creators seem excited about the possibility of seeing more of him in this new setting. Just imagine Cavill’s Wolverine teaming up with the Avengers in Secret Wars or taking on iconic villains through the multiverse. There are endless possibilities for the studio to explore, so if they put their minds to it, we could see “Cavalline” again.
With the multiverse in play, Marvel has the flexibility to either bring Cavill’s Wolverine into the main MCU timeline or dive into alternate realities. While the MCU fan base buzzes with hope and anticipation, only time will tell what happens with this rumor. We all remember how Channing Tatum’s Gambit was sidetracked, but I really hope that doesn’t happen with Cavillrine.
Would you love to see Henry Cavill in Secret Wars fighting alongside the Avengers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
