For the first time since Captain America: The First Avenger was released in 2011, a Marvel Studios movie is being released the same weekend as San Diego Comic-Con. And you know the studio wasn’t going to let the release of Deadpool & Wolverine go by without celebration. That includes a surprise screening last night (July 25) at Hall H, the reveal of all the major superhero cameo actors in attendance, and a drone show teasing their next big panel on Saturday.
Titled “Marvel Studios: The Ultimate Deadpool & Wolverine Celebration of Life,” fans were greeted as they walked inside Hall H with the now iconic Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket, depicting a, uh, open-mouthed Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), designed by Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds). In attendance were press, fans, and even Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld, who reportedly ran around the panel seating signing people’s popcorn buckets.
After a brief conversation between Marvel chief Kevin Feige, Reynolds, Jackman, and director/co-writer Shawn Levy, the crowd of 6,500 was treated to a recorded clip of star Leslie Uggams in character as Blind Al, revealing that they were going to be treated to a heavily rumored, but still surprise screening of the whole movie. Which frankly, makes a bit more sense than the quartet mentioned above reiterating the same anecdotes they’ve delivered ad nauseam over the past few weeks while on the press tour for the film.
The lights dimmed, the movie was shown to probably the most receptive crowd in the world, but the bigger surprise was saved for afterward. Spoilers past this point.
After the credits rolled, the quartet got back on stage, took an emotionally charged bow, and thank you to the audience… And then brought out all of the big “cameo” actors in the movie:
- Dafne Keen, who plays X-23 aka Laura
- Jennifer Garner, who plays Elektra
- Channing Tatum, who plays Gambit
- Wesley Snipes, who plays Blade
- Chris Evans, who plays Johnny Storm
Once the applause died down and the “panel” ended, fans headed over to nearby Petco Park for a drone show celebrating the movie — and teasing that the just-headed-into-production MCU version of Fantastic Four will get its moment in the sun at Saturday’s Marvel Studios panel. You can watch a video of the cameo actors appearing on stage in Hall H, below.
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