Will Wolverine return in the MCU after Deadpool 3?

Hugh Jackman will make a highly-anticipated return as Wolverine in Deadpool 3 alongside Ryan Reynolds.

The Australian actor last appeared as the character in 2017's Logan in which the famous comic book character actually died. When production on that movie finished, he suggested that his time playing the role was over.

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However, he was subsequently encouraged to return as Logan by his pal Reynolds. Allegedly, the only plot device that would have catalysed Jackman's return was the promise of finally hooking up on-screen with the Deadpool everyone knows and loves after the disaster that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

His casting has raised further questions about Jackman's potential involvement in the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Deadpool 3 takes place in it.

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However, Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy admits he is in the dark about that.

"Like the rest of the world, I've waited two decades to see Wolverine in a whole movie with Deadpool, and I don't know if this is our last shot at Wolverine on screen, so I was going to make goddamned sure we get the old yellow and blue just once, and that we get it right," he told Entertainment Weekly.

Production on Deadpool 3 is currently suspended due to the ongoing actor and writer strikes in Hollywood.

The X-Men, including a version of Wolverine, will be included in the MCU sooner or later after previously being under the authority of 20th Century Fox.

Deadpool 3 director hoping for strike resolution

The writer's strike has been going on since May, and Levy is hoping for a resolution as soon as possible so he can crack on with the movie.

"Well, like the rest of our industry, or at least large swath of it, we’re paused. We’re halfway through filming Deadpool, co-starring Wolverine. It was a joy every day and that chemistry is as relentless as we all hoped it would be," he explained.

"Our crew and the rest of us are awaiting a fair and equitable deal that ends these strikes and puts this industry, inclusive of our movie, back at work."

Both writers and actors are striking due to the lack of residual payments from productions on streaming services as well as the emergence of AI technology that could potentially replace their workforce.