Beware, the following contains discussion of potential spoilers.

So, if you, like us, have watched the new Wolverine trailer several times (if you haven't, watch here) then you are probably also wondering what in the world that big thing with the scars, claws and lazer eyes is. That thing in the picture above, see?

Well, there's little doubt that it's going to be a Big Bad (this seems to be a film with multiple Big Bad's), but there's much debate about how that bad actually comes about. There's much, rather worrying, discussion that this might actually be the final form of Deadpool. Now, I'm no X-Men X-pert, so apologies if I get anything wrong here (the Wikipedia pages on this stuff are REALLY confusing), but in the comic books Deadpool is an assassin with hideous scars, which means he always wears a full body suit and mask. There was much ballyhoo when first photos emerged of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool because he looked handsome, clear-skinned, excessively glisteny and, well, generally like Ryan Reynolds. Where was the hideousness, fans asked. So it can be assumed that Deadpool might head on the path towards ugly during this film, but why jump to the conclusion that this weird beast is how he'll turn out? Well, there's this action figure. See, the label says Deadpool and is identical to the trailer monster. We're hoping that's not true and this is just some sort of packaging snafu. This is not how Deadpool should look and fan fury would probably tear down many a cinema if it is.

The other theory being put about is that this thing is Weapon XI. Where Wolverine, or more specifically his adamantium skeleton, was created in the Weapon X programme, an experiment by a shady government organisation trying to make super-soldiers, Weapon XI would be the next experiment, and therefore one more advanced. Surely that makes more sense, what with the beast apparently combining Wolverine's claws, Cyclops' lazer vision and...someone's really bad skin? Also, a foe slightly more tricked out that Wolvie would be the ideal enemy. Someone called Scott Adkins is reportedly playing him in the film, but could he be acting as make-up double for a deformed Reynolds? Could Fox, a studio that has a history of messing with comic book properties to the ire of fans, have retconned the story so that Deadpool becomes Weapon XI?

Which would you prefer? Do you hope this is Deadpool or Weapon XI? Or something else altogether?

Olly Richards