A grand new chapter is unfolding in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe as Deadpool and Wolverine, two of Marvel’s most legendary heroes, finally join the fray. Why is this crossover happening now, and why these two? Dive into the details with comic book aficionado Yagyu Genjuro, the host of the talk show “Shabenjazu.”
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Multiverse vs. Deadpool
The whole world has been waiting to see the new ‘Deadpool’ movie on screen for the first time in six years, since 2018. On March 20, 2019, 20th Century FOX was acquired by Disney, completely closing the gate leading to the world of the X-Men, but opening another door. This is all part of the “Multiverse Saga,” the ongoing theme of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The multiverse is a multiverse, or parallel universe, a concept in which the same beings, or identical individuals with different characteristics, exist in many different worlds. Using this concept, it is possible for a character who has lost his or her life in one world to be resurrected from another world, and there has been much discussion among fans about the possibility that “anything is possible.
However, there are characters in the Marvel Universe who can make the most of this “anything goes. That character is the protagonist of this film, Wade Wilson, code name Deadpool. Why is he able to take advantage of “anything goes”? The reason lies in his deviant abilities.
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Deadpool Fans Love the Meta Abilities
Deadpool’s ability is a healing ability called the Healing Factor. He is able to regenerate himself even if his heart is pierced by a bullet or blade, his head is cut off, or his entire body is shattered by an explosion, as long as even a drop of blood or a single cell remains. There is a lot of drama involved in gaining this ability, which can be seen in the first ‘Deadpool’ movie.
This healing ability causes Deadpool to become a whole-body cancer cell person, in which the terminal cancer cells he originally suffered from are repeatedly healed and regenerated, and the pain causes him to fall into madness. However, his insanity gives Deadpool cognitive abilities beyond human understanding, and he is able to recognize himself as a character in a comic book or movie. This has led him to exhibit a transcendent meta-ability (also known as the “fourth wall,” which in theatrical terms means the audience) to speak to the reader or viewer.
Fans who love Deadpool love this meta-ability. Because the main character in the comics and movies speaks to them and makes them laugh with real-world culture and entertainment gossip. And it is the concept of the multiverse, mentioned earlier, that allows us to use this “anything goes” meta-ability without ruining our worldview, but rather maximizing it. More than 90% of the fans who are looking forward to “Deadpool & Wolverine” are probably expecting this “anything goes”. Even if a dead character comes back to life, or if a character is censored from one world to another, Deadpool is the one and only character who can make it inevitable that he is Deadpool.
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Unleashing Mayhem with Wolverine
In ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ the “anything goes” Deadpool goes on an adventure with Wolverine, the creator of his own healing powers.
Wolverine has starred in numerous Marvel Comics series as a lead character, and has been the central figure in the ‘X-MEN’ film franchise, appearing in the first three films as well as in ‘X-MEN: Days of Future Past.’ The character’s popularity led to three standalone films: ‘Wolverine: X-MEN ORIGINS,’ ‘The Wolverine,’ and ‘Logan.’ Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine made him a global star and solidified the character’s iconic status. Despite his fame, are you familiar with the grim origin story of Wolverine in the comics?
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Wolverine’s Harrowing Origin Story
Wolverine was born in the 18th century to a noble family, the Howletts, and was named James. Although sickly, he was loved by his father and lived happily with Rose, an apprentice maid. However, his happiness was suddenly taken away from him.
Logan, a gardener who was expelled from the house after killing James’s beloved dog out of envy of his wealth, enters the house with a hunting rifle and shoots and kills his father in front of James’s eyes out of resentment. James, trying to protect his mother from Logan’s murderous act, jumps on Logan, and at that moment, six claws appear from James’ fist, and Logan is pierced by the claws and dies. Furthermore, his mother, who had been in love with Logan in secret, kills herself with his hunting rifle after Logan. It is then revealed that James was the child of his mother and Logan the gardener. Traumatized by the trauma, James loses his memory and does not know his own name, but is taught only the name “Logan” by Rose, a girl who is an apprentice maid. He later joined the army and became an immortal mercenary who fought in the American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, but by this time he had also lost Rose in an accident.
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James Logan Wolverine
James participated in the tenth Weapon X program, the Weapon Plus program that created Captain America, and was a member of the secret team Team X. By this time, James had taken the name Wolverine and joined Department K in Canada. He was on various missions with Richard and Mary Parker, parents of Nick Fury and future Spider-Man Peter Parker and CIA agents, and Carol Danvers (later Captain Marvel) before she gained superpowers, when one day, while returning from a While returning from a mission, he was kidnapped by Weapon X and had adamantium, an alloy of steel and vibranium, implanted in his skeleton.
Thus, Wolverine gained an indestructible skeleton in addition to his healing abilities. Wolverine has met and fought with Deadpool many times in battle, but no matter how hard he fights, he never dies, and the two are inseparable due to their connection to the Weapon X Project and Department K (where Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, has undergone healing factor implantation experiments). The two are inseparable.
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The Long-Awaited Reunion Awaited Worldwide
Wolverine and Deadpool are not only the donor and recipient of the Healing Factor, but also former mercenaries, former Team X, former Department K, and both from Canada, a number of similarities that strongly tie the two characters together. On top of that, the aforementioned film “Wolverine: X-Men Zero” further strengthens and thickens the connection in the original story.
In the story of this film, Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, is on Team X with Wolverine, unlike in the original film. After Wolverine leaves the team, the two meet again at Alkali Lake, the home of the Weapon X project. Wade’s mouth is stitched shut, and Wolverine says to him, “You finally shut up. The climax of the film is a fight between Wade and Wolverine, who is now code-named “Weapon XI (not called Deadpool here).
However, Ryan Reynolds, who is a big comic book fan and played Deadpool, said, “That wasn’t Deadpool. I want to show the fans the Deadpool they want! He became a producer himself, gathered funds, actors, and staff, and seven years later, the first “Deadpool” movie was released. And the movie’s several meta stories that teased Wolverine, the signature of the X-Men Universe, led fans to wish for a reunion between the two. Incidentally, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have a deep friendship in real life (search recommended for dorky sweater).
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Get Ready for an Unbelievable “Anything Goes” Adventure
Two years later, ‘Deadpool 2’ opened with a nod to ‘Logan,’ and in the post-credits scene, the characters had their second indirect encounter. But for fans who knew the depth of the Deadpool-Wolverine relationship, mere fan service was never going to be enough. When 20th Century Fox was acquired by Disney, it seemed like the reunion of Deadpool and Wolverine might be impossible. However, on September 28, 2022, Ryan Reynolds casually announced on YouTube, “I’ve got no ideas for a sequel. Hugh, wanna play Wolverine again?” to which Hugh Jackman responded, “Sure,” sending social media into a frenzy.
Nearly two years later, the trailer was finally released with the words ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ in the title. The screams of joy from fans at that time must have shaken the world.
As I have said at length, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ a film of great significance in the history of comics, will finally be released to the public, not to mention movie fans. We are very happy to witness this joyous moment and hope that Deadpool will be able to rampage on the screen as he pleases and show us “anything and everything” far beyond our imagination.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Director: Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Night at the Museum)
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman
Japanese Voice Cast: Yasuyuki Kase, Kazuhiro Yamaji, Ayane Sakura, Ryutaro Okikawa, Marika Hayashi, Satoshi Mikami, Miru Ichiyanagi, Shiori Kutsuna, Ryuichi Kagehira, Yuu Shimamura
Release Date: July 24 (Wednesday) – World’s First Release
Distributor: Walt Disney Japan
© 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Official Website: https://marvel.disney.co.jp/movie/deadpool-and-wolverine
