WARNING: The following article includes spoilers for Deadpool 2, in theaters now.
Wolverine and Deadpool now move in different circles with Fox’s X-Men universe, but Ryan Reynolds has confirmed that Deadpool 2 is connected to Logan in a surprising way.
While both R-rated films are incredibly violent and aimed at more adult audiences, the somber tone of director James Mangold’s Logan establishes it as a noir Western, while David Leitch’s Deadpool 2 leans into comedy. It may be difficult to detect many similarities between the two sequels, but Reynolds assures that there’s at least one.
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Continuing the success of 2016’s fourth wall-breaking Deadpool, Leitch’s sequel makes well-timed pop culture references, with everything from Basic Instinct to RoboCop receiving a mention. As for the Logan connection, Reynolds revealed to The Empire Film Podcast that Leitch borrowed the music from Wolverine’s death scene in 2017’s superhero swansong.
“When Deadpool dies in the third act of Deadpool 2, the music that’s playing is actually the Logan death music,” he confirmed.
It’s only a minor detail, but one that some Logan fans may have picked up on. Wade Wilson and James Howlett’s death scenes are different in tone; however, only one of them is intended to last.
Jackman famously rounded off his 17-year run playing Wolverine with Logan, and has apparently put down his adamantium claws for good. Given the critical acclaim that Logan received as a final performance, it’s a nice, subtle Easter egg for Leitch to borrow the music from the death scene.
Deadpool 2 is stocked with superhero movie burns and famously took a shot at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘s controversial Martha scene. However, Wolverine jokes are a staple of the film, with the character appearing on a box of Hero Flakes, and in the opening moments, as Wade Wilson winds a musical Wolverine toy that depicts his death in Logan.
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Despite Reynolds repeatedly pushing the Australian actor’s return to the role for a buddy movie Wolverine/Deadpool crossover, Jackman has seemingly walked away from the role. Some fans had hoped for some form of Hugh Jackman cameo — aside from the use of footage from X-Men Origins: Wolverine — but Leitch instead gave a few faithful nods to the Oscar-nominated movie.
Directed by David Leitch, Deadpool 2 features 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 and Julian Dennison as Russell.