An alleged Deadpool 3 set photo suggesting that a Fantastic Four cast member was joining the production of the highly anticipated threequel has been entirely squashed by the star at the center of the swirling speculation.

Deadpool 3 is easily one of the most anticipated sequels of 2024 and has generated a veritable rumor mill surrounding what stars could potentially have cameo appearances in the film. One odd rumor was that the Fox-era Fantastic Four team from the early 2000s would appear, a theory that seemed more likely when an image of The Thing actor Michael Chiklis on the set of Deadpool 3 started making the rounds.

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However, Chiklis cleared the air about returning as The Things in Deadpool 3. Taking to his official Michael Chiklis X account, the star stated plainly that the viral image was a fake, that he had not been cast to reprise the role of The Thing in Deadpool 3, and felt compelled to clear that up. However, Chiklis did admit that he knew who had been cast in his stead and stated that while he wasn’t in a position to make the announcement, the actor in question was one that he was a big fan of and wished him luck in the role. This debunks the image and suggests Chiklis knows who Marvel Studios will cast as The Thing for the Fantastic Four MCU reboot.

Even though Deadpool 3's plot could indicate a massive MCU shakeup, the lengths that some people are going to in the process of fan casting seem to be getting out of hand, as the doctored image indicates. The response from fans ranged from grateful to humorous, with some fans smugly stating their belief that the post was a misdirection while others thanked the actor for helping manage their expectations of the film. Elsewhere in the thread, one user went one step further and explained that the photo being debunked was a photoshopped image based on a BTS shot of Colossus talking with Deadpool from a prior film, providing the original photo for comparison.

While it would have certainly been something to see Chiklis get a more raucous third outing as the iconic character since Feige has confirmed Deadpool 3's R rating, that isn’t in the cards for fans. It was a bit of a stretch from the get-go that Marvel Studios and Feige would give the green light to bring back a full Fox-era Fantastic Four lineup when the MCU's own Fantastic Four reboot film is already in motion and casting its lead characters. Even if someone at the company thought it was a good idea on paper, the execs need not look too far for a sign that it won’t go well, as Jonh Krasinski's cameo as Mr. Fantastic did little but fuel speculation and set fans up for disappointment when it didn’t pan out to a full role in the MCU.

While this rumor may have been squashed, the speculation surrounding Deadpool 3 won’t stop coming, as the latest look at Wolverine's costume hinted at Jennifer Garner's Elektra. Fans can guess all they want but will have to wait for the premiere to see who makes it into the final cut of the highly anticipated film.

Deadpool 3 is currently set for theatrical release on July 26, 2024, in the United States.

Deadpool

Deadpool is a franchise focused on the Marvel antihero Deadpool, the cheeky red masked mutant famous for often breaking the fourth wall. Initially a terminally ill cancer patient, Deadpool was given a serum that activated a gene in his body to heal his illness. This left him severely disfigured, hence his trademark outfit.

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Source: Michael Chiklis