EntertainmentMoviesSuperhero MoviesDeadpool 3After that Deadpool 3 trailer, I’m convinced that Deadpool and Wolverine will save the MCUWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesSuperhero MoviesDeadpool 3After that Deadpool 3 trailer, I’m convinced that Deadpool and Wolverine will save the MCUWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Marvel)
The adamantium claws are out for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and although we once feared Wade Wilson might never get to join the spandex-clad ranks of the Avengers, Shawn Levy’sDeadpool 3(now officially titled Deadpool & Wolverine) is ushering in a new era. The Stranger Things executive producer follows in the footsteps of previous Deadpool directors Tim Miller and David Leitch, but with the hopes of the MCU resting on his shoulders, the stakes are higher than ever.
While the MCU once looked like an unstoppable juggernaut that we’d never grow tired of, accusations of quantity over quality mean 2023 was a particularly rough year for the franchise. With Ryan Reynolds’ smart-talking antihero telling us, “Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever,” and a little help from a returning Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, the firstDeadpool & Wolverine trailerhas thankfully backed up the idea that this dynamic duo can ‘save’ the MCU.
Growing pains
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
X-Men: First Classdirector Matthew Vaughn recently told theBroBiblepodcast that from the snippets he knows, Deadpool & Wolverine is going to bring the MCU back to life, adding, “I think Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are about to save the whole Marvel universe.” Levy and co. seemingly know this, and alongside promises to change our “little” cinematic universe, the not-so-subtle jibe where Deadpool refers to himself as “Marvel Jesus” is a wink to the audience while keeping Deadpool’s smarmy self-reverence. Given that the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer broke records as the most-viewed trailer onYouTubein just 24 hours, early signs are positive that he really can be the Marvel messiah.
While far from having flatlined, the MCU could do with some saving right now. The franchise is in a state of flux, with 2023’sAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniaearning the franchise’s first Razzie nomination(s) andThe Marvels setting a new box office low. Couple that withSecret Invasion’s critical panning, and it’s easy to forgetMarvel Phase 5highs likeLoki season 2andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Even the best of these are guilty of teases that could take years to pull off, but after many nods to mutants and the potential of the multiverse, Deadpool & Wolverine’s ability to integrate the X-Men (in whatever form) feels like the ultimate payoff.
The X-Men are up there with the Fantastic Four as one of Marvel’s biggest brands, and withDisneyCEO Bob Iger saying the studio “is starting to focus on some of its stronger franchises,” it all fits with MCU overlord Kevin Feige’s previous promises offewer new projects. Deadpool & Wolverine might be Disney’s only theatrical MCU release in 2024, but being an established name that leans on the already beloved IP of Loki is a double box tick.
Speaking of “stronger franchises,” it feels like a true continuation of Fox’s X-Men movies. As the cherry on top, Jackman promising Deadpool & Wolverine won’t mess with Wolverine’s emotional swansong in James Mangold’sLogangives fans the best of both worlds. Deadpool and Wolverine won’t be saving the MCU alone, and alongside a who’s who of Deadpool staples, the surprise return of Aaron Stanford’s Pyro suggests we’ve only scratched the surface of familiar faces suiting up.
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‘R’ you ready?
(Image credit: Marvel)
Even though an R-rating is a gamble compared to the broader appeal of something likeAvengers: Endgame’s PG-13 rating, Deadpool earning $782.2 million at the box office and Deadpool 2 beating it with $785.8 million places the pair as the third and fourth highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time. History has taught us that a third Deadpool movie was likely to be a hit even without Disney, however, making him part of the 616 timeline, throwing in the return of Wolverine, and sprinkling in some legacy cameos means Deadpool & Wolverine stands a chance of knockingJokerand its $1.079 billion from the top spot.
It would be unfair to hinge the fate of the MCU on Deadpool & Wolverine, because, let’s be honest, the franchise’s problems run much deeper. Marvel outings are increasingly divisive, and with theJonathan Majors situationleaving us worried for the next big team-up in what was supposed to beAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, Deadpool & Wolverine can set the stage with all this crossover chaos. Either way, a six-year wait and a decline in MCU quality have only made us more ravenous to see what the Merc with a Mouth can do with the world’s highest-grossing franchise. If nothing else, seeingSuccession’s Matthew Macfadyenas another corporate shill is enough to have us there on day one.
For more on Marvel, here’s you guide tohow to watch the Marvel movies in orderand all of theupcoming Marvel movies and showswe know about.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”