The long-awaited trailer for Deadpool 2 has been released, and it’s revealed even more about the plot, twists, and new expansions to Fox’s X-Men universe. The trailer succeeds in outlining the real villain of Deadpool 2, while also teasing the possible X-Force movie that fans have been hoping would be spun into its own film for years. Also, the chance to see Wade Wilson rock a pair of high heels as well as his combat-ready boots. So in other words… not many surprises.
But those are just the big moments intended to catch fans’ attention. We’re taking a closer look, and breaking down the new Deadpool 2 trailer to see if more hasn’t been revealed, teased, or hinted at, both for this movie and the one expected to come after it likely performs even better than the first Deadpool movie. You might be surprised how many small details will be missed by even devoted fans. Those wishing to remain unspoiled - even potentially spoiled - should stop reading now. But for those eager to spot every detail, Easter Egg, and clue… strap in.
WARNING: This article contains potential SPOILERS for Deadpool 2
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Without further ado, and one last SPOILER warning, let’s get started.
14. Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants
Fans will be pleased to see that Dopinder, the trusty cabbie who finds himself recruited to the role of Deadpool’s driver is back for the sequel, and apparently free from the criminal proceedings you would imagine he had to face (having kidnapped his romantic rival, stuffed him in his truck, and then had another car slam into that same truck). And even if he’s gotten to know Deadpool a bit better in the time since their first adventure, Wade is still given him some pearls of wisdom without prompting. In the case of this trailer, using an unlikely feel-good ‘chick flick’ to prove his point:
The full argument may make a bit more sense in the finished film, but for now, it’s a fantastic reference to one star of the Traveling Pants movie: Blake Lively… Ryan Reynolds’s wife.
“Doing the right thing is messy. But if you want to fight for what’s right, sometimes… you have to fight dirty. And that is why Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is pure pornography.”
13. Deadpool’s Van Wilder Callback
The trailer opens with Dopinder enjoying the musical stylings of Air Supply, giving his best rendition of their hit song “All Out of Love” as Deadpool sprints towards him from a mob of angry pursuers. But fans shouldn’t let the sight of Deadpool smashing into the backseat and making a fast escape distract from the sound - and the subtlest, cleverest, and deepest pull for Ryan Reynolds’s career callback. It sets a new bar for the kind of references and inside jokes viewers will need to look for, since the song choice goes all the way back to National Lampoon’s Van Wilder (2002).
When the consummate college party animal lets his heart open up to his romantic interest, he winds up burned, being used for a newspaper story and nothing else. He grieves by sitting isolated in his dorm room, beer and guitar in hand. When a co-ed (Sophia Bush) inquires as to his mood, he channels his sadness into a pained performance of - you guessed it - “All Out of Love.” The fact that the song and artist are completely lost on Bush’s character is yet another reminder that it may be time for Wilder to move on from the younger college crowd. And towards a role as a superhero comedy superstar, obviously.
12. The Indiana Jones Homage
It should probably be mentioned that one of the easiest to miss Easter Eggs is the reference to Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film appearance of Harrison Ford’s adventuring archeologist Indiana Jones. It’s easy to miss because it takes place in the first few seconds, when before Deadpool even takes the spotlight from Dopinder, his driver (and closest friend). It’s unknown exactly what Deadpool has done to raise the ire of the mob chasing after him, but it might as well have been removing a golden idol from a sacred temple.
Because the image of Deadpool coming into frame at a full sprint, frantically waving his arms and shouting for his unsuspecting getaway driver to “Start the car! Start the car!” is a pitch-perfect recreation of the Raiders scene. In that film, Indy was shouting for Jock to “Start the engine!” and he was more distracted by fishing than singing a hit song, but the homage is still one of the trailer’s very best.
11. Deadpool Ditches Crocs For High Heels
You have to admire an assassin who takes so much pride in their line of work, they’re willing to change fundamental aspects of their signature costume just to reflect the job at hand. Sure, Deadpool’s red and black bodysuit may be what’s needed for most missions (and to help hide all the blood, as his first movie explained), but when you’re forced to walk the stage at a strip club (we assume) it only seems right to slip on a pair of stiletto heels to make sure the clientele isn’t too rattled.
Really, the cred it is due to the stunt performer who managed to pull off a front flip in the heels, and we can only assume a handful of other stunts before Wade regains his boots in the actual scene. Or who knows, maybe it’s a permanent change? The real point is, no matter his reason for heading to the location, that makes Deadpool film two-for-two when it comes to exotic dancing establishments. Which is surprisingly consistent with his character.
10. Tease of Deadpool’s X-Force Costume?
We won’t venture any guesses as to the white powder Deadpool coats himself with since, considering the character, it could be almost anything anyone could imagine. But whatever the origin of the substance, the result is a possible– actually, a pretty direct nod to Wade Wilson’s time on the X-Force roster. Specifically, the grey and black X-Force costume Deadpool wears during his time on the strike team. Thanks to a photo Ryan Reynolds took inside of his Deadpool 2 trailer, fans knew that Deadpool would wear a grey suit in his movie sequel. Now, there may be an explanation.
The jury is still out on just how much weight should be placed in the X-Force color choice, since the team itself could be officially introduced in the film. For now, it’s just one of several costume nods to Deadpool’s Marvel Comics history included in the trailer. But fans can still hope.
9. So Cable Isn’t The Villain of Deadpool 2
From the beginning of the marketing, fans have assumed that Deadpool would be primarily dealing with an angry, aggressive, and murderous Cable as the film’s villain. It’s hard to blame them since the trailer poked fun at Josh Brolin’s Thanos, drawing a parallel between the big bad of the Avengers movie universe and Cable’s role in Deadpool 2. Since Cable has been used as a force for both heroism and brute strength and unwavering missions in the past, it wouldn’t take much to shift him into a ‘villain’ role, even if he found his way out of it by the end of the movie.
But this trailer suggests a different path, based on the above shot. Cable stands face-to-face with Deadpool in a rainy alley, and is apparently… explaining why he’s traveled through time to this current date. He’s searching for “the kid” seen later in the trailer. A character we know nothing about, but if Cable is able to explain even part of his reasoning to Wade Wilson, than the plot may not be as simple as it seemed.
8. Deadpool 2 Trailer’s YouTube Description
Most movie fans never bother to read the YouTube descriptions of hit movie trailers, since they typically offer a rough synopsis that explains less than what’s shown in the actual footage (or has been put together by fans online). That’s clearly not the case with a hero like Deadpool. The first movie provided a completely different, ridiculous plot synopsis when uploaded on different platforms, and the same goes for the sequel. It may look like an X-Force adventure to keep Cable from murdering a child, but the official details on YouTube paint a very different picture:
We had no idea.
After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.
7. Deadpool is a Superman Fan
The trailer doesn’t show much of Wade Wilson and Vanessa’ relationship, but it can be assumed that they’re still happily united in strongly-physical affection. She’s waiting for him at their apartment when Wade arrives, apologizing for being late before embracing in a passionate kiss. That’s also where he mentions the reason for being late - “I was rounding up all the gluten in the world and launching it into space where it can’t not hurt us again” - which, believe it or not, is a Superman reference almost everyone will miss.
Specifically, it’s a nod to Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, the final film performance of Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. In the film, Superman defeats not only Nuclear Man, but Earth’s warring governments. After making a speech to the United Nations, Superman “rounds up all the nuclear weapons in the world and launches them into space where they can’t hurt anyone ever again.” Swap out nukes for gluten - the true scourge of modern society - and you’ve got a Deadpool-brand quip ready to go.
6. Seriously, What is up With ‘The Kid’?
If Cable isn’t the actual villain of Deadpool 2, then the amount of devastation that the aforementioned “kid” (played by Julian Dennison) may offer another explanation. We’re not proposing that a child is actually the main villainous force of the film (although in a Deadpool movie, that’s not all that difficult to believe), but this new trailer has now shown him in a burning cult building, flipping the bird amidst vehicular carnage, and now even next to a destroyed and burning ICE vehicle - suggesting a new immigration plotline all on its own.
The power collar being worn by Dennison’s character is likely going to be a big hint towards his story, and the idea of mutants being monitored, interned, or controlled by government watchdog groups is commonplace in the X-Men universe. In fact, it may be one way that the Deadpool and X-Men brands are fully combined starting with Deadpool 2. Especially with the sudden influx of mutant characters in the sequel, who may or may not also be seeking “the kid” - whether to protect him from Cable, or seek a more peaceful solution.
5. The New Mutants (But Not Those Ones)
Fans of the first Deadpool movie may focus their attention on the “new” Negasonic Teenage Warhead, with her costume respresenting a true evolution of her character. But they shouldn’t miss the mutant standing behind her, played by actress Shioli Kutsuna and to this point shrouded in mystery. Thankfully, the trailer may give enough evidence to make an educated guess as to her power set (and how she can use it to get an edge on both Deadpool and Cable).
In the world of the movie X-Men there aren’t actually that many mutants with powers of electricity, as demonstrated by the crackling of sparks and power along the mutant’s spinning weapon. The best guess is that she is Noriko Ashida, otherwise known in mutant circles as ‘Surge.’ With the ability to absorb and redirect electricity and electric charge in her immediate vicinity, she would sure be skilled at potentially stunning an opponent– particularly one who is partly techno-organic, perhaps?
4. Terry Crews is The Mutant Bedlam
After some speculation and theorizing, it can be confirmed that Terry Crews is playing Bedlam in Deadpool 2. As evidence of just how unique and outlandish Deadpool really is, even in the Hollywood superhero blockbuster system, most audience members didn’t even realize Terry Crews was in Deadpool 2 until the trailer showed him alongside Wade and a handful of other mutants. The assumption was that he had been recruited as part of Deadpool’s team, but his character’s identity was a mystery (with the connections to a literal adaptation of the X-Force team unclear). Now, the mystery has been solved… thanks to a photo of Crews labeled with the name ‘Bedlam.’
The filmmakers may not win points for subtlety, but certainly for clarity. Bedlam a.k.a. Jesse Aaronson did make his comic debut in X-Force, but it’s his powers that may be the most relevant to the movie. Able to generate an electro-magnetic field and sense similar powers used by other mutants, Bedlam also seems uniquely chosen to oppose some of Cable’s tech and attacks. Or, assuming Cable isn’t wrong in his mission, chosen to oppose a small child with dangerous powers.
3. Rob Delaney is The Mutant… Peter
Fans have been waiting years to see the true X-Force assembled on film, and with Deadpool 2, that fact is being completely taken advantage of for the sake of comedy. Not just Domino calling out the name as “derivative” of the larger X-Men brand (which Deadpool agrees with), and not just what looks to be “X-Force” written on a folder in the above image. But along with mutants trained to engage and assault, Wade will also be recruiting… Peter, an unassuming man played by comedian/actor Rob Delaney.
That’s almost no information to go on whatsoever, but all bets point to this being a long-play of a joke. Later shots actually seem to show Delaney on board the X-Force airplane, sporting a black mustache and white dress shirt, seated alongside the other weaponized mutants. What is his power going to be? Hilarious, or hilariously deadly? We wouldn’t want the surprise ruined either way, so rest assured this is just one of several small roles servicing big laughs.
2. Deadpool Returns To The Xavier Mansion
The above shot of Wade Wilson taking Colossus in a friendly embrace is certainly a far cry from their first movie encounter, in which Deadpool broke most of his limbs trying to put even the slightest hurt on the metallic monster. We can’t say if the tender embrace of Colossus’s buttocks is also a sign of endearment or a gag, since either is really possible. Still, it’s been confirmed that Colossus is one of the “most important” Deadpool 2 characters. That may mean he has a large role in the events of the film… or simply acts as the link between Wade’s X-Force team and the larger X-Men universe he’s operated within.
Considering that Wade heads to Xavier Mansion and is actually invited inside (a decision that may be regretted, after his joy ride in Professor Xavier’s wheelchair), he’s moving up in the world. And all things considered, we wouldn’t be surprised if Sir Patrick Stewart shows up for a cameo, allowing the actor to flex his comedic chops opposite Reynolds.
1. Deadpool Gives Another Nod to His Yellow X-Men Suit
Believe it or not, Deadpool has actually served as a member of the X-Men in the Marvel Comics Universe. For all his murderous ways, the fact that he is a) a skilled fighter with mutant healing abilities, and b) not explicitly means he’s actually better equipped for Xavier’s attack team than some others who have enjoyed membership. And when Deadpool is shown in the trailer sporting a yellow, X-emblazoned crop top over his costume (tearing crime scene tape, so speculate as you like), it’s an overt nod to those days in Marvel Comics history.
When he first joined up with the X-Men, Deadpool stayed on-brand by keeping his red and black mask, and donning an X-Men uniform that read “X-Men” in large red letters across his chest. Eventually, he would don the standard X-uniform (keeping his mask), meaning the yellow is just as canonically accurate a look as his most iconic red suit. A nice touch that will presumably be tied to an even larger X-Men-connected joke.
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Those are all the subtle moments that reveal much more - the ones we could find in the Deadpool trailer, anyway. What did we miss? Let us know your own ideas in the comments.
Next: Deadpool 2 Filmed a Super-Secret Cameo, But With Who?
- Deadpool 2 Release Date: 2018-05-18
