Deadpool & Wolverine might have brought back some major Marvel stars, but it's been a different cameo that's had everybody talking: who was Lady Deadpool?
In the comics, Lady Deadpool – aka Wanda Wilson – is a female variant of Deadpool from Earth-3010 who, among other things, worked together with Earth-616's Deadpool as part of the Deadpool Corps alongside other Deadpool variants.
The final trailer for Deadpool 3 gave us a full look at Lady Deadpool in the new movie, leaving fans convinced that she was going to be played by Blake Lively. (The other likely candidates: Taylor Swift or Ryan Reynolds in a wig.)
Lively was doing nothing to stop the rumours, showing up at the world premiere in a very Deadpool-esque red catsuit.
Now that Deadpool & Wolverine is out in cinemas, we now know who is playing Lady Deadpool and the star in question has also revealed how the cameo happened.
So look away now if you're avoiding all spoilers.
Who played Lady Deadpool?
We can confirm that it is, indeed, Blake Lively as Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine, although you wouldn't necessarily know it without checking the credits.
Lady Deadpool appears as part of the Deadpool Corps in the movie's final act, alongside multiple Deadpool variants (we'll get to those in a bit). She never takes off her mask, but Lively fans would be able to spot her based on her voice.
The credits then confirm Lady Deadpool is played by Blake Lively, in case you had any lingering doubts.
Since the movie's release, Lively revealed in an Instagram post that the cameo has its origins back in 2010.
When Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld drew an unmasked Lady Deadpool for the first time, he explained how he based it entirely on Lively, adding: "If ever we are blessed with Lady Deadpool on screen, I'm pretty certain Ms Lively will have some say in the casting."
"Rob had no idea I was working with Ryan Reynolds [on Green Lantern]. 12 years later I read Rob's post. A year after that, Deadpool 3 was filmed," Lively wrote. "The universe has such a magical sense of humour sometimes."
Deadpool Corps explained: Who else is in Deadpool & Wolverine?
In the movie, the Deadpool Corps are used by Cassandra Nova to keep Deadpool and Wolverine busy while she breaks into a TVA station to use the Time Ripper to destroy all the timelines.
Cue an epic battle as the duo go up against a whole host of Deadpool variants with the likes of Headpool (voiced by Nathan Fillion), Cowboy Deadpool (played by Matthew McConaughey), Kidpool (played by Inez Reynolds) and Babypool (played by Olin Reynolds) lining up alongside Lady Deadpool.
There are a couple of Deadpool variants who aren't involved in the fight, but are also seen in the movie.
Dogpool, who is part of the Deadpool Corps in the comics, and Nicepool (also played by Reynolds). The latter is a variant of the character created for the movie who doesn't have regenerative powers and is brutally killed before the battle starts.
The rest of them could technically be seen again as after they're killed by Deadpool and Wolverine, they're all revived by their regenerative powers. The fight only stops as Peter (Rob Delaney) arrives in the old Deadpool suit and they all love Peter, of course.
For more on Deadpool & Wolverine, check out:
• Deadpool & Wolverine review
• Does Deadpool & Wolverine have a post-credits scene?
• How to get Deadpool & Wolverine's necklace
• All the songs in Deadpool & Wolverine
• What age rating is Deadpool & Wolverine?
Deadpool & Wolverine is out now in cinemas.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
