Will Taylor Swift Play Dazzler in “Deadpool and Wolverine”? Here's Why Marvel Fans Are Convinced

"Anything can happen and that's sort of what I love about this universe," Ryan Reynolds has said

• Deadpool & Wolverine will mark the first time mutants from the Fox X-Men universe are featured in a full-length film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

• Taylor Swift has long been rumored to play Dazzler, a fan favorite character from the comics — and her close friendship with star Ryan Reynolds, hangouts she's had with director Shawn Levy and on key line from her latest album has fans thinking it finally might happen.

• Reynolds previously gave Swift a shout-out in Deadpool 2.

Is Taylor Swift officially in her MCU era? 

Fans have speculated for months that the Grammy winning singer, 34, will be making a surprise cameo in the upcoming third Deadpool film, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Set to release this summer, the movie is bringing the foul-mouthed assassin and his claw-wielding frenemy into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time thanks to Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox, who had previously owned rights to the characters. And judging from the first trailers, the film's timeline-jumping plot will include a handful of superhero easter eggs and cameos of characters from past Fox X-Men films — including Azazel (played by Jason Flemyng; last seen in X-Men: First Class), Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu; X2: X-Men United), Sabretooth (Tyler Mane; X-Men), Toad (Ray Park; X-Men), and Pyro (Aaron Stanford; X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand).

Related: Deadpool 3 Trailer: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Face Off in First Glimpse of Deadpool & Wolverine

But there's one mutant from Fox's past that might be played by another star: Dazzler.

Known in the comics by her real name Alison Blaire, Dazzler is a mutant who can convert sound vibrations into various forms of light, like lasers, strobes, blasts holograms and more. She balances her super powers with her career as a singer, dancer and actor.

Audiences first briefly saw Dazzler in 2019's X-Men: Dark Phoenix, in a scene starring Halston Sage. But they almost met her on screen in 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, where — in a deleted scene not included in the theatrical cut — a Dazzler record appeared to be held up while Sophie Turner's character Jean Gray shopped in the mall with Tye Sheridan's Scott Summers.

Turner, a pal of Swift's, posted an image from the moment to her Instagram in April 2016. "#FlashbackFriday to that time Cyclops and I went shopping at the mall and found our favorite singer’s album," she captioned it, adding "(pre 1989, of course)."

Her reference to Swift's chart-topping pop album wasn't just a shout-out to a friend; it was also poking at a longstanding rumor at the time that Swift would be playing Dazzler.

Months earlier, in July 2015, Swift had appeared in a photo with Turner and her X-Men: Apocalypse costar James McAvoy as the trio posed backstage with the movie's producer Simon Kinberg at Swift's Montreal concert. That picture, and the fact that X-Men: Apocalypse was in production, sparked speculation that Swift would be making an appearance as Dazzler in the movie.

Kinberg would go on to debunked those theories, telling MTV they were all his "fault" because, as a huge Swift fan himself, he would play 1989 on set all the time.

"It was what I was listening to every morning to get sort of energized and I would listen to it on the set every day for Apocalypse," he told the outlet, explaining he went to the concert with Turner and McAvoy, as well as film stars Nicholas Hoult and Rose Byrne. "So we went to the show, me and those people, and then she invited us to come back and meet her afterwards. It was just a photo backstage at the concert, and that was the only time we ever saw her."

In the years since, the idea of Swift as Dazzler never died among the fans — so much so that now, many believe that if the character makes an appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, there's a chance Swift might be in her shoes.

The rumors started to gain steam again in the beginning of October, when Deadpool & Wolverine actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman — as well as the film's director Shawn Levy — joined Swift to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Jackman, 54, even shared selfies with the “Fortnight” singer, Reynolds, 47 and actress Blake Lively, 36 at the game.

Swift was then spotted with Levy in Manhattan at the end of October, attending a get-together with Reynolds, Lively and Jackman.

Related: Taylor Swift Has All-Star Hangout with Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman and Deadpool Director

Related: Shawn Levy Calls Taylor Swift a 'Really Fun Hang' and Reveals How She Gave Him 'Dad Cred for Life' (Exclusive)

Asked about attending the Chiefs game with Swift, Levy shared “no comment” about the potential Deadpool 3 cameo, telling The Wrap that same month, “you’re going to have to wait and see.”

He was equally coy during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in October, noting to host Josh Horowitz that a Swift appearance "sounds like a great idea" but refusing to comment on them beyond that. He did say, however, that there was one cameo in the film that "blew his mind," mainly because it was so "easy" to book.

"People love Deadpool. People love Ryan," he said. "Thankfully, people also seem to like my work. They know that Ryan and I are in a groove of creative brotherhood that is unique and seems to be working."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

That only put the focus more on Swift. Not only does the star — who has acted in films like Cats, The Giver, Valentine's Day, Amsterdam — have a close friendship with Reynolds and Lively, but she also previously dressed up as Deadpool for Halloween in 2016 (specifically wearing the official movie costume lent to her by Reynolds himself),

Speaking of Reynolds, the actor denied to PEOPLE Swift was in Deadpool 3 back in November 2022, before shooting had begun on the film. But on in an interview with Fandango that published on Monday, May 20, he sang a different tune, saying that "straight up dishonesty isn't in the cards" when addressing the rumors.

"Movies like this, there's so much speculation about so many people that might end up in the film. I saw one that was convinced Elvis was in the movie," Reynolds teased. "Anything can happen and that's sort of what I love about this universe. Surprises are the essence of Deadpool.” 

Related: Ryan Reynolds Denies Taylor Swift Is in 'Deadpool 3' but Says 'I Would Do Anything for That Woman'

Surprises are the essence of Swift, too — though she often seeds them with hints hidden in her music and various materials.

Looking at those, fans on TikTok have pointed out that in the comics, Dazzler has polarizing eyes and some of the updated visuals from Swift’s Eras Tour features images of her with a similar look as well.

There's also the fact that she shot her "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" video in the same house Reynolds and Jackman filmed their initial announcement that Deadpool 3 was a go.

Another potential clue comes in the lyrics of Swift's song “Clara Bow” from The Tortured Poets Department. The track, which is the last song from her album, ends with the line “The future's bright... dazzling."

Related: Jennifer Garner to Reprise Elektra Role in 'Deadpool 3' 20 Years After 'Daredevil'

Then again... lyrics aren't always anything. Back in 2019, fans speculated that Swift would make an appearance in Avengers Endgame, connecting it to her Reputation single “Endgame.” She, of course, didn't, but told Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen Show, "I would have loved to have been asked, but I wasn't asked to be in it at all."

No matter what happens, one thing is definitely true: Deadpool is a Swiftie. In Deadpool 2, Reynolds’ character Wade Wilson wore a T-shirt referencing Swift’s cats, Meredith and Olivia.

"I'm so proud of my fuzzy daughters," Swift wrote on Instagram at the time.

Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters July 26.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.