Deadpool: Will the MCU’s future include the Merc with a Mouth?
During SDCC, Marvel announced an array of films and shows in Phase 4 and beyond, but there’s still no sign of Deadpool in the MCU. So what’s the deal?
Sometimes, we marvel at how ambiguous our comic media appetite is. We’re very much whelmed when it comes to Marvel’s upcoming film and TV projects. After today’s Marvel-related pull, House of X, Fearless, and Valkyrie: Jane Foster have all quenched our comic book cravings. There’s still one thing missing from our comicy diets, however. Okay, there are a lot of somethings missing from our comic diets. (Uh, hello, saving Swamp Thing would cure our scurvy, but this isn’t a DCU-themed article.) We’re missing Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so let’s discuss.
Marvel’s lack of Merc mentions at SDCC this year makes us feel confused, conflicted, and a little hurt. However, there is some vaguely good and bad news to go on. One, Kevin Feige has full reigns of Deadpool. Two, Marvel allegedly hasn’t yet reached out to Deadpool director David Leitch regarding a third Deadpool movie. Thus, Deadpool is just on hiatus in the ambiguous grey area of the recent FOX acquisition, so you shouldn’t prematurely cry or party (if you’re a Wade Wilson hater, for whatever reason) about this not-exactly-news-news.
According to Comicbook.com, Marvel Studios officially now has creative jurisdiction over Deadpool and the entire onslaught of X-Men characters. The on-screen of Wade’s future rests in Feige’s hands. However, none of the MCU-related SDCC interviews included any hints of Wade’s immediate future in the MCU.
In addition to Leitch’s interview with Uproxx, it’s understandable that some fans are worried about whether the MCU will include the Merc after Endgame. After all, Deadpool isn’t on the Phase 4 roster and Leitch did note that Marvel has yet to reach out (even though he’s eager to make another installment of Deadpool). However, that doesn’t mean the MCU will keep Deadpool completely under wraps until they can figure out how to adapt the character in a PG-13-rated movie… or at least we hope not.
Though Wade doesn’t require the X-Men to exist, mutants haven’t been introduced in the MCU yet, for obvious reason. And since the X-Men won’t appear until Phase 5, Wade just might have to wait to make his debut in the MCU. Given the challenge of reforming the X-related stories, Marvel Studios could choose to integrate the X-Force that was previously established in Deadpool 2. With Wade’s narrative flexibility and his proximity to so many characters and teams, it almost seems inevitable that he would appear in the MCU. Just post-Phase 4.
Plus, with the multiverse-option sitting in plan view, Phase 4 could introduce more references to the concept in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The MCU could use the multiverse failsafe to introduce the Merc, who is by no means a stranger to appearing across it in his multitudes of comic series and cameos.
We can assume Phase 4 will act as a transitional period in the MCU to build up context behind and between impending properties and characters. The Infinity Saga took three phases to complete its arc. Naturally, Marvel needs some time to integrate mutants into its universe, including but not limited to Deadpool.
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On the plus side, at least the MCU is moving forward with mutants. Other properties of the merger are still awaiting any form of namedropping. That’s something, right?