Ryan Reynolds Reportedly Writing a Marvel Movie That Could Bring Cult X-Men Team Alpha Flight to the MCU

Ryan Reynolds might be getting ready to bring another team of Marvel superheroes into the MCU, and this time, he could be giving his Canadian roots some love.

A new rumor has surfaced saying that the Deadpool & Wolverine star is writing a project centered on Alpha Flight, Marvel's cult-favorite Canadian superhero team with a long history tied to the X-Men and Wolverine.

According to Cartier Films, Reynolds is reportedly developing a script involving Alpha Flight, although it's unclear whether the project would become a standalone Marvel movie or be incorporated into Deadpool 4. Either option could be pretty entertaining, especially with Reynolds handling the writing.

The Alpha Flight team was created by John Byrne and made its first appearance in Uncanny X-Men in 1979. They were originally introduced as Canadian government superheroes sent to bring Wolverine back home after he joined the X-Men.

Alpha Flight eventually became Canada's answer to the Avengers, with a lineup that includes Guardian, Northstar, Aurora, Snowbird, Shaman, and Sasquatch. Guardian even wears a red-and-white costume inspired by the Canadian flag, so there's no mistaking which country these heroes represent.

Byrne actually never had much affection for the team. He initially created them as temporary adversaries for the X-Men, but their popularity eventually convinced Marvel to give them their own comic book series. Even then, Byrne wasn't particularly enthusiastic about writing their adventures.

That history should give Reynolds plenty of material to work with. Alpha Flight has some fun and strange characters, and the idea of Deadpool interacting with Canada's government-sponsored superhero team sounds like a perfect opportunity for his brand of comedy.

We've already seen Reynolds have fun with an unconventional superhero team in Deadpool 2, where X-Force was assembled for a mission that went spectacularly wrong. Alpha Flight could receive similar treatment, although it would be cool to see Marvel actually develop these characters into a team that sticks around.

There's also a potentially bigger reason to introduce Alpha Flight into the MCU, and it involves Wolverine. Hugh Jackman returned as Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine, and Marvel reportedly wants to keep him in the role for as long as possible. But Jackman obviously can't play Wolverine forever, regardless of how many jokes Reynolds makes about him doing it until he's 90.

With Avengers: Secret Wars expected to bring major changes to the MCU, Marvel will eventually have an opportunity to introduce a new Wolverine. Alpha Flight could play an interesting role in that transition, particularly because of the team's history with Logan.

One possibility is that Marvel introduces a new actor as Wolverine in its upcoming X-Men reboot, then explores his Canadian past through an Alpha Flight project. The character could even make his debut in a post-credits scene before getting a larger story involving the team.

It would also be pretty funny if Marvel cast an actual Canadian actor as Wolverine this time. Jackman has been incredible in the role, but Deadpool would certainly have something to say about finally getting a Canadian Logan.

Reynolds has previously talked about how he believes Deadpool works better as a supporting character in a team rather than constantly leading his own solo movies. An Alpha Flight project could give him the chance to explore that idea while introducing a group of lesser-known Marvel heroes to a much larger audience.

Of course, there's still the question of how Deadpool would fit into the MCU's future. Wade Wilson and Wolverine currently exist in a version of the old Fox X-Men universe, and Marvel will need to figure out how those characters connect to whatever comes after Secret Wars.

Deadpool's ability to break the fourth wall and jump between universes makes that easier than it would be for most characters. There's even the lingering mystery of Thor crying over Deadpool, which could eventually play into Wade's larger MCU story.

For now, this Alpha Flight project remains an unconfirmed rumor, and Marvel Studios hasn't officially announced a movie or series involving the team. It's also unclear how far along Reynolds' reported script might be.

Still, the possibility of Reynolds bringing Alpha Flight to the MCU is a fun one. Marvel has already shown with Guardians of the Galaxy that obscure comic book teams can become major franchises, although Eternals proved that success isn't guaranteed.

Alpha Flight has the advantage of its connection to Wolverine, along with a colorful roster of characters who could be a great fit for Reynolds' sense of humor.

Whether this becomes Deadpool 4, a standalone Alpha Flight movie, or something else entirely, I'd be interested to see what Reynolds could do with these Canadian superheroes.