Marvel fans have a huge Henry Cavill theory that could turn the MCU on its head

Marvel fans have been busy theorising what the future of the MCU will look like after a huge hint in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Earning more than $1 billion (£777 million) at the box office since its release in July, the third film starring Ryan Reynolds as the title character saw him team up with Hugh Jackman in his iconic role as Wolverine - despite the Aussie previously saying that he was done playing the clawed anti-hero.

With a $200m budget, things were really taken up a notch with a tonne of famous cameos - warning, spoilers from here on in - after finally being integrated in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after Disney bought 20th Century Fox and its assets, which includes Wade Wilson and the X-Men characters and films.

With Jackman officially having hung up his claws as Logan in the 2017 film of the same name, it remains to be seen if he'll return as Wolverine going forward now that the X-Men are looking to be set to be fully integrated in to the MCU timeline.

Jackman is also 55, meaning any future appearances as him will put him close to 60 and beyond - something Reynolds makes fun of in Deadpool & Wolverine, breaking the fourth wall and saying Jackman will be playing the role 'til you're 90'.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously hinted at a new face eventually playing Wolverine, with the character and others 'set to be around for another 100 years'.

"I think it will be in a very different style and in a different way. I also think if somebody were to attempt to do a Hugh Jackman as Wolverine impression, that would be a pretty big mistake," he said.

During the film, it shows Deadpool searching the multiverse after being kidnapped by the Time Variance Authority, trying to find a Wolverine suitable enough to replace Logan, who died in Deadpool's universe as the 2017 Logan film is set in the same universe as the Deadpool films.

When visiting other universe's to see if their Wolverine was a good enough fit, everyone single Logan is played by Jackman - except for one.

Henry Cavill, fresh from being dropped as Superman by DC Studios, appears as a cigar smoking Wolverine busy fixing a motorbike.

Posting a picture of himself in the role on Instagram, Cavill wrote: "To be safe, I shaved the moustache off for this one. Just the moustache."

This was a cheeky dig at himself for when he couldn't shave off his moustache in reshoots for Justice League due to filming for Mission: Impossible – Fallout taking place at the same time, leading to him having to green screen his upper lip.

Dubbed the 'Cavillerine', fans are now wondering if Marvel is now testing the waters as to whether he would be accepted as the next actor to take on the role officially.

Some fans have gone further, saying it is a sure sign that he will play Wolverine on Earth-616; the universe that is home to the Avengers that have made up the MCU so far from Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man to Tom Hiddleston's Loki.

One posted on X (Twitter): "I think Henry Cavill's the Earth-616 Wolverine. They put his cameo to check how the audience will react and now we know the response is unanimously positive for Cavillrine."

Reacting, another said: "I'm all for this. All for it." And a third said: "If Jackman is not back I'm fine with Cavill as Wolverine."

It would a big move and the biggest transfer, so to speak, of talent from DC to Marvel in the history of the franchises, given that Superman is arguably the face of the entire DC universe.

Others were a little more skeptical, saying: "When they inevitably recast Wolverine, they’ll be looking for someone for the long term.

"Cavill is great but he’s 41, by the time a film would be made with a recasted version, he’d probably be closer to 50… they’ll be casting someone in their early 30’s for sure."

While another echoed these words, writing: "I think he fits well but I have a feeling they'll pick someone younger to do more and more movies."