Shawn Levy Does Not Really Enjoy When People Act Like Deadpool And Wolverine Cameos Were For ‘Shock And Awe’ Only

Shawn Levy Does Not Really Enjoy When People Act Like Deadpool And Wolverine Cameos Were For 'Shock And Awe' Only

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can wholeheartedly appreciate the thoughtful approach Shawn Levy took when incorporating cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s not every day that we get to see such a diverse and well-executed ensemble of characters from different eras of superhero cinema.


The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) remains hugely successful, offering films in theaters and through streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latest release is Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine, which set new box office records. Notably, the film boasted several intriguing cameos from the MCU, but these weren’t merely for amusement. However, it seems that Shawn Levy takes issue with people suggesting that the cameos in Deadpool 3 were solely intended to create “surprise and awe.” To clarify, let’s delve into the matter.

The cast for the movie featuring Deadpool and Wolverine turned out to be more diverse than expected, featuring many unexpected characters from 20th Century Fox’s series such as X-Men, Blade, Fantastic Four, and Daredevil. Each of these appearances left a lasting impression, with Channing Tatum’s portrayal of Gambit being particularly noteworthy. In a recent chat with The New York Times, director Levy shared his strategy for the cameos, stating:

I’d like to emphasize that if our goal was solely to create a ‘spectacular’ moment, we had over 50 other options for cameos. However, we made an effort to maintain focus by consistently asking ourselves: Who are the Marvel characters who haven’t had the chance to complete their story arc? In other words, we aimed to give closure to characters who didn’t get a chance to shine before.

Points were made. There was a deep pool of characters to pull from for Deadpool & Wolverine, particularly given how long the X-Men movies ran in theaters. But Levy was going for quality not quantity, and wanted to honor the legacy of a handful of names from before 20th Century Fox’s acquisition by Disney.

For years, Marvel movie enthusiasts have followed the series sequentially, yet it’s probable that these same cinephiles also caught the earlier superhero productions. Moreover, the end credits of Deadpool 3 not only featured a team-up for another battle in The Void, but they also honored the many people who contributed to Fox’s superhero films. In a subsequent interview, Shawn Levy detailed the process of gathering the diverse group of resisters against Cassandra Nova, stating:

Our journey eventually brought us to Elektra and Jennifer Garner, but it was Wesley Snipes who truly stood out. Except for Channing’s portrayal of Gambit, they all tie back to our central theme of legacy and a fitting conclusion. We aimed to include some long-forgotten heroes, and we had an extensive list of candidates – just imagine Britney Spears’ reaction when she heard about Emma Roberts!

Ultimately, it seemed that Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds skillfully incorporated the ideal number of classic characters in the making of Deadpool 3, delighting fans with Chris Evans’ reprisal as the Human Torch, albeit his role proved to be brief.

In the movie “Deadpool & Wolverine,” other X-Men villains were occasionally present, but they didn’t play major roles. It was entertaining to watch them engage in combat with the heroes during the intense battle at Cassandra Nova’s base, which unfortunately resulted in Ant-Man’s demise.

Currently, Deadpool and Wolverine are playing in cinemas, while the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to premiere on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. In the meantime, here are some 2025 movie release dates for you to look forward to.

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2024-09-24 16:37