The superhero genre has faced a serious decline in recent years, and now it appears superheroes are in need of a revival. Fortunately, two of them are set to turn things around.
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine is slated for a July 26 release, and early box office forecasts suggest it could achieve the largest-ever opening for an R-rated film.
This success is largely attributed to stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who are reprising their roles as the titular characters for the first time since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Despite the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s deep lore, the film promises entertainment for both dedicated fans and newcomers, with its mix of witty dialogue, intense action, and humorous moments.
Here’s a look at the history behind Deadpool and Wolverine.
Initially, neither Deadpool nor Wolverine was particularly popular. Wolverine first appeared in 1974, created by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe, as an antagonist for the Hulk. His costume, designed by John Romita Sr., has undergone remarkable changes since then.
After a brief encounter with the Hulk, Wolverine joined the X-Men in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men Vol. 1 and quickly became a central figure, leading to his own comic series by 1988.
Deadpool was introduced in 1990 by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld as a villain in The New Mutants 98. Though initially a minor character, Deadpool evolved into a major antihero through the contributions of writers like Joe Kelly and Gerry Duggan.
Jackman had already established himself as Wolverine through three X-Men films before leading X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Reynolds, who had campaigned for a Deadpool movie, was cast for a brief role in this prequel, marking the start of his collaboration with Jackman.
Fans were disappointed when Deadpool appeared with altered powers in the film’s climax, leading Reynolds to address this in Deadpool 2 by revisiting and correcting that version of the character in a mid-credits scene.
The reunion of Reynolds and Jackman became a reality when Jackman reversed his retirement decision in 2022, leading to the creation of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Director Shawn Levy revealed that Jackman’s return was a surprising development that seriously impacted the film’s direction. Although Deadpool & Wolverine stands alone in the Marvel universe, familiarity with the Disney+ series Loki could enhance the experience.
The series introduced the Time Variance Authority (TVA), which recruits Deadpool to save his timeline with Wolverine’s assistance. The film revisits elements from Logan, featuring a different version of Wolverine and a new antagonist, Cassandra Nova.
Fans can also look forward to appearances by several actors from previous X-Men films, including Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlysle and Rob Delaney as Peter.
However, Tyler Mane returns as Sabretooth, and Aaron Stanford reprises his role as Pyro after an 18-year hiatus. Dafne Keen also returns as Laura/X-23. Additional cameos are anticipated but will be revealed upon the film’s release.