Deadpool's Pan-Sexuality: Exploring The Character's Complex Attraction

Deadpool, the foul-mouthed, fourth-wall-breaking superhero, has been the subject of much discussion regarding his sexuality. While the character has been depicted as straight in the movies, with a relationship with Vanessa Carlysle, fans and creators alike have described him as pansexual. In the comics, Deadpool has been shown to have a fluid sexuality, with his creators stating that he is pansexual, omnisexual, heterosexual, homosexual, etc. This is due to his brain cells being in a constant state of flux, meaning his sexual preferences are ever-changing. Despite this, Deadpool has yet to be shown having a non-heterosexual experience on screen, leading some to question whether he is truly pansexual.

Deadpool's pansexuality is alluded to in the films, but not explicitly shown

In the films, Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, is presented as straight and is in a relationship with Vanessa Carlysle. However, he is shown to flirt with anyone and everyone, including male characters. He makes homoerotic references and has a close relationship with his male friend Weasel. There is also a suggestion that Deadpool had a free-pass list of people he could sleep with, which included Spider-Man.

Deadpool's pansexuality has been confirmed by the films' director, Tim Miller, who stated that "in my mind, he's always been pansexual and I wanted to be true to the way he is in the comics." Producer Simon Kinberg also acknowledged Deadpool's pansexuality, saying that "the character...identifies as pansexual in the comics, and while we don't explore it in depth in this film, it's definitely alluded to."

Ryan Reynolds himself has expressed a willingness to explore Deadpool's pansexuality on screen, saying that "it's something that I'd love to see more of, certainly through Wade, certainly through this universe, because it's something that we're building out more." However, a third Deadpool film has not yet been announced, and with the sale of 21st Century Fox to Disney, the future of the franchise is uncertain.

While Deadpool's pansexuality is not explicitly shown in the films, his flirty behaviour and homoerotic references allude to a more complex sexual identity than a straightforward heterosexual one.

The comics from which the films are adapted confirm Deadpool as pansexual

Deadpool is a Marvel antihero known for his fourth-wall-breaking and foul-mouthed nature. The character first appeared in 1991 and was created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/writer Rob Liefeld.

Deadpool's sexuality has been a topic of discussion among fans and creators alike. In the comics, from which the movies are adapted, Deadpool is confirmed as pansexual. Nicieza, one of the comic's creators, has described Deadpool as "the epitome of inclusive", stating that "he can be gay one minute, hetero the next, etc. ALL ARE VALID". Nicieza also referred to Deadpool's "omnisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, homosexual, etc. aspects", which are a result of his brain cells being in constant flux.

In the movies, Deadpool is portrayed as straight, with a relationship between his character and Vanessa Carlysle (played by Morena Baccarin). However, the character's pansexuality has been alluded to in the films, with Deadpool flirting with both male and female characters. The director of the Deadpool films, Tim Miller, has confirmed Deadpool's pansexuality, stating, "in my mind, he's always been pansexual and I wanted to be true to the way he is in the comics".

Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza has confirmed Deadpool's pansexuality

Nicieza's comments on Deadpool's sexuality have been met with some criticism, with some arguing that his statements deny queer people the agency to analyse and interpret queer characters. Additionally, there has been some debate among fans about whether Deadpool's pansexuality is accurately represented in the films. While the character is shown flirting with anyone and everyone, his only romantic relationship is with a woman, Vanessa Carlysle.

Despite this, Deadpool's pansexuality has been confirmed by other members of the films' cast and crew, including actor Ryan Reynolds, who has expressed interest in exploring the character's sexuality in future films. Director Tim Miller and producer Simon Kinberg have also acknowledged Deadpool's pansexuality, with Miller stating that he wanted to be true to the character's sexuality as depicted in the comics.

Deadpool's flirtation with Spider-Man is used to support his pansexuality

Deadpool's flirting with Spider-Man is often used as evidence to support the claim that Deadpool is pansexual. In the comics, Deadpool has a "top-five free pass list" of people he is allowed to be unfaithful with. Spider-Man is number five on the list. When Peter Parker, Spider-Man's alter ego, asks who is on the list, Deadpool initially tells him it's none of his business. Later, when Peter asks again, Deadpool lies and says he isn't on the list, to which Peter thanks him. This exchange is interpreted as evidence that Deadpool's feelings towards Spider-Man are not entirely platonic.

In another instance, Deadpool casts a spell intending to summon his wife, Queen Shiklah, a succubus. Instead, the spell summons Spider-Man, which Deadpool claims proves that Spider-Man is his "heartmate". There have also been two variant cover images showing Deadpool attempting to kiss Spider-Man.

In the 2016 film *Deadpool*, the titular character makes numerous homoerotic references. For example, he asks a male bartender for a blowjob, which turns out to be the name of a cocktail. He also lands crotch-first on an adversary's face, shouting "Teabagged!".

Deadpool's creators and writers have also weighed in on the character's sexuality. Comic writer Gerry Duggan has said he considers Deadpool "ready and willing to do anything with a pulse" and has promised to keep everyone "up to date on his omnisexual exploits". Comic writer and artist Reilly Brown has said that "Wade has never hid his feelings for [Spider-Man]... he also denies them until he's red in the face, so pick your poison". Fabian Nicieza, one of Deadpool's creators, has said that Deadpool is "no sex and all sexes... He can be gay one minute, hetero the next, etc. ALL ARE VALID".

Deadpool's relationship with Death, a genderless entity, is also used to support his pansexuality

Death and Deadpool's relationship is complex and has been on and off since Deadpool became the character fans know today. Death and Deadpool fell in love with each other in a unique way and have a dynamic that has brought them closer and further apart. The two met when Wade Wilson was tortured at Weapon X, bringing him close to literal death. Wade ended up becoming infatuated with Death, and their relationship developed from there.

Death usually takes the form of a skeletal woman but has also taken the form of a man. Deadpool's relationship with Death is used to support his pansexuality, as he has been depicted in text as queer for decades through subtext and coding and has been explicitly confirmed as queer by writers and creators. Deadpool's queerness is important to many fans, as he is the first canonically pansexual character that some knew of, and he provides representation for pansexual people.

Frequently asked questions