MARVEL'S WOLVERINE Devs Set the Record Straight on That “Deadpool” Cameo Fans Thought They Spotted
When the trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine dropped during PlayStation’s June 2026 State of Play showcase, fans immediately started picking apart every frame looking for clues, Easter eggs, and surprise character reveals.
While appearances from familiar faces like Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Omega Red, and Mystique were easy enough to spot, there was one mysterious figure that sparked a wave of speculation online.
For a brief moment, viewers caught a glimpse of a red-clad swordsman, and many were convinced they had just seen Deadpool make his debut in the game.
As it turns out, that’s apparently not the case.
Speaking with Variety, Insomniac Games creative director Marcus Smith addressed the character that had fans buzzing and confirmed that while the confusion is understandable, players aren’t looking at the Merc with a Mouth.
“Luckily, when you’re playing the game, there’s a lot of setup before any of that, and there will not be that confusion. Not Deadpool, but we were trying to build the ultimate Wolverine experience, and part of that is he is surrounded by beloved Marvel characters all around.
“So we did see Jean Grey, we saw Sabretooth, we’ve seen Omega Red, we’ve seen Mystique. Those are a few of the faces we can let you in on, at least.”
That answer clears up one mystery while creating another. The unidentified character certainly looks like someone who could be mistaken for Deadpool at a glance. The red outfit and sword-wielding silhouette naturally sent fans down that road. However, there may be another explanation hiding in plain sight.
One theory gaining traction is that the character could be connected to The Hand, the legendary ninja clan from Marvel Comics that frequently crosses paths with Daredevil and other street-level heroes.
Members of The Hand are known for wearing red, carrying blades, and operating as highly trained assassins. The mystery figure also appears to have a symbol on the pauldron of his right shoulder that resembles a five-fingered hand.
If that turns out to be the case, it would fit neatly with Smith’s comments about Wolverine being “surrounded by beloved Marvel characters all around.” The Hand could serve as a dangerous faction for Logan to battle throughout the game while still allowing Insomniac to keep the character’s identity under wraps for now.
Of course, until another trailer arrives or Insomniac releases additional details, fans are left doing what they do best: theorizing. With Marvel’s Wolverine set to launch on September 15, there’s still plenty of time for more reveals.
Even if Deadpool doesn’t physically appear in the game, it would still be surprising if Insomniac ignored him completely. Wolverine and Deadpool have a long history together across games and comics. Both characters have shared roster space in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and Marvel Rivals.
Their most memorable gaming interaction may still be found in Deadpool from 2013, where the two characters spent plenty of time trading insults and chaos. One particularly ridiculous sequence even lets players repeatedly slap an unconscious Wolverine.
It’s probably safe to assume Logan won’t be getting revenge for that moment in Marvel’s Wolverine, but Insomniac has built a reputation for packing its games with deep-cut references and collectibles. Even if Deadpool never actually shows up, there’s a good chance fans will find a nod to the character somewhere along the way.
For now, though, the mystery swordsman remains exactly that: a mystery. One thing we do know is that he isn’t Deadpool, no matter how much he may look like him in those fleeting two seconds of footage.