The Deadpool & Wolverine trailer has fuelled speculation that Daniel Radcliffe has a secret role in the movie after fans thought they caught sight of the Wolverine's Patch persona from the comics.
The highly anticipated trailer for the third Deadpool movie premiered during the Super Bowl and has quickly racked up views as diehard Marvel fans have been scouring the footage for Easter eggs and details they might have missed the first time, with one blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment proving to be a hot topic.
People glimpsed a familiar-looking character from the comic books at the 1:20 mark in the trailer, leading many to believe that the eyepatch-wearing rogue Patch is appearing in the film. While it isn't confirmed, it certainly looks like Wolverine from the back, and he seems to be wearing his alter-ego's signature white suit.
In Marvel comics, Patch is the identity Wolverine assumes when entering the criminal underworld of Madripoor to fight crooks and villains like Silver Samurai. Somehow, covering one part of his face with an eyepatch actually works and allows him to stick his nose in places he might not have otherwise been able to do so.
It is plausible, then, that the one-second shot from the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer takes place in Madripoor, building on the MCU version of the island nation we saw in The Falcon and the Winter Solider, so now fans are wondering which actor is behind the Patch alias and unsurprisingly Daniel Radcliffe is a top contender.
My thoughts: this is Patch(of course) but not what you think. Remember in She-Hulk there was an article talking about a man with claws? And how Phase 4 introduced Madripoor? This is the original MCU’s Logan. Not the one from Fox. And he’ll be played by someone else, not Jackman. pic.twitter.com/jLzTYrGtbE
— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) February 12, 2024
That’s Daniel Radcliffe
— 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐇𝐞𝐥 (@samhelfilms) February 13, 2024
My gut is telling me it’s Daniel pic.twitter.com/Gkoy16Mnum
— 🐺ᴬᴶ (@xLoneWolfAJx) February 12, 2024
1 million percent, look at the arms
— Ryu_Akai91🐲 (@KentagonJR) February 12, 2024
I'm just psyched we get Patch and Tiger Stripe costumes in this
Daniel Radcliffe as 'Patch' 👀 pic.twitter.com/gONCae9A7T
— X-Men Film News (@XMenFilmNews) February 13, 2024
Daniel Radcliffe as Wolverine? 👀 #DeadpoolAndWolverine pic.twitter.com/wHI66E6JUz
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) February 12, 2024
Rumors that Radcliffe could play Wolverine or a version of the clawed crusader have been swirling for years, but the actor has repeatedly denied claims he is taking a role in the MCU. He shut down speculation as recently as 2022, saying he wasn't interested in getting "locked into something" that he couldn't be sure to "love the same amount the whole time," but industry scooper Daniel Richtman later claimed that Radcliffe had signed up for an unspecified role in Deadpool & Wolverine.
People are fairly convinced Hugh Jackman isn't playing Patch, but Radcliffe is not the only fan-casted candidate for the role. Taron Egerton and Karl Urban are also in the mix, but the character's true identity is not likely to be revealed until Deadpool & Wolverine releases in theaters on July 26, as part of Phase 5 of the MCU.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
