Summary
- Deadpool & Wolverine brings back beloved Marvel heroes from outside the MCU, giving them a chance to shine.
- Expect old favorites like Elektra, X-23, Blade, Gambit, and even the Hulk making appearances in the film.
- The movie is a love letter to early 2000s Marvel movies, with surprises like Lady Deadpool and Kidpool in the mix.
As a huge fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I was absolutely thrilled to see the latest addition to the Deadpool Corp in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The way Shawn Levy and the team brought Lady Deadpool to life, with Blake Lively’s distinctive voice and her chaotic energy on full display, had me rolling with laughter.
In this article, you’ll find significant plot twists for the long-awaited film “Deadpool & Wolverine.” After much anticipation, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool joins forces with Hugh Jackman’s iconic character, Wolverine, on the big screen. With rumors of the Time Variance Authority from “Loki” and the presence of Jackman’s Wolverine, fans speculated about potential multiversal appearances of former Marvel heroes who had starred in films before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although the trailers hinted at Cassandra Nova and her army of henchmen, fans assumed these were mere distractions from the real surprises: the return of certain Marvel characters from the pre-MCU era to join the multiverse adventure.
In the film “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Deadpool and Wolverine play significant roles, paying homage to the early 2000s Marvel superhero films that came before the MCU. These aren’t just brief appearances but instead, they are essential characters in the movie’s pivotal second act, set in The Void. Though they share being outsider Marvel heroes, their stories were previously truncated. This subtext implies that these characters have been overlooked by the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” they are granted a renewed opportunity to shine. Here’s a list of all major Marvel characters featured in the film.
Elektra
As an avid fan, I’m thrilled to share that Jennifer Garner is once again stepping into the role of Elektra, a character she brought to life in “Daredevil” (2003) and “Elektra” (2005). The news of her return was first revealed by The Hollywood Reporter back in July 2023. Although this wasn’t an official confirmation from Marvel Studios, they chose not to show Elektra in any promotional materials or mention her explicitly in their press releases. Instead, they kept her involvement as a delightful surprise for the audience.
Redemption in the Eyes of the Public
Garner’s Elektra, one of the few resistance heroes still alive in the Void, seems to be leading the group by default. Her attire combines elements of her 2003 Daredevil costume with a darker red reminiscent of her comic book persona and her appearance in her 2005 solo movie.
In the film’s conclusion, although Elektra (Garner) is not physically present, it can be inferred that she has gone back to her own realm, possibly leaving behind Daredevil (Affleck), who reportedly perished while battling Cassandra Nova. The 2005 “Elektra” movie has gained a reputation as one of the poorest superhero productions, but Garner’s performance was never the issue. For millennials and Gen-X audiences, she served as their initial introduction to the character, making it enjoyable to see her take the lead role once more.
X-23
As a long-time Marvel fan, I must admit that I was taken aback when Laura, portrayed by Dafne Keen, was introduced as a new character in the movie only a week before its release through the final trailer. Having grown up with the comic books and movies, I’ve come to expect such significant appearances to be kept under wraps until the actual film premieres.
Laura Gets Her Happy Ending
In the movie, Laura plays a significant part as she decapitates Juggernaut to obtain the helmet that allows the heroes to shield themselves against Cassandra Nova’s mental assaults. In the film’s conclusion, an alternate version of Laura (Wolverine) is seen sitting with this variant in Earth-10005, the universe for the 20th Century Fox X-Men series. Although Laura’s Wolverine succumbed to death after the events of Logan, she receives a second opportunity with this counterpart, enabling them both to experience a content ending they once believed was impossible.
The Human Torch
Five years following “Avengers: Endgame,” Chris Evans makes a comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, surprising fans with a new character. For almost a decade, Evans brought Captain America to life in the MCU, transforming his persona and earning him worldwide film fame. However, before assuming the mantle of Captain America, Evans portrayed another Marvel hero. He donned the role of Johnny Storm, also known as The Human Torch, in 2005’s “Fantastic Four” and its sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”
An Iconic Callback
Deadpool is thrilled when he encounters Evan in the Void, making a lighthearted reference to saluting Captain America on the monitors. It’s not long before Deadpool discovers that this is none other than Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four. Pyro swiftly eliminates him, but soon enough, Human Torch, Wolverine, and Deadpool are transported to Cassandra Nova. There, Human Torch fills his new companions in on the situation in the Void.
In simpler terms, Ioan Gruffud’s portrayal of Reed Richards may have met his end, and Cassandra Nova is responsible for the demise of the Human Torch in the second movie of the Multiverse Saga. This makes it the second instance of a Fantastic Four character being eliminated before their appearance in the MCU, following John Krasinski’s Reed Richards in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Viewers should stay till the end credits for an extra dose of Evans as the Human Torch.
Blade
In a nostalgic tribute to the Marvel movies that paved the way for the current superhero film era, Blade, who ignited this trend although not under the 20th Century Fox banner, takes center stage once more. Twenty years after “Blade: Trinity,” Wesley Snipes reprises his iconic character. In that previous installment, Snipes and Ryan Reynolds shared the screen but reportedly clashed. Surprisingly, their past differences seem to have been resolved, as evidenced by Snipes’s return as Blade.
There’s Only One Blade (For Now)
It’s amusing how Snipes returns as Blade, given Marvel Studios’ challenges in producing a new Blade film for the MCU. Despite Mahershala Ali’s successful pitch to revive the franchise, the project has encountered numerous production hurdles behind the scenes.
Snipes himself even took a jab at Marvel Studios’ struggles with Blade, which, in retrospect, seems to have been done in good fun as he was already working with Marvel Studios. In one of the film’s best moments, Blade pulls out one of the Punisher’s bazookas, and when Deadpool asks which Punisher because there have been five, Blade quips back, “There is only one Blade” before Deadpool stares at the camera awkwardly, knowing both about the Spike TV series version but also the reboot is coming.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit
Channing Tatum isn’t reviving his past role as a superhero in the resistance, but rather bringing to life a character he longed to portray: Gambit. In Deadpool & Wolverine, fans get a glimpse of an X-Men film that never materialized. Way back in 2014, Tatum was rumored to star as Gambit, even gracing the Comic-Con stage with other Marvel actors from 20th Century Fox movies such as Fantastic Four, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Deadpool. Unfortunately, the production faced numerous directors before being shelved by Disney after their 2019 acquisition of Fox. It appeared that Tatum’s dream of embodying Gambit would remain unfulfilled, but thanks to Deadpool and the multiverse, it became a reality.
A Role Ten Years in the Making
In a sense, Tatum’s appearance in “Gambit” might bring to mind Nicolas Cage’s role as Superman in “The Flash,” as these are references that only dedicated fans will recognize as allusions to unused movie concepts. However, the comparisons aren’t entirely accurate. In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Tatum’s cameo is more than just a silent appearance designed to elicit cheers from the audience like in “The Flash.” Instead, Tatum’s Gambit plays an essential role within the film’s narrative.
The movie playfully mocks the unproduced Gambit film by having the character express feelings of being born without a chance to showcase his abilities. His costume, inspired by fan-made photoshops of Tatum as Gambit, features an exaggerated Cajun accent that Deadpool finds irresistible for ridicule. This is one of the most amusing fan references in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Hulk
The Hulk is one of the first heroes created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, that defined the early years of Marvel Comics. There have been plenty of versions of the Hulk on screen, and Deadpool & Wolverine introduces a new character variant. When Deadpool is looking to recruit a Wolverine to be his universe’s new anchor to replace the deceased one following Logan, he finds a version wearing the orange and brown costume from the comics, but then Deadpool realizes he is about to fight the Hulk. The scene references Wolverine’s first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181 and directly recreates the iconic cover of Incredible Hulk #340 with the Hulk reflected in Wolverine’s claws. The Hulk swats Deadpool away.
No Previous Hulk
The Hulk has undergone various transformations throughout history. Notably, Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno portrayed him in the 1970s television series called “The Incredible Hulk.” In 2003, Eric Bana assumed the role in a different adaptation. Later, Marvel Studios introduced their version of the Hulk with Edward Norton as the initial actor, but due to disagreements, he was later replaced by Mark Ruffalo. The Hulk depicted fighting Wolverine isn’t the 2003 Hulk portrayed by Eric Bana; instead, it features the same CGI design as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Hulk from “The Avengers,” making it a distinct version in the Marvel Multiverse.
Lady Deadpool
Deadpool & Wolverine has a lot of fun with the Deadpool variants. With a character that is already so chaotic, his variants are just as all over the place. The leader of the Deadpool Corp is none other than Lady Deadpool, who was already teased in the marketing. Her name is Wanda Wilson and while she never takes her mask off, her voice is easily recognizable as Blake Lively, who is married to Ryan Reynolds. This is also confirmed in the film’s credits.
Not Taylor Swift
As a big gamer and fan of Deadpool, I was sure Taylor Swift would make an appearance in the new Deadpool & Wolverine series. With Lady Deadpool being the prime suspect, it was an exciting guessing game for many of us. But boy, were we wrong! The unexpected reveal that Blake Lively is the one under the mask had me laughing out loud for so many reasons.
Kidpool
I’m a big fan of the Deadpool universe, and let me tell you, Kidpool truly lives up to his name! He’s the kid-friendly, younger counterpart of everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth. And get this, there are not one but two Deadpool kids in this team: a baby Deadpool included!
Not a Young Avenger
The presence of Kidpool might make audiences think this is another potential Young Avengers setup. This is possible, but unlike, say, Kid Loki, who is a Young Avenger in the comics, Kidpool is not. Kidpool appears to be a fun one-off reference for now, but depending on what direction Marvel Studios decides to take the Young Avengers, the door is open for Kidpool to show up. The idea of Kidpool landing on an Avengers team before Deadpool opens the door up for many comedic possibilities.
Headpool
As a huge fan, I can’t help but be blown away by the captivating presence of Headpool in the Deadpool Corporation. Unlike any other character, he is essentially a floating Deadpool head! Contrary to early speculation, Headpool isn’t the decapitated head of Weapon X from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Instead, his portrayal in the movies closely follows the comic book version from Marvel Zombies. In that intriguing storyline, Headpool is merely Deadpool’s zombified and detached head.
A Familiar Voice
Instead of Ryan Reynolds providing Headpool’s voice, it is actually Nathan Fillion. He brings a Southern accent to the character. In the credits, Fillion is identified as the voice actor. This isn’t Fillon’s first role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Due to his friendship with “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn, Fillon previously lent his voice for the Blue Alien prisoner in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and later appeared on-screen in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” as Master Karja. Initially, Fillion was set to appear in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” as Simon Williams during Earth scenes, but those parts were ultimately removed, giving way for Yahya Abdul-Mateeen II to portray the role in the upcoming Disney+ series “Wonder Man.” Next, audiences will see Fillion as Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s “Superman” project.
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2024-07-26 04:32