Way back in 2022, when Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman announced that the next Deadpool movie would feature Jackman’s surprise return to the role of Wolverine, they knew this movie had to have something major going for it. Something new, to mark the fact that Deadpool is officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe now. “His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel special,” Reynolds said, in one of the best superhero movie promo spots ever recorded.
What “special” means to Deadpool might be different than what “special” means to anyone else in the tight-pants superhero universe. Wade Wilson, after all, has somewhat broader horizons than his peers. When a bunch of guys in serious uniforms and fancy, familiar-looking glow-sticks show up at his door, interrupting Wade’s birthday, he stops them: “Pegging isn’t new for me, friendo. But it is for Disney.”
Special? Maybe. At the very least, it lets us know right off the bat that Deadpool can’t be tamed.
There is some other special stuff going on. Matthew Macfadyen, as TVA agent Paradox, offers Wade the chance “to be a hero among heroes,” and it’s moderately clear what he means given that he is showing Wade footage from various MCU films as he speaks. Our old friend Pyro (Aaron Stanford), from X2, shows up briefly. The 20th Century Fox logo is a big stone relic in the desert. Goodbye, old studio; hello, X-Men?
And yes, obviously, Wolverine (Jackman) is here, though we only really get a look at his iconic hair—and one quick glimpse of that equally iconic yellow suit as he seems to pounce on Wade with the intention of doing some stabbing. Things may not be as they seem, but then again … things may.
Deadpool and Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy. Levy also directs. Along with Jackman, Reynolds, and Macfadyen, the film stars Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, and Karan Soni. This list makes me sad because Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) isn’t on it, but then, neither is Aaron Stanford or anyone from the MCU, so it’s probably not exactly complete.
Deadpool and Wolverine is in theaters July 26th.
