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The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t exactly known for its LGBTQ representation. Now that a canon pansexual character, Deadpool, is set to enter the mix, could that all change? Here’s what we know.

Ryan Reynolds played Deadpool in 2 films for Fox

Ryan Reynolds attends 'Deadpool 2' photocall on May 7, 2018
Ryan Reynolds attends ‘Deadpool 2’ photocall on May 7, 2018 | Samuel de Roman/WireImage

Deadpool was released in 2016. It introduces Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a military man-turned-mercenary who discovers he’s dying of cancer. He opts to try a very experimental treatment, in which he’s injected with mutant genes. An incident results in the activation of his superhuman healing abilities — though he’s left badly physically scarred.

After the positive reception to the first film, a sequel was commissioned. Deadpool 2 was released in 2018. In it, Wade continues to fight as the masked vigilante, teaming up with familiar faces (X-Men Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead) as well as new ones (like Zazie Beetz’s Domino).

His love interest is Vanessa

Wade tries to not form true connections with those he meets, with one exception. Deadpool saw him leave his significant other, Vanessa, after getting his diagnosis. He tries to find a cure for his appearance so that they can be together again, but discovers she loves him the way he is.

They’re together until the beginning of Deadpool 2 when Vanessa is killed. Everything Wade does after that point — from joining the X-Men to attacking Cable, is motivated by his love for Vanessa. His only memento from her even saves his life. At the end of the film, Wade goes back in time to prevent Vanessa’s death.

Deadpool is pansexual

Given that many different comic book writers write for the same characters, it’s hard to determine exactly what’s canon. However, years ago, it was generally accepted that Deadpool is pansexual. While the first film didn’t really address this, the second one did show Wade flirting with Colossus.

Following Deadpool 2, Reynolds said he was open to exploring the character’s sexuality. “It’s something that I’d love to see more of, certainly through Wade, certainly through this universe because it’s something that we’re building out more,” he told Screen Rant during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018.

What we know about Deadpool joining the MCU

With both of the first two films so successful, Deadpool 3 is inevitable. But in 2019, Disney purchased Fox, making any future films likely to fall under the Marvel Studios banner. Around this time, Reynolds met with the Disney/Marvel folks, and, in 2020, gave even more hints that Deadpool 3 was coming.

However, the character’s introduction in the MCU is still up in the air. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether Wade could enter via another character’s film, the way that Peter Parker did. The idea of the Deadpool Corps., with other similarly powered comic book characters like Lady Deadpool, has also been floated.

His possible new love interest

A new entry could mean anything is on the table. And circling back to Spider-Man, why not have the web-slinger and the Merc with the Mouth team up? Or what about more?

According to We Got This Covered, Wade is set to “develop an unhealthy infatuation with the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler and start hitting on him,” in a film down the road. Of course, given Peter’s young age, this likely won’t happen for a few (film) years.

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