WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for Deadpool 2.

Deadpool 2 features two fun mid-credits scenes, but they have major implications on the sequel. So, are they actually considered canon within the franchise’s timeline and the X-Men cinematic universe? Deadpool 2’s credits scenes offer some hilarious jokes perfectly in line with the Merc with a Mouth’s humor, but fans may be wondering whether they have a real effect on the franchise’s continuity.

Twentieth Century Fox’s Deadpool sequel features two mid-credits sequences, the first of which features Negasonic Teenage Warhead and her girlfriend Yukio fixing Cable’s time-travel device so it has more charges. They give it to Wade Wilson under the pretense he’ll give it back to Cable. However, as the second credits scene showcases, Deadpool uses that time-travel device to right certain wrongs. He saves Vanessa from being killed, he warns X-Force team member Peter away from dying. Then, Deadpool heads even further back, killing the Wade Wilson from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and finds Ryan Reynolds as he’s sitting down with the script for 2011’s Green Lantern, shooting the actor in order to prevent the film from becoming a reality.

While much of this second credits scene is played for laughs, it poses very serious questions for the continuity of the Deadpool franchise - that is, if it’s canon. The confusion of the X-Men movie universe timeline has been discussed at great length by fans, especially since X-Men: Days of Future Past retconned the original trilogy and Logan took place in a near-future time period. The first Deadpool movie had a certain amount of freedom in terms of its continuity since it didn’t explicitly connect to the rest of the universe. However, the X-Men movie cast’s cameo in Deadpool 2 confirms the film franchises are connected. So, what does it all mean for the X-Men continuity and are Deadpool 2’s mid-credits scenes canon?

As the writers have confirmed, the Deadpool 2 credits scenes are canon and, when X-Force or Deadpool 3 are released, they’ll confirm as much. If Cable’s time-travel device works, or if Vanessa and Peter are still alive in either the X-Force movie or Deadpool 3, then we’ll know the Deadpool sequel’s credits scenes were canon. Unfortunately, we have little precedence in the Deadpool series to go off, since the first movie only had one credits scene; it was a fourth wall-breaking message to fans, so it offers little insight. However, post-credits scenes for other X-Men movies are considered part of the continuity, so it makes sense that these are as well.

Further, with these scenes being canon, it’s unclear how big of an impact they’ll have on the X-Men Universe timeline. Wade killing Origins’ Deadpool won’t do much, since it’s either an entirely separate character within the timeline or a character from a timeline that was retconned. Plus, Peter surviving is largely inconsequential. But Vanessa being saved could have major consequences. Her death at the start of Deadpool 2 is the inciting incident for the film. Arguably, if she doesn’t die, Wade doesn’t become an X-Men trainee and he doesn’t meet Russell. He also may not form the bond with Russell that informs most of the film’s plot. Vanessa surviving could change everything about Deadpool 2.

But, on the other hand, it doesn’t have to change much. Perhaps Deadpool joins the X-Men because he’s motivated by starting a family with Vanessa to become a proper superhero. Maybe he forms a bond with Russell because he’s expecting a kid of his own. Essentially, the rest of Deadpool 2 could play out just the same, only Vanessa is still alive. Unfortunately, we won’t know how the Deadpool 2 credits scenes affect the film franchise’s timeline until a future movie offers insight, but we can presume the scenes are part of canon and somehow affect the timeline.

Still, until we see exactly how the Deadpool 2 credits scenes affect the franchise’s continuity, fans can debate how the scenes alter the already confusing Deadpool and X-Men universe timeline.

Next: Deadpool 2’s Ending Explained: What Really Happened & What’s Next

  • Deadpool 2 Release Date: 2018-05-18 X-Men: Dark Phoenix Release Date: 2019-06-07 New Mutants Release Date: 2020-08-28