Summary
Fans are inches away fromDeadpool & Wolverine’s long-awaited theatrical release after a flurry of positive reviews spurring the anticipation, but the film’s impending success has already had a big effect on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe according to the man in charge.
Deadpool & Wolverinenot only serves as a threequel to the highly regardedDeadpoolfranchise but also plays double billing as the very first appearance of the Merc with a Mouth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, keeping the raunchy spirit of the franchise to gift Marvel Studios with its first R-rated offering. There was so much confidence behind the scenes that this would be a hit thatDeadpool & Wolverinewas set as Marvel’s only 2024 theatrical releasefollowing the disastrous outings for the Disney-owned franchise in 2023. The film would also be notable from the onset for featuring, amongst well more than a dozen other rumored cameos, the return of Hugh Jackman in his iconic role as Wolverine to headline the film alongside Ryan Reynold’s lead character.
The first previews returned tentative but enthusiastic thumbs-ups, andthe first full screening reviews forDeadpool & Wolverinewere just as praise-filled and optimistic, alleviating any doubts that the MCU brass might have had about the film’s upcoming box-office debut, and doing more besides. In an exclusive interview withDiscussing Filmabout the soon-to-be-seen film, Marvel Studios kingpin Kevin Feige discusses the relief and learning opportunities that stemmed from Jackman’s return to the iconic role forDeadpool 3,reiterating director Shawn Levy’s desire and drive to respect the character’s existing lore and fanbase. More noteworthy, however, was Feige’s coy admission that Jackman’s performance and Levy’s treatment of the characters had opened the door to potentially allow others like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans to make MCU returns as Iron Man and Captain America respectively, down the line as well.
That’s the key, right? How do you do it in a way that maintains what has come before, and in a great way? And we’ve been spending, you know, the last two-plus years figuring that out for Wolverine. So, what’s to come? We’ll see. We’re just proud that we, I think, have figured it out for Wolverine. I think Hugh’s appearance and starring role in [Deadpool & Wolverine] is a great sign that it can be done — if great care is taken.
Jackman’s Wolverine marked a massive addition to the film aside from his lead role, a great boost in the marketing of the project, and many behind-the-scenes contributions by way ofseveral Wolverine variants populatingDeadpool 3’splot. This approach helped the film distance Jackman’s MCU version of the character from the tragic hero who gave his life at the climax ofLogan,the original swan song for the character. While fans are yet to weigh in on the film as it hasn’t been released generally, the early reviews that do mention the character’s legacy seem to agree that it was handled well, as Feige alludes to here.
This is especially impressive asFeige himself has spoken out against the idea of bringing back starslike RDJ, Evans, and evenBlack Widowstar Scarlett Johansson to revitalize the MCU. While he did leave the possibility open-ended, the general takeaway from his comments was that these returns weren’t going to happen at all. The tone of his recent comments supports this, sounding more like an awakening to a new possibility than a simple confirmation of a familiar one. Whichever way things go behind the scenes, having the MCU take stock of even more tools on its uphill battle back to the prominence of the past is certainly a plus.Deadpool & Wolverineis set to be one step forward, but its most important contribution might end up being what it opens the door to later down the line.
One step or not,Deadpool & Wolverineis just what Marvel needs right now, and the revelation that it might be the catalyst for the MCU’s biggest assets returning to the screen just makes it all the more impactful as a project. If the MCU can get its groove back going forward, then the return of these stars might see the franchise return to its highest highs — if great care is taken.
Deadpool & Wolverineis set to premiere in theaters on 26th July 2024.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine marks Ryan Reynolds’s take on the Merc with a Mouth’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Together, the two embark on a universe-hopping, R-rated adventure that’s sure to change the MCU forever.
