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The Multiverse Saga of the MCU has been introducing cameo appearance after cameo appearance, and Deadpool & Wolverine is no different. Both Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness used their special appearances well, with good narrative reasons for the characters to appear. Deadpool & Wolverine manages to drop in some cameos with firm narrative reasons as to why they show up, and one of those appearances just so happens to be the best part of the film.
Be warned that the rest of the article will spoil many of the cameo appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, so if you haven’t watched the film and don’t want those spoiled for you, turn back now and come back after you’ve watched it.
The Best Cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine
While Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) are traveling through the Void, they are taken to a mysterious location – which seems to be the Scarlet Witch’s Darkhold Temple. There they are greeted by four characters who are battling against Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) – in cameo appearances – Elektra (Jennifer Garner), Blade (Wesley Snipes) Laura/X-23 (Dafne Keen), and the best cameo in the movie, Channing Tatum (Magic Mike) as Gambit.
Appearing in a comic-accurate costume, Tatum puts on an over-the-top and near-unintelligible Cajun accent with hilarious consequences. He steals the show for the entire time he’s on screen. The bit runs just long enough not to outstay its welcome, and it helps that we get to see him in action too.
It’s doubly funny for people who know that Channing Tatum was first poised to play Remy LeBeau a decade ago. Multiple directors were attached to direct a solo Gambit film starring Tatum at one point. The plans for the film fell apart, however, after Disney acquired Fox in 2019. At least the actor has finally gotten the chance to play him, in a cameo reminiscent of Nicolas Cage’s appearance in The Flash, who was supposed to star in a Tim Burton Superman movie. However, Tatum’s appearance is undoubtedly better as it is funnier and lengthier than the weird, murky Cage appearance.
The Many Marvel Cameos
In addition to all the cameo appearances mentioned above, Deadpool & Wolverine also features appearances from Jon Favreau (Iron Man) as Happy Hogan, Chris Evans (Avengers: Endgame) as Johnny Storm, Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) as Lady Deadpool, Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) as the Cavillrine (a Wolverine variant), Nathan Fillion (Castle) as Headpool, and Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar) as Cowboypool. There are also different Wolverine and Deadpool variants along with a brief appearance by the Hulk, so Deadpool & Wolverine definitely doesn’t have a shortage of cameos.
Some of these characters – like Gambit and Johnny Storm – don’t feel like mere cameo appearances as they take up a bit of screen time. While some are used poorly, and some are used quickly, Tatum’s Gambit feels in line with Deadpool’s Marvel, and he fits in with the comedic tones well. Tatum’s no stranger to comedic performances, but it’s been a while since he’s been in a role this funny. Even in his recent romantic comedy Fly Me to the Moon, he isn’t giving a great performance, and it’s barely comedic. Yet he’s excellent in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Tatum’s appearance obviously differs from most cameos, in that it’s a comedic one. Counting in Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and the cameos from Multiverse of Madness, Gambit might just be in the top five best MCU cameos. The film boasts the biggest opening of the year and the sixth-highest of all time, reportedly taking in $96 million. So, if you have seen it what was your favorite cameo, and was it everyone’s favorite Ragin’ Cajun?
You can watch Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters now.
