Summary
- Deadpool & Wolverine
unites iconic characters from past films, setting the stage for a potential Exiles team in the MCU. - The Exiles are a diverse group drawn from different Marvel realities, perfect for a multiversal team-up in the MCU.
- The Exiles concept offers Marvel Studios a chance to explore untapped corners of the multiverse and revive past Marvel movie universes.
As a long-time Marvel enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the cinematic universe since its inception, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of an Exiles series on Disney+. With my years of binge-watching and moviegoing experiences, I can confidently say that this concept would be a game-changer for Marvel Studios.
This article contains major spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine
The film starring Deadpool and Wolverine has been a blockbuster success, garnering praise from both fans and critics. Contrary to what many might think, the main selling point of Deadpool and Wolverine was not their entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe; instead, the movie depicts them safeguarding the 20th Century Fox X-Men timeline and opting to stay in that universe. The film stands independently, with viewers unlikely to see Deadpool again until future films like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, which may feature a multiversal team-up.
Deadpool and Wolverine have resurrected characters from previous movies outside the MCU, such as Elektra (played by Jennifer Garner), Blade (Wesley Snipes), and Laura/X-23 (Dafne Keen). They also provided Channing Tatum an opportunity to play Gambit after a long delay in his solo film’s development. Although we know Laura has re-entered the main X-Men universe of Earth 10005, the future of Elektra, Blade, and Gambit remains uncertain, with speculation they’ve been sent back to their own universes. With Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga encompassing numerous destroyed realities leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars, there could be a new franchise in development that connects these heroes from different worlds, possibly inspired by the lesser-known Marvel Comic series called The Exiles.
Who Are The Exiles in Marvel Comics?
The Exiles were brought to life by writer Judd Winick and artist Mike McKone, first appearing in their self-titled comic series, “Exiles #1,” released in August 2001. This team is made up of characters hailing from diverse universes and realities within the Marvel Comics universe. They are taken out of their respective timelines to rectify issues in various alternate realities and deviant timelines across the Marvel multiverse. The team’s lineup changes whenever a member perishes or returns to their original dimension. Notable members include Nocture, the daughter of Nightcrawler and Scarlet Witch from another reality, Spider-Man 2099, as well as future Kang variant Iron Lad.
The team featured a variety of X-Men characters from alternate realities, such as Morph, Blink, and Beak, making the comic frequently linked to the X-Men. In contrast, during the 2000s, Marvel Comics primarily concentrated on a unified universe with realistic event comics like “Civil War,” “World War Hulk,” and “Secret Invasion.” The series, “Exiles,” offered Marvel an opportunity to explore not only unique alternate universe characters but also revive storylines from defunct series that were no longer being published by Marvel, such as “Marvel 2099,” “Age of Apocalypse,” “New Universe,” and the “Squadron Supreme.”
The star player on our team ran for 100 installments from 2001 to 2007. Despite Marvel attempting to revive this idea several times, it failed to gain traction. However, the notion of a group of heroes from various realities within the Marvel multiverse joining forces to rectify timeline issues and threats is ideal for the Multiverse Saga. Plus, Deadpool and Wolverine could have crafted an exceptional version of this team.
The Potential Exiles in the MCU
In a creative twist for introducing the Exiles into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Deadpool and Wolverine could be tasked by the TVA’s Hunter B-15 to deal with multiverse anomalies. This could potentially involve Jennifer Garner reprising her role as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and Channing Tatum as Gambit. Given that the Exiles in the comics are often linked to an X-Men team, it seems fitting to debut them in a film like Deadpool & Wolverine, which is connected to the X-Men universe.
As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but imagine expanding my in-game roster with characters like Sylvie from Loki. With her variant of Loki having vanished at the end of the Disney+ series, she’s left in limbo regarding her next move following Loki’s selfless act to safeguard the sacred timeline. Given her past connections to Loki and her shared interest in the multiverse, it seems fitting for her to join a group of heroes committed to preserving the very same multiverse that Loki once sought to destroy.
Marvel might ponder over incorporating Spider-Man, either portrayed by Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield in earlier films. Although fans may yearn for their comeback, having two similar characters in the team could seem repetitive. However, integrating Spider-Man is a debatable point because it would necessitate a collaboration with Sony Pictures to feature Tobey Maguire’s or Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, which might not be feasible. Nonetheless, they would certainly fit well within this multidimensional team.
In another exciting twist, they might incorporate characters from the earlier Fantastic Four movie series into the fun. Since Chris Evans has returned to his role as The Human Torch, it would be great to have a cast member from those films in the team. Jessica Alba has shown interest in reprising her role as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman. To make things more intriguing, the creators could draw inspiration from the Ultimate Universe comics, where Susan Storm becomes Kang the Conqueror. This would provide Alba an opportunity to portray a Kang-inspired version of The Invisible Woman and potentially wrap up the Kang storyline that Marvel Studios appears to be phasing out. Additionally, both Jamie Bell and Kate Mara have hinted at reappearing in future Fantastic Four installments, much like Garner, Snipes, and Tatum were brought back after their initial appearances.
In the possible scenarios of “What If…?”, various alternate universe versions of our Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) heroes might step into the limelight for live-action appearances. For instance, Season 2 concluded with Captain Carter accepting The Watcher’s invitation to journey through multiple realities, and since Hayley Atwell has previously played a Captain Carter variant in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, it seems plausible that she would be open to reprising her role. Additionally, Kahhori, a beloved new character voiced by Devery Jacobs who debuted in “What If…?”, could potentially transition from animation to live-action.
The MCU Needs the Exiles Team
Marvel Studios is well into their Multiverse Saga, yet it seems they’ve only just begun to explore the vastness of this concept. Although some humor has been made in Deadpool & Wolverine about multiverse fatigue, it’s worth mentioning that three of their highest-grossing films – Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and now Deadpool & Wolverine – all delve into the multiverse. Loki, among Marvel’s Disney+ series, has been the most watched. It seems there are countless realms within the multiverse that Marvel has yet to touch upon. A team like the Exiles could serve as an ideal platform for setting up Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 or even bridging the gap between that film and its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.
Instead of concluding that a high-budget film is the ideal choice for this narrative, opting for a Disney+ series could be more suitable. Each episode would allow the Exiles to explore distinct parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe multiverse, providing a TV format that many Disney+ series have been missing, typically appearing as extended movies rather than self-contained episodes. Moreover, the Exiles can act as a sequel series to Loki, similar to how Agatha All Along followed WandaVision, while also serving as a loose follow-up to Deadpool & Wolverine.
As a longtime Marvel fan who grew up watching the original movies, I find it incredibly exciting that Marvel Studios is embracing the nostalgia factor by bringing back characters from pre-MCU films. For instance, seeing Jennifer Garner return as Elektra is a dream come true for many of us who fondly remember her performances in the early Marvel films. Despite the fact that those movies weren’t always well received critically, they hold a special place in our hearts and minds.
To put it simply, the upcoming Marvel Studios projects offer an opportunity to delve deeply into the Multiverse, a point that was somewhat missed in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”. One possible solution could be an “Exiles” series, which would enable viewers to reconnect with past Marvel movie universes and let Marvel Studios explore various creative concepts. Imagine visiting a universe reminiscent of the original 1960s Avengers era, populated by new actors portraying the classic hero roles. Or perhaps, a universe featuring Frankenstein as the Punisher and Captain America transformed into a werewolf. The potential scenarios are vast, and “Exiles”, building on the foundation laid by “Deadpool & Wolverine”, seems like just what the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs at this moment. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is currently running in cinemas near you.
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2024-08-03 22:32