Kevin Feige says ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is beginning of MCU’s ‘mutant era’
Welcome to the mutant era. During a press conference we attended, Kevin Feige, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman discussed the films that inspired “Deadpool & Wolverine” and how the movie impacts the future of the MCU — plus Jackman reveals what made him change his mind about playing Wolverine again.
By Jacob Goldberg
“Deadpool & Wolverine” has made headlines by smashing R-rated box office records with an explosive $205 million debut, becoming the highest R-rated opening of all time worldwide at $444 million.
Recently, notable figures from the cast and crew gathered for a digital press conference to celebrate the Merc with a Mouth’s massive Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Producer (and Marvel Studios President) Kevin Feige, director Shawn Levy, and stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman shared insights into the film’s intricacies, behind-the-scenes stories, and a few tantalizing spoilers that might get one sent into the void by the TVA — yes, that scene with Dogpool included!
Photo by Noam Galai / Getty Images for Disney
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is ‘remarkable,’ Kevin Feige says
“Deadpool & Wolverine” marks the third installment in the “Deadpool” franchise, Hugh Jackman’s tenth outing as Wolverine, and the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Notably, it represents the first major inclusion of the 21st Century Fox Marvel characters into the “sacred timeline.”
Kevin Feige praised the film’s placement within the MCU and celebrated the camaraderie and friendship between Reynolds and Jackman.
“What Shawn has done with this movie and what Ryan and Hugh have done bringing to the MCU … [they bring] not only everything we know they can do with these characters, but the camaraderie and friendship and love that Shawn harnessed between the two of them, through the script, onto the camera, and onto the screen is remarkable,” Feige said.
Deadpool & Wolverine and Marvel & Fox and Kevin Feige & Shawn Levy
Both Deadpool and Wolverine had previously existed under the 21st Century Fox banner for two decades, only interacting with each other in 2013’s “The Wolverine.” Following Disney’s 2019 purchase of 21st Century Fox assets (and the transition of film studio 20th Century Fox into 20th Century Studios), the limitations between Marvel Studios and Fox-adjacent films were no more.
Photo by Jay Maidment / Marvel Studios / 20th Century Studios
Director Shawn Levy reflected on the unique opportunity to finally unite these iconic characters.
“I think I got really, really lucky because I got to be the first filmmaker to put this duo together onscreen,” Levy noted, emphasizing the MCU’s strength in delivering unexpected experiences. “I think the MCU is always at its best when it is giving us something that we don’t expect. Under this banner, you have the capacity for a ‘[Thor:] Ragnarok’ to sit alongside a ‘Black Panther’ and an ‘Iron Man.’ We had an opportunity collectively to do the first R-rated MCU movie and the first pairing of Deadpool and Wolverine. So, built into this opportunity was the chance to surprise and to do something new and unexpected.”
Kevin Feige: MCU is entering ‘the mutant era’
Kevin Feige also addressed the broader implications of the film’s success for the MCU.
“I think a lot of people talk about the R rating. Is every movie gonna be R-rated after this? Of course not. But I hope every movie after this embraces its tonality the way Deadpool does.” Feige later added, “Also, now that we have the characters from the X-Men world and the mutants that we haven’t had access [to] before, I think this is the beginning of that, and everything post-‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ will be the mutant era coming into the MCU.”
Now that the timeline bridges have merged, the MCU has recently been delivering on these promises, with Robert Downey Jr. announced as returning to the franchise in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” but this time as the villainous Dr. Doom, another pivotal Fox character now in the MCU’s domain under the ever-expanding Disney empire.
Reynolds talks developing an R-rated Marvel movie with Kevin Feige’s approval
Since 2019, speculation about the Disney acquisition’s impact on these characters had been rampant on chat rooms and YouTube channels. Ryan Reynolds shared his reaction to the acquisition, acknowledging the uncertainty over the R-rated mutant’s future under Disney’s corporate moderated banner.
“They understood what this was from the beginning,” Reynolds said. “Kevin always saw it, and there was nothing that felt like it was off limits. We also understand how to not exploit an R-rating or just use it to be jackasses for some reason.” Reynolds shared what the creative pitching process was leading up to the film. “I mean, it wasn’t so much about pitching different ideas, which I did pitch many different ideas, but it was about pitching ideas that both of us genuinely clicked with.”
Why Hugh Jackman changed his mind
Perhaps the most surprising cast member who “clicked with” the idea was Hugh Jackman, who had previously announced 2017’s “Logan” as his final portrayal of Wolverine.
“I watched ‘Deadpool’ one three days after announcing that ‘Logan’ would be my last, and I remember thinking, ‘Oops.’”
Photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Disney
Jackman described the exciting mix of ideas and the unique new spin on the character that ultimately got him into the iconic yellow suit.
“I could feel it. I could see it. It was ‘Midnight Run.’ It was ’48 Hours.’ It was ‘The Odd Couple.’ ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.’ It was all these great sort of matchups that I could feel. We toyed with the idea, but it was [on] August 14, 2022, and I don’t know why, I just knew every cell in my body was yelling at me, ‘I wanna do this movie.’”
Audiences rejoiced alongside Jackman, finally seeing the famous character in the comic-accurate suit.
Jackman acclaimed, “The highlight was putting on that suit, the yellow and blue suit,” later revealing that wearing the costume was discussed from the very beginning of the franchise back in 1999. Recalling that time period, he said, “There were studio execs in charge who knew that ‘The Matrix’ had been a big hit. And ‘The Matrix’ had black leather, so let’s put them in black leather.” Jackman recalls the sensation of being seen in the costume for the first time. “There was just a hush and you could feel that everyone was like, going, ‘Oh, okay.’ This is a moment that should’ve happened 24 years ago.”
Peggy the dog as Dogpool
Now enough of the Wolverine, and let’s talk about the real MCU inclusion audiences are clamoring to learn more about: Peggy the Dog as Dogpool. Reynolds laughed when asked who Peggy would say is her favorite person on set.
“I think Peggy quite liked me or salmon paste.”
Photo by Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for Disney
Reynolds later gave the full Hollywood scoop about that famous tongue kiss shared with the mutant-pooch.
“Well, there is a sequence in the film where Peggy and I, well, she explores my mouth using only her leathery, leathery tongue, which honestly looks like a Slim Jim commercial.” There was no Marvel VFX used here. Reynolds proclaimed that the tongue was indeed “the real thing.”
The magic of the movies
Finally, the actors at the conference echoed Kevin Feige and Shawn Levy’s sentiments in discussing why experiencing the film in movie theaters is essential.
“Collective effervescence is basically when you get to experience a kind of elation that can only happen in a group or a shared experience,” Reynolds explained.
Jackman added, “I think also, the movie is funny, it’s huge action, it’s massive, it’s all those things you want. But it’s also about friendship, and I think going to a cinema, whether it’s [with] a friend or just someone close to you, I know it’s gonna be an experience that you’re gonna want to enjoy with others.”
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is now playing in theaters.
More “Deadpool & Wolverine” stories on Attractions Magazine:
During the opening weekend of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Kevin Feige teased more about the future of the MCU at Comic-Con. Check out our recap of Marvel announcements you may have missed.
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