Deadpool 2: 8 Most Memorable New Characters

The 2016 Deadpool movie finally gave fans of the character exactly what they had been craving - a depiction of the Merc With a Mouth that was every bit as foul-mouthed and blood-soaked as possible. This left Deadpool 2 with a prime example of the 'difficult second album' problem. Fox had proven they could do the character justice on the big screen, so now they had to go bigger and better.

That's certainly the case with Deadpool 2, which adheres to that maxim of the sequel in just about every way. It has a more complex, wide-ranging storyline, a lengthier running time and, crucially for this article, there's a wide array of colourful new characters for fans to enjoy. There are new mutants on the horizon, most notably as part of the X-Force team, but also some new additions elsewhere in the cast that are set to become fixtures of the franchise.

Deadpool 2 is not a movie that holds the audience's hand in introducing these new characters, throwing fans in at the deep end. Comic book afficionados may have more of a chance than others of keeping track of the ensemble but, for those who only deal in the movies, it's quite difficult to get a handle on who all of these new people are - and which ones are worth remembering.

Yukio, portrayed in the movie by Shioli Kutsuna, is introduced into the world of Deadpool 2 as the new girlfriend of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, played by returning star Brianna Hildebrand. She's a peppy, enjoyable presence, who serves as a stark counterpoint to the rebellious cynicism that is Negasonic's stock in trade.

The character is sadly rather sidelined in Deadpool 2, particularly given the progressive possibilities of handing major roles to a lesbian couple in a major superhero movie. However, Yukio could well be given more to do in the future of the franchise. The production notes for the film describe her as a "badass assassin", which is not really glimpsed in the first outing for the character.

In the comics, there is a character named Yukio - a Japanese ninja - and she has appeared on the big screen before in 2013's The Wolverine. In that movie, she was portrayed by Rila Fukushima and ended the story with a vow to stay by Logan's side as a bodyguard. It seems unlikely that this take on Yukio is similarly inspired by that character, but it will be interesting to see how she develops in future Deadpool stories.