Why Is Deadpool In X-Men Origins: Wolverine Different From The MCU Version?

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Ever since I first suited up back in 2016, my movies have been all about unforgettable action sequences, rib-tickling humor that sometimes veers into the adult realm, and a knack for breaking the fourth wall like it’s no big deal. That’s right, I’m talking about none other than yours truly – Deadpool!

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter in August 2024, my movies have been leaving quite an impression on audiences. “Deadpool” and “Deadpool 2” managed to snag the fourth and fifth spots among Tinseltown’s top-grossing R-rated films. But here’s a fun fact: When paired with Wolverine, we took the number one spot, raking in over a billion dollars at the global box office!

But that’s not all, folks – my movie timeline extends beyond those three blockbusters. There’s always more to the Merc with a Mouth’s story!

Prior to Deadpool, or the Merc with a Mouth, transforming into Marvel’s modern-day Messiah within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he and Ryan Reynolds had a cinematic blunder together. This took place in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a film widely regarded as one of the worst “X-Men” movies ever produced. In the closing scenes of this film, Hugh Jackman’s Logan confronts a significantly altered version of Reynolds’ Deadpool, who possessed additional abilities, lacked a red suit, and had no witty quips because his mouth was sewn shut. The post-credits scene of “Deadpool 2” saw Reynolds recreate this scene by dispatching this peculiar portrayal of his character. But why did a mute Deadpool appear on the big screen initially? Here are some potential explanations.

Sewing Deadpool’s mouth shut was a studio note

Initially in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Wade Wilson, who later becomes Deadpool, delivers a few humorous lines. However, when he first appears onscreen as Deadpool, his character is devoid of the signature wit due to his mouth being stitched shut. This moment hints at his future potential as an ideal silent soldier, a suggestion made by Stryker (Danny Huston). Despite this foreshadowing, many viewers found it puzzling. Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, shared the same perplexity, expressing his disapproval of the decision in an interview with Variety, calling it one of the “foolish studio notes.” He also poked fun at the choice on his Facebook page, hinting at his enthusiasm for the upcoming reunion of Wolverine and Deadpool on the big screen.

In an interview with “The Geek Generation” Podcast, producer Jeff Katz discussed the reasoning behind the creative choice made for the film. According to him, Fox decided on this path because they envisioned the fight scene in a particular way. Essentially, they felt that having dialogue during a fight was outdated and cheesy, as Katz put it, “They said something like, ‘We don’t want a guy talking in the middle of a fight — that’s corny.'” Katz attempted to persuade the studio head that this approach could lead to conflict with comic fans, but the studio was adamant about proving their point and maintaining fidelity to Deadpool’s characteristic wit by having Wolverine deliver a humorous line referencing his famous nickname.

Why Deadpool’s skin is different in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Deadpool’s distinctive red suit is as well-known as his unique skin texture. But in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” his skin was changed to smooth with black patterns that ended in circular shapes across the upper part of his body. This might be because the transformation process for Wade Wilson in that movie differs from the one depicted in the 2016 film “Deadpool.

In the year 2009 film, similar to Logan, Wade experiences a procedure involving the injection of adamantium, a metal alloy. As Logan resurfaces from the water during this transformation, distinctive markings – circles surrounded by black lines – appear on his body. These markings resemble those seen later on Wade. Notably, these markings were absent on Logan beforehand, suggesting that Stryker and his team applied them to both characters for the purpose of their experimental and transformative process. Given that Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton weighs 105 pounds, it’s crucial to have a well-thought-out plan when implanting such a substantial amount of hardware.

In contrast to Wade’s change depicted in “Deadpool”, this process is more systematic and orderly. Instead of undergoing a rapid mutation as a result of an experimental chamber draining oxygen from his body, Wade experiences a gradual transformation where his skin begins to scar.

Wade Wilson has extra powers in X-Men Origins: Wolverine because he’s a combination of characters

In the movie “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Stryker aims for the ultimate soldier, which is why Deadpool is equipped with additional abilities. He can fire lasers from his eyes, teleport, and even produce katana blades from his knuckles. Each of these powers has a familiar ring to it because Stryker drew inspiration from the talents of mutants he’s encountered in the past. For instance, former Team X member John Wraith (Will.i.am) had teleportation abilities, Scott Summers’ (Tim Pocock) laser eyes were incorporated into Deadpool, and the katana blade knuckles are a nod to Deadpool’s own swordsmanship skills. It seems Stryker has been meticulously planning this all along.

Initially, Stryker trusts Team X, but he appears to favor Wade throughout the movie. He publicly recognizes Wade’s combat abilities by tasking him with leading the charge into a room filled with armed individuals running a diamond smuggling operation in Lagos, Nigeria. It seems that Wade is accustomed to being the first one in, swiftly maneuvering his blades and signaling safety for his teammates once the coast is clear. This suggests that Wade is Stryker’s preferred operative, and it appears that Stryker may be contemplating the possibility that Team X might not remain intact indefinitely, necessitating a contingency plan.

It’s clear that the plan is demonstrated through Deadpool’s unveiling and numerous skills. He indeed embodies the ultimate iteration of Team X, and he’s completely under Stryker’s command due to remote control functionalities. Unlike the original Team X, Deadpool doesn’t have free will, so Stryker won’t have to listen to anyone refusing his malicious plans anymore.

Fox didn’t want Deadpool to wear his iconic red and black costume in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” predates the popular “Deadpool” movies. This implies that during the mid-2000s, plans for Deadpool were being developed separately. Alex Gillis, co-founder of Amalgamated Dynamic Inc., who worked on Deadpool’s makeup and design, shared this information with Vulture. He mentioned that they had to adapt to the story deviating from the original source material. When it came to abandoning the iconic red and black suit, Fox made that decision, stating it was too early to debut it. Gillis explained that they were informed at the time that Deadpool would have his own movie following this one, and Ryan Reynolds’ stunt double, Scott Adkins, was scheduled to film the final fight scene without Reynolds on set.

It’s daring to experiment with a character that has a devoted fanbase like Deadpool, as seen in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” However, Gavin Hood, the director of that film, admitted that the modern Deadpool movies, which feature Ryan Reynolds, are superior. He stated to Cinemablend that the character thrives now because he can fully express himself without being limited by PG-13 restrictions and extensive marketing discussions. Indeed, Reynolds’ portrayal of Deadpool has transformed him from a beloved comic book character into a pop culture sensation by staying faithful to the original source material.

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2025-01-17 15:30