Warning: Contains spoilers for Marvel's What If...? episode 5.

MCU audiences have been waiting excitedly for Deadpool's debut in the franchise, but he may have just had his first cameo in Marvel’s What If...? episode 5. Played by Ryan Reynolds in Fox films Deadpool and Deadpool 2, the beloved fourth-wall-breaking mercenary will be appearing under Disney’s Marvel umbrella when Deadpool 3 releases. That debut is still a way out, as production has yet to begin on Deadpool 3, but the character may have just snuck into the MCU in “What if…Zombies?!”

When Disney acquired Fox in 2019, the Marvel faithful immediately started wondering how Deadpool, the X-Men, and other characters previously outside of Marvel Studios’ ownership could make their way into the MCU. Deadpool was a particularly large point of concern, as the hard R-rating of Deadpool and Deadpool 2 seemed at odds with the mostly family-friendly brand Disney has cultivated for the MCU. Fortunately, Kevin Feige himself announced that Deadpool 3 will be set in the MCU and that it will be rated R.

Related: All 13 Marvel Movies Releasing After Shang-Chi (& When)

While it's unclear when Reynolds to bring his live-action version of Wade Wilson to the MCU, the character may have just debuted right under everyone's noses. In a random shot of What If…? episode 5, which explores a universe in which a zombie virus takes over the Earth and its mightiest heroes, one zombie can be seen wearing red and sporting what appear to be two swords on or in its back. Those are all identifying marks of Deadpool himself, begging the question of whether he might indeed be the pictured undead.

Deadpool In What If Zombies

To be fair, there are some distinctly un-Deadpool things about the zombie in question, particularly his abundance of hair. And it does look like the blades may be sticking out of his body, rather than being strapped to his back. Even still, the Deadpool-esque zombie may be an intentional Easter egg, reminding eagle-eyed fans of his upcoming live-action MCU debut.

It should be interesting when Deadpool finally arrives in the MCU in his full form. Deadpool 3 will be the franchise’s first R-rated movie, though the Netflix Marvel shows that included Daredevil and Jessica Jones were once thought to be canon in the MCU were also quite brutal and dark. The multiverse has taken center stage in MCU Phase 4, which could be the perfect way to explain how Wade Wilson finds his way into the franchise to begin with. Does that mean that other Fox X-Men characters could appear in Deadpool 3? Possibly. For now, audiences will have to make do with What If...?'s zombie cameo that may or may not be the Merc with a Mouth.

Next: Every MCU Easter Egg In What If? Episode 5

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

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