As a die-hard fan of the Merc with a Mouth, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment that we haven’t seen some of Deadpool’s most intriguing variants grace the silver screen in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Among them is our protagonist from the future, a matured and battle-weary Wade Wilson who’s seen more than his fair share of senseless death and betrayal. Unlike his comic relief counterparts, this Wade seems too exhausted to joke around, opting instead for peace talks between the X-Men and the Brotherhood.
Contains spoilers for “Deadpool & Wolverine”
In a delightful treat for fans of Wade Wilson, the duo of Deadpool and Wolverine provided almost everything they could dream of – an array of Deadpool versions ranging from endearing Dogpool to dashing Cowboy Deadpool portrayed by a top-tier actor. (And let’s not forget the amusing Wolverine variants that somehow came to life as well.) Despite the plethora of elements Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds included in this blockbuster tribute to the Fox era of superhero flicks, there were still a few notable absences for those who have been fans of Deadpool since before his debut in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
Although the movie included multiple Deadpool variants from the Deadpool Corps, many significant versions of the character were not included. Some of these omitted characters are thought to have laid the groundwork for Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of Deadpool in the red suit. However, some of the characters that didn’t make it might have been challenging to bring to life-action given their origins in animated series and video games from recent years. Nevertheless, if a movie like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” could introduce Donald Glover’s Prowler into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s possible that Deadpool and Wolverine could have incorporated more characters with a similar backstory.
Ultimate Deadpool (Ultimate Spider-Man)
Let’s get started by venturing unexpectedly into the realm of children’s cartoon television, where we come across one of the earliest and exceptional representations of Wade Wilson. This portrayal predates the “Deadpool” test footage leak by more than a year, and it can be found in the Disney XD series called “Ultimate Spider-Man,” which was popular during the early 2010s. In this show, we follow Peter Parker (portrayed by Drake Bell) as he learns from Nick Fury (Chi McBride) and a group of young heroes, training to combat villains from his typical rogues gallery, as well as other potential threats.
In a 2013 episode named “Ultimate Deadpool”, Spider-Man comes across Wade Wilson while attempting to retrieve a purloined SHIELD database that contained secret identities, including his own (it’s eventually disclosed that Wade was the thief, intending to peddle it in the black market until Taskmaster interfered). Notably, Will Friedle provided Deadpool’s voice in this portrayal. To comic book enthusiasts, Friedle is recognized as the long-standing voice actor for Terry McGinnis on “Batman Beyond”.
Despite being tailored towards a youthful demographic, the series skillfully managed to depict Deadpool authentically and appropriately, minus the explicit violence and vulgar language. It delved into his penchant for eliminating enemies, making it a key point of tension between him and Spider-Man. Moreover, it allowed Deadpool to frequently break the fourth wall, just as the character is known to do. The actor, Friedle, proved to be an ideal fit for the role, and it would’ve been entertaining to hear him voice one of the many generic Deadpools in the climax.
Pandapool
While not all Deadpool characters are portrayed by costly TV voice actors, some of the most memorable iterations of Wade Wilson originate from his comic book stories. One notable example is the 2013 Cullen Bunn miniseries titled “Deadpool Kills Deadpool.” This series, stemming from Bunn’s “Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe” and its sequel “Deadpool: Killustrated,” presents a multiversal narrative. This tale appears to have influenced certain aspects of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” such as the concept of an external multiversal force marking Wade for elimination, as well as a subplot involving numerous villainous Deadpool versions targeting him. Early on-set photographs even sparked fan theories suggesting that this comic series could serve as the blueprint for the movie’s storyline.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire the unique addition of Pandapool in this series, who stands out as a colossal panda donning a Deadpool suit, albeit sharing the same abilities as the broader Deadpool Corps. However, it’s not hard to imagine why this visually striking character might have been left out, given the challenges that come with accurately depicting them in live-action. With an already overflowing amount of CGI, incorporating a photorealistic panda could have been asking too much, especially considering the high costs and complexities involved in such a task.
Deadstroke (Antimatter Deathstroke)
As a devoted fan, I’ve often pondered about the intriguing notion that Deadpool might be somehow linked to Deathstroke from DC Comics, either as a tribute or a satirical take. This idea, whether it’s a misconception, an urban legend, or a comic book theory straight out of a superhero comic, has been widely circulated among us enthusiasts and is frequently accepted as genuine lore. Even the creator, Rob Liefeld, has felt compelled to debunk this theory, revealing that the true comic book muse for Deadpool was actually a character from “G.I. Joe”.
The similarities between Deadpool and Deathstroke have been humorously addressed, starting with Deadpool’s co-creator, Fabian Nicieza, naming Wade Wilson as a tribute to Slade Wilson. More recently, DC has joined in the fun by creating their own Deadpool equivalent – Deathstroke from the Antimatter Universe, often referred to as “Deadstroke.” This character dons an orange, blue, and black suit similar to Deadpool’s, shares his remarkable healing ability, and, predictably, possesses a juvenile sense of humor. In a notable encounter in “Batman/Superman” Annual #1 (written by “Deadpool” writer Joe Kelly) from 2006, Deathstroke and Deadstroke crossed paths, with Deathstroke on a mission to eliminate Bruce Wayne.
Rewearing the costumes of “Deadpool” and “Wolverine” in orange and blue might have caused Marvel’s legal team some hesitation. However, “Invincible” Season 2 successfully incorporated a character resembling “Spider-Man” – maybe Marvel Studios could have pulled off something similar, as suggested by Kevin Feige and James Gunn.
Hello Kittypool
Discussing the Deadpool versions that would push the boundaries of parody laws and necessitate imaginative solutions from the production team, one unique Deadpool portrayed in the “Deadpool Kills” series appears to be a fusion with the renowned Japanese character Hello Kitty. Debuted in 1974, she has graced screens through film, television, video games, comics, and an array of merchandise, making her one of the most recognizable fictional characters ever created. To put it another way, when a figure resembling her dons a Deadpool suit in a comic strip, the resemblance is more apparent than that between Deadpool and Deathstroke.
In essence, the Deadpool character in the comics, much like a hidden reference or nod (Easter egg), doesn’t play a significant role in the storyline and rarely speaks. This is likely due to the fact that depicting anything more than a basic likeness of Hello Kitty could have posed legal challenges, given the copyright implications. For a blockbuster movie like “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which aims to be one of the most-watched films of the year, these complications would only increase. Therefore, the idea of introducing Hello Kittypool might have been quickly dismissed as too difficult to execute without unnecessary complexities.
Donald Glover’s Deadpool (Deadpool: The Animated Series)
Among the Deadpool versions on this list, many might have been disqualified from “Deadpool & Wolverine” due to financial, practical, or legal issues. However, one combines all these complications into an enormous problem. Additionally, it would have brought a considerable amount of emotional distress along with it as well.
In the years 2016 and 2017, it appeared that everything was falling into place for an extraordinary and predictable outcome: a “Deadpool” animated series penned and produced by Donald and Stephen Glover on FX. The film had successfully brought the character into mainstream popularity, and Donald Glover already enjoyed a strong connection with Marvel through his roles in several “Spider-Man” productions. This was also the time when Marvel was creating high-quality television series like “Legion,” which coincidentally aired around the same time as the Glovers were winning Emmys for “Atlanta” under FX’s management. When a sample animation clip emerged shortly after the announcement of the “Deadpool” series, everyone was thrilled, including Ryan Reynolds. It seemed that this show would be both creatively and financially powerful — but then it didn’t happen as planned.
2018 saw the project’s abandonment due to unclear artistic disagreements, which appeared to deeply sadden The Glovers. Donald Glover then wrote and released a hypothetical script titled “Finale”, in which Deadpool contemplates the reasons behind the show’s cancellation while pondering whether to save or kill Sudan the rhino. This thought-provoking, melancholic story leaves one questioning if the pain would have faded enough for a reappearance.
Birdpool
In the movie “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Logan and Wade initially become aware of the Deadpool Corps during their journey through a mysterious realm called The Void. A friendly, yet bothersome version of Deadpool named Nicepool, portrayed by an unveiled Ryan Reynolds, informs them about this wandering group of violent psychopaths. He strongly advises them to stay clear of these individuals at all costs. However, despite their best efforts, they eventually encounter the Deadpool Corps, making for a significant scene in the film that heightens the sense of peril within The Void even further than what viewers have previously witnessed — and it’s another instance that echoes Cullen Bunn’s “Deadpool Kills” comic series.
In Bunn’s narrative, there’s a part where Deadpool receives a warning about a gang of Deadpools who might attempt to eliminate him if given the opportunity. This caution is conveyed by Birdpool, a yellow bird who turns out to be a member of the Wicked Deadpool Squad. It’s possible that during production, they considered using other unused animal Deadpool versions, but this could have overshadowed Dogpool slightly. Additionally, it would have necessitated an explanation as to whether Dogpool is merely dressed as Deadpool or a genuine Deadpool variant, which the movie didn’t seem interested in exploring.
President Deadpool
Although Deadpool President might not have been influential enough in comics to catch Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds’ attention for the film “Deadpool & Wolverine”, we strongly believe he deserves our vote as President Deadpool. Similar to other versions of Deadpool, this character first appeared formally in Cullen Bunn’s “Deadpool Kills” series across various universes. His presidential attire makes him easily recognizable and could have made an ideal, straightforward costume for the movie adaptation of “Deadpool & Wolverine”.
To put it simply, there are two main factors that could explain why President Deadpool didn’t progress in the selection process. Firstly, the idea of a president might have caused creative unease among those involved because the film came out during a particularly divisive election period in American history. Secondly, and this might be the most significant reason, President Deadpool could have been perceived as a repetition of President Loki, another character from The Void who was portrayed by Tom Hiddleston in “Loki.” While President Loki had his own comic series (“Vote Loki” in 2016), President Deadpool was primarily a variant cover for the “Dead Presidents” storyline.
X-Men Origins: Deadpool
Why limit Ryan Reynolds’ roles in “Deadpool & Wolverine” to just two characters? Introducing a third character could make the film even more exciting! And what better way for the movie to commemorate its uniqueness than by acknowledging the twisted, melted-mouth version of Wade Wilson from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” In the 2009 film, Reynolds first portrayed Wade under less ideal circumstances due to the studio significantly modifying the character, which was met with criticism by fans. Had Fox not changed their approach, Deadpool would have been a sort of zombie with peculiar tattoos, laser vision, teleportation abilities, and swords protruding from his hands.
In simpler terms, introducing this unusual mix of powers for this Deadpool character, given his background in the “Deadpool” stories, could have made him one of the most intriguing villains in the film. He might even have filled the role usually held by characters like Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin’s character) or Paradox (Matthew MacFadyen’s character). However, adding him as a main antagonist would likely have meant losing either Corrin or MacFadyen from the cast. Additionally, Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, might not have agreed to bring back this specific Deadpool version because he technically killed him off at the end of “Deadpool 2.”
In a series of time-traveling escapades, the authentic Deadpool journeys back to the occurrences of “X-Men Origins” and eliminates that Deadpool prior to his fight with Wolverine. To put it mildly, resuscitating him could have felt monotonous.
Future Brotherhood Deadpool
Let’s clarify that Wade Wilson is not Warda Wilson from Deadpool 2099 who appears in the third movie. Instead, this Wade Wilson comes from a future where the X-Men have been annihilated by the Original 5 X-Men, a group of time-displaced mutants, during a period when younger versions of characters like Beast, Jean Grey, and Iceman were present in the Marvel Universe (in the comics, these characters were known as the “All-New X-Men”).
I’m a fan who can’t help but share my thoughts on the captivating tale unfolding in comics. In the thrilling “Battle of the Atom” saga, an intriguing twist occurs when characters like Wade (Deadpool) and others from future X-Men and Brotherhood groups travel back to the past. This confronts a longstanding issue about five time travelers lingering outside their original timeline for extended periods.
Venompool
Among all the “Deadpool Kills Deadpool” spin-offs presented here, Venompool stands out as the most beloved character. Debuting in a miniseries as part of the Deadpool Corps, he later joined the cast of the popular mobile game “Contest of Champions,” where characters are pitted against each other for the entertainment of the Grandmaster and the Collector. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Legends unveiled plans to produce a Venompool action figure along with merchandise inspired by the crossover between Deadpool and Wolverine. However, it’s puzzling why this promising crossover didn’t make its way to the big screen.
No Way Home” (a joint production by Sony and Marvel) and was momentarily introduced in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” it remains uncertain if Marvel requires Sony’s permission to introduce a character like Venompool, or if either party is interested in combining their brands at this time. Since “Venom: The Last Dance” is upcoming, it could have been enjoyable (yet costly in terms of CGI) to incorporate Venompool in some small manner within “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Nolan North — Deadpool
As a die-hard fan, I’d like to put forth an idea: Much like how Kevin Conroy embodied Batman for countless fans throughout their childhood, Nolan North has become synonymous with Deadpool. Known primarily for his role as Nathan Drake in the “Uncharted” series, North has voiced Deadpool more times than any other actor, even surpassing Ryan Reynolds in this regard. His voice can be heard in various TV shows, movies, and video games, making him a consistent presence in the Deadpool universe for fans like myself. Just as Conroy’s voice is the one that resonates with Batman for many of us, North’s voice has become the constant, iconic sound of Deadpool.
In a standout role, Ryan Reynolds portrayed Deadpool in the 2013 “Deadpool” video game, an innovative project that subtly pushed boundaries and was one of the most significant Deadpool-related ventures at its release. The game played a significant part in making the character popular. As for voice actors, Reynolds is likely among the costliest, but it would have been worth the investment to listen to him bring the many versions of “Deadpool & Wolverine” to life.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-04 09:01