As a long-time comic book enthusiast and film critic with a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the Marvel Universe, I must say that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a love letter to fans who have followed the adventures of these characters since their early days. It’s a delightful blend of nostalgia, humor, and action that pays homage to the bygone era of Marvel films outside the MCU.
The summer 2024 debut of “Deadpool & Wolverine” marked the end of a significant era in the history of superhero movies. This collaboration was intentionally designed to integrate Ryan Reynolds’ iconic Deadpool character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It can be seen as a witty farewell to Marvel properties that were established before Disney’s merger with 20th Century Fox, which is now complete following the acquisition. With the takeover of Fox, Disney has finally gained control over the X-Men franchise, whose initial success played a crucial role in shaping today’s dominant superhero movie landscape under Disney.
Prior to Disney acquiring Marvel in 2009, they had sold the rights to produce films featuring their numerous characters to other studios. For instance, Sony controlled Spider-Man and Fox produced X-Men movies for almost two decades starting from 2000. Even as Marvel Studios grew into a worldwide powerhouse, producing some of the most lucrative films ever made and shaping the blueprint for modern superhero cinema, they continued to hold onto these rights. However, Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox in 2019 effectively ended Fox’s production of superhero movies. The film “Deadpool & Wolverine” explicitly references this merger and integrates it into the plotline.
20th Century Fox in the Void
In the first season of Disney+’s Loki, the Void was presented as a storage area utilized by the Time Variance Authority for troublesome time travelers who disrupt their timelines excessively. Deadpool & Wolverine reimagine this concept as a satirical commentary on the Disney-Fox merger, portraying it as a convenient location where Disney can deposit all the properties they acquired following their takeover.
In the void, Deadpool and Wolverine encounter characters from various Marvel productions before Disney, such as Johnny Storm (Chris Evans making fun of his initial Marvel appearance) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford) from X2: X-Men United. Eventually, they join forces with an alliance of Elektra (Jennifer Garner), Blade (Wesley Snipes), X-23 (Dafne Keen), and a fictional Gambit (Channing Tatum). Not all these productions are cherished now; in fact, Gambit never existed at all. However, they offer an intriguing glimpse into the early days of superhero movies, a time when the formula that later defined Marvel was still emerging, and a comic book adaptation wasn’t yet considered a guaranteed box office success.
This playful move by Deadpool’s creative team could be interpreted as a witty self-reference, aligning perfectly with the character’s brand. However, it also subtly pokes fun at Deadpool’s new corporate masters, a media conglomerate known for acquiring valuable Marvel properties. Disney has demonstrated a desire to control its franchises’ continuities in the past, such as declaring that only the two Star Wars film trilogies are considered canonical. Given this history, it’s not surprising that they might want to symbolically “bury” projects like X-2 and Logan, even those that were successful.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Salutes a Bygone Era
Deadpool and Wolverine honor the portrayals of characters who, unlike Deadpool, didn’t get the chance to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The movie offers Elektra, Blade, X-23, and Gambit a valiant farewell, helping Deadpool and Wolverine escape the Void. This symbolically recognizes the heroes who paved the way, enabling the MCU to become the most successful film series ever made. Although many fans may not have fond memories of 2005’s Elektra, or the Blade trilogy for that matter, these films demonstrated that superhero stories could transition from niche properties to mainstream success on screen.
Back in the day, it was tough to envision the concept of a blockbuster comic book film being welcomed with open arms. While films like 1989’s Batman and 1978’s Superman managed to shine, they were often seen as exceptions rather than indicators of what was to come. It wasn’t until 2000 when 20th Century Fox unveiled X-Men that the notion of expansive superhero franchises started to take shape. Had the X-Men movies faltered, it might have dissuaded those in power from attempting to adapt Iron Man eight years down the line.
It seems quite plausible that we may no longer see Garner or Snipes in their respective roles, but the characters they played will continue to exist in some form. For instance, there have been talks about a MCU Blade movie with Mahershala Ali as the lead, and there’s speculation that Elektra, played by Élodie Yung, could show up in Daredevil: Born Again. As for Hugh Jackman’s Logan, it remains to be seen if he will continue in that role, but given the MCU’s plans to incorporate the X-Men soon, Deadpool and Wolverine might mark his final appearances. If this is true, it would make for a fitting end not just for Jackman’s version of Logan, but also for all Marvel characters before Disney’s eventual control over the universe.
Stream Deapool & Wolverine on Disney+.
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2024-11-24 01:33