Although Marvel Studios' panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego didn't give any indication of when Wade Wilson/Deadpool would be making his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Ryan Reynolds -- who played the character for Fox -- has now dropped a tongue-in-cheek joke about Phase 5.
Reynolds posted an image on Instagram featuring various real life celebrities associated with him and characters from the franchise. There's yarn connecting them to a specific mystery: Who leaked Deadpool test footage on July 28, 2014 -- an event which led to Fox greenlighting the blockbuster R-rated series. "Investigation heading into year 5," Reynolds wrote in the caption. "Or as I call it, ‘Phase 5.’ The point is, I love conspiracy-yarn. #LeakAversary"
The reference to Phase 5 is definitely meant to make readers think of the next phase of Marvel Studios films, which commences following the release of Thor: Love and Thunder on November 5, 2021. That film will be directed by Taika Waititi, who appears on Reynolds' conspiracy board. However, it's unclear if this is meant to be a legitimate tease or just the actor pranking his followers and playing on their hopes he might reprise his role in the future.
Reynolds first played Deadpool in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which was critically panned upon its release. In 2016, he again played the Merc With a Mouth, though that movie had no explicit connection to his first appearance. Directed by Tim Miller, Deadpool met with critical and financial success at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. A sequel was made in 2018. Although there were plans for a Deadpool 3 and an X-Force film, those plans seem to have been put on hold following Disney's acquisition of the X-Men and Fantastic Four from 21st Century Fox.
It's not clear at this time if Reynolds will play Deadpool in the MCU. Disney CEO Bob Iger previously said Marvel Studios may, in fact, still allow the character to be R-rated for his appearance in that universe.