With the release ofDeadpool and Wolverine, many gamers may be feeling a renewed sense of excitement about Insomniac’s upcomingMarvel’s Wolverine, far off as it may be. Naturally, the film could inspireEaster eggs and cosmetics in theWolverinegame, not dissimilar to how realSpider-Manmovies led to specialized outfits inMarvel’s Spider-Man, but Insomniac may be positioned to do something even bigger.
Insomniac’s successfulSpider-Mangames warrant valid hype aboutMarvel’s Wolverine, as the developer has displayed a solid understanding of original comic book stories, not to mention gripping gameplay staples. At the same time, aWolverinegame may, and probably should, feel markedly different from aSpider-Mangame, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. Wolverine is a much more brutal, visceral character, not pulling his punches or cracking jokes in the same way that someone like Spider-Man would. This distinction is signaled byMarvel’s Wolverine’s M rating, suggesting a far greater degree of violence, gore, and mature themes. But there may still be a way to inject some levity into the experience by way of an obvious cameo.
Deadpool Could Make an Appearance in Marvel’s Wolverine
After Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan and Wade Go Hand-in-Hand
Deadpool and Wolverine’s huge successisn’t all too surprising. TheDeadpoolfilms have managed to sidestep the ever-present issue of superhero fatigue in mainstream media, partially because theDeadpoolfranchise is only comprised of three films, but also because they are among the only blockbuster superhero movies that feel notably original. Many of the MCU’s most maligned tropes, like the constant barrage of sarcasm from characters who should be more sober, or the lack of stakes inherent in its brand of franchise-building, are swerved byDeadpool’s irreverent, tongue-in-cheek humor.
Adding Logan to the mix turned out to be fairly synergistic and appropriate.Deadpooland Wolverineis a joke-fest, just like the MCU movies, but the comedy works a bit better thanks to its odd-couple premise: Logan is allowed to be the straight man, which lets Deadpool’s devil-may-care attitude and crude humor shine brighter. He is like an audience surrogate, groaning and rolling his eyes at the expected moments. Put another way, Deadpool and Wolverine are a good match because of how different they are from one another, andMarvel’s Wolverinecould take advantage of that.
There Are Infinite Possibilities for a Deadpool Cameo in Marvel’s Wolverine
Deadpool and cameos are a natural fit, as the character is often described as “knowing he is in a comic book.” Indeed, perhaps Deadpool’s greatest power is his self-awareness, as he has the ability to confront the audience directly while breaking the established rules of whatever piece of media he is in. Because of this, there are a number of solid opportunities for him to make an appearance—more so than other iconic characters.
Marvel’s Wolverinecould have Deadpool appear in any number of ways. He could crop up and acknowledge how out-of-place he seems in this video game, he could manipulate the rules of the game in a manner similar to theScarecrow sequences inBatman: Arkhamgames, or he could even poke fun at the notion of cameos in general, admitting that he is only there for fan service, now that he is a movie star, or something like that.
Now that Marvel controls the rights to Deadpool, such a cameo would be free of messy licensing issues.
Of course,Marvel’s Wolverineshould strive for a good tonal balance. If the game’s story is meant to be more serious, for instance, then it could be greatly undermined by the Merc with a Mouth showing up and breaking immersion. But with how muchcomedic mileageDeadpool and Wolverinegot out of the dynamic between Logan and Wade, there is definitely potential in bringing the latter into the fold.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Marvel’s Wolverine is a third-person action game from Insomniac Games that is set in the same universe as the studio’s Spider-Man titles.
