The new trailer for Fox's Deadpool 2 is filled with nostalgia, from the syrupy sounds of Air Supply's 1980s staple "I'm All Out of Love" to the live-action formation of the quintessential 1990s superhero team X-Force. But there's one apparent nod that comic book devotees may have missed: a cameo by a certain Marvel Comics secret agent and one-time member of Excalibur. Yes, Pete Wisdom.

The moment comes in the trailer at about 1:36, as Ryan Reynolds' Merc With a Mouth assembles his team of heroes ("We'll be known as ... X-Force!"). He sorts through black-and-white headshots as one often does when casting a movie, or a fashion show, or a fighting force to go toe to toe with a seemingly unstoppable mercenary from the future. "Peter" is a dapper man in a dark suit and tie who looks as if he just stepped out of a department-store catalog. And we're betting that's Peter "Pete" Wisdom.

Deadpool 2 trailer Peter

Introduced in 1995 by writer Warren Ellis and artist Ken Lashley in Excalibur, which followed the X-Men offshoot traditionally based in the United Kingdom, Wisdom is a former agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), and then the fictional Black Air and MI13. A mutant with the ability to hurl "hot knives" of energy from his fingertips, he served as a government intelligence adviser to Excalibur and had a romantic relationship with Kitty Pryde. He eventually left the team, only later to return as a member of New Excalibur.

Pete Wisdom Exaclibur

Now, it's certainly possibly the "Peter" depicted in the headshot is another Marvel Comics character, although Peter Rasputin, aka, Colossus, seems unlikely because 1.) Deadpool is already well-acquainted with him; and 2.) That guy transforms into the mountain of walking, talking living metal? So ... no. Plus, Pete Wisdom is known as a natty dresser, seldom seen without a dark tie.

RELATED: Deadpool 2 Trailer Teases (But Doesn't Include) Wade's X-Force Uniform

The "getting-the-team-together" segment of Deadpool 2 will likely feature several Easter eggs for comics fans, with characters who are glimpsed, in person or in photos, but never play a larger role in the film. (That sequence may even be where the rumored "secret cameo" filmed during reshoots comes into play.) Therefore, there's a good chance that, if this is Pete Wisdom, he might only get the headshot and a bit of snark from Wade Wilson.


Directed by David Leitch, Deadpool 2 stars Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Stefan Kapičić as the voice of Colossus, and Karan Soni as Dopinder, with newcomers Zazie Beetz as Domino, Josh Brolin as Cable, Julian Dennison in an unknown role, and Jack Kesy as a villain widely thought to be Black Tom Cassidy. The film hits theaters on May 18.