Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Summary
Marveljust showed DC how to do cameos correctly inDeadpool & Wolverine, and made Nicolas Cage’s Superman cameo inThe Flashlook so much worse. DC and Marvel both recently released movies that included cameos from across the multiverse.The Flashpaid homage to DC’s past with cameos like Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Helen Slater’s Supergirl. The roster ofDeadpool & Wolverinecameosredeemed a few of Marvel’s former superheroes, like Jennifer Garner’s Elektra andWesley Snipes' Blade. While both movies had cameos, the ways in which they have been received couldn’t be more different.
Every cameo andreference inDeadpool & Wolverinehad a legitimate role in the film, and the cast all fit the film’s narrative themes. Comparatively,The Flash’s cameos were quick glances for a cheap pop of excitement from the audience. The same can be said for Cage’s Superman, who only appeared briefly as a CGI imagining of the character. It’s cool to see Cage’s Superman fully realized since his film never happened, but Marvel showed how to truly bring a scrapped project to life through Channing Tatum’s Gambit inDeadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine And The Flash Both Referenced Superhero Movies That Never Happened
Cage’s Superman appearance inThe Flashis a deep cut, referencinga Superman movie that never happened.Superman Liveswas a canceled film that was supposed to go into production during the 1990s. Tim Burton was set to direct with Cage playing the titular hero. Cage had already put the suit on, with many images online of the actor in the suit. InThe Flash, Cage’s Superman appears briefly as the multiverse collapses around Barry Allen. He’s shown fighting a giant spider, in a playful nod to a Kevin Smith suggestion forSuperman Lives.
Deadpool & Wolverineis less subtle about Tatum’s Gambit appearance, with Deadpool directly addressing the development hell that the Gambit movie went through.Tatum first signed on to play Gambit in 2014, but the film struggled to keep a director attached to the project. After being stuck for five years, Disney scrapped the project after the studio acquired 21st Century Fox. Tatum’s role inDeadpool & Wolverinefulfilled a wish he’s had for 10 years, and one he likely thought was dead.
Nicolas Cage’s Superman Was Cheap Fan Service In Comparison To Channing Tatum’s Gambit
Gambit had a sizable role inDeadpool & Wolverine. He first arrives as a part of the resistance team formed by Elektra, Blade, and Dafne Keen’s X-23. Tatum gets to show off his Cajun accent, and the card-throwing ability the X-Men member is known for. Gambit is a crucial part of Deadpool and Wolverine’s fight against Cassandra Nova, and he manages to make a name for himself during the fight. It’s unclear if Tatum will ever return in the role, but this is an excellent way of redeeming his scrapped project while giving audiences a satisfying appearance from Gambit.
In comparison to Gambit’s MCU role, Cage’s Superman cameo doesn’t hold up. It already looked bad due to poor CGI, but it’s even worse knowing what DC could have done with the role. While it’s cool to see him in a brief action scene,there isn’t the satisfaction that Cage’s Superman finally got redemption, since he isn’t physicallya part of the story, shown in another universe occupied with other things. It’s also such a brief role and serves no real purpose, besides giving a wink and nod to audiences. Cameos can be a lazy way to create excitement, but Marvel has shown how to do it correctly.
Deadpool & Wolverine Proves How Cameos Can Be Done Correctly
Each cameo inDeadpool & Wolverinehas a purpose in the film’s narrative and fits the film’s themes. Elektra, Blade, Gambit, and Chris Evans' Johnny Storm are characters and actors who never got to finish their stories or never started their stories. They are given a chance to secure their legacies by fighting alongside Deadpool and Wolverine. X-23 doesn’t need redemption, but she inspires the film’s Wolverine variant to come to terms with his past and be the hero he needs to be. Johnny’s cameo is more comedic, but it does get referenced later in the film.
The movie’s Deadpool Corps are also rife with cameos, though these are more subtle since the characters are all wearing full masks and suits.
The only cameo that could be considered less substantial isHenry Cavill’s Wolverine. However, a meta reference to a popular fancasting and Cavill’s troubled history with DC is fitting for aDeadpoolmovie. The X-Men villains also aren’t in the film as much, but they are worthy references to the legacy of Fox’s X-Men films. Critics often bash modern superhero movies for filling themselves with cameos, but there are ways to do it right.Deadpool & Wolverineshowcases just this, honoring Marvel’s history while giving each actor an important role in the film.
