'Deadpool & Wolverine' cameos explained: Channing Tatum and Wesley Snipes

This story contains spoilers for “Deadpool and Wolverine” and is meant to be read after the movie It has been seen.

Marvel's Merc with a Mouth is back, and he's brought a few friends with him.

It’s been six long years since audiences last saw Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool on the big screen, but Marvel’s beloved antihero returns, as loud-mouthed as ever, in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which opens Friday. As the title suggests, the film also marks the return of Hugh Jackman as the gruff Wolverine from “X-Men.” It’s a reunion of sorts for the two characters: Reynolds first appeared as Wade Wilson alongside Jackman in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (sans the red suit).

As Deadpool repeatedly reminds audiences, a lot has changed for him since “Deadpool 2” was released in 2018. Specifically, Disney acquired Fox in 2019, along with the film rights to popular Marvel characters like Deadpool and the X-Men. “Deadpool 3” takes advantage of the multiverse era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is packed with cameos from characters audiences might remember from Fox’s catalog of Marvel films.

Those appearing in “Deadpool & Wolverine” include the aptly named Pyro (Aaron Stanford) from “X-Men” (2000) and “X2” (2003), as well as Wolverine nemeses Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) from “X-Men” and Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu) from “X2.” Other well-known mutant villains who appear include Toad, Azazel and Juggernaut.

There are also plenty of other cameos, including several familiar faces from the MCU, as well as other surprise appearances.

Here’s a rundown of the most notable “Deadpool and Wolverine” cameos in previous Marvel films. (One last time: Rewatch the movie if you haven’t seen it yet.)

Johnny Storm

Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) is fascinated by his fiery powers in 2005's “Fantastic Four.”

(Kerry Hayes / 20th Century Fox)

Chris Evans wearing glasses in front of an orange background.

Years before Chris Evans donned the Captain America suit to help lead the Avengers, he made his superhero film debut as a member of Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four. Evans portrayed Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in 2005’s “Fantastic Four” and its 2007 sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” This incarnation of the superhero team also included Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Jessica Alba as Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman) and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm (The Thing). Johnny and the other members of the Fantastic Four develop superpowers after being exposed to cosmic energy in space.

Johnny appears in the new film as Deadpool and Wolverine's potential ally against telepathic villain Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin).

The MCU incarnation of the Fantastic Four will include Pedro Pascal as Reed, Vanessa Kirby as Sue, Joseph Quinn as Johnny, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben.

Laura / X-23

Dafne Keen, Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in "Logan-Logan"

Dafne Keen in front of a blue background.

As teased in the film’s trailer, “Deadpool & Wolverine” sees the return of Dafne Keen as Laura from 2017’s “Logan.” Laura, aka X-23, was created in an experiment using Logan’s DNA, so her powers (and aspects of her personality) are very similar to those of her adoptive father. Keene, who was just 11 when “Logan” was filmed, was praised for her performance (then-Times film critic Kenneth Turan described her as an “effective newcomer” in his review) and was a fan favorite on Fox’s R-rated spinoff “X-Men.”

Deadpool and Wolverine meet X-23 as part of a team that has been fighting Cassandra.

Electricity

Jennifer Garner as Elektra wields her sais in "Reckless."

Jennifer Garner, wearing a black dress, sits on a chair and looks into the camera.

Between the launch of the “X-Men” and “Fantastic Four” franchises, Fox released a pair of films revolving around the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. Jennifer Garner first appeared as Elektra in 2003’s “Daredevil,” which starred Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer working as a vigilante. Elektra is a skilled, sai-wielding assassin who serves as both a love interest and adversary for Daredevil. Garner last portrayed the character in 2005’s “Elektra,” a spinoff that follows the title character as a hitman. (Garner and Affleck were also a couple off-screen and were married from 2005 to 2018; their divorce is coyly addressed in the film.)

Elektra is part of the team that agrees to help Deadpool and Wolverine along with X-23.

Blade

Wesley Snipes, wearing a beret, points to the camera.

Wesley Snipes portrayed vampire hunter Blade in a trilogy of films: “Blade” (1998), “Blade II” (2002) and “Blade: Trinity,” which also starred Reynolds (2004). Blade is a human-vampire hybrid whose mother was attacked and killed by vampires while she was pregnant with him. He relies on a special serum to keep his own bloodlust at bay. The “Blade” films were released by New Line Cinema, which is now part of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The one and only (so far) Blade, as he calls himself in the film, is also part of the motley team that includes X-23 and Elektra.

In 2019, it was announced that Mahershala Ali had been cast as Blade in the MCU's reboot of the character. After a number of creative changes, “Blade” is expected to hit theaters in 2025.

Gambit

Channing Tatum in a black pinstripe suit.

At long last, Channing Tatum is making his debut as Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Tatum had long been attached to an “X-Men” spinoff for the Ragin’ Cajun Remy LeBeau, which ended up falling victim to Disney’s acquisition of Fox. After Tatum expressed interest in playing the character, it was announced in 2014 that he would appear in a future “X-Men”-related project as Gambit. A “Gambit” movie was scheduled for 2016, but faced a series of delays until it was officially canceled in 2019.

Gambit (and his energy-charged cards) is also part of the team that Deadpool and Wolverine meet while trying to figure out how to defeat Cassandra.

BONUS: Henry Cavill and Blake Lively also appear in “Deadpool & Wolverine” as alternate versions of the title characters. Cavill, who appears as a variant of Wolverine, previously played DC icon Superman in that other superhero franchise. Lively, whose face is not seen onscreen, is married to Reynolds and is credited as Lady Deadpool.