Superhero films didn’t start with Robert Downey Jr. declaring “I am Iron Man” — there were blockbuster hits, huge swing-and-a-miss failures, and pockets of comic-book cinematic universes way before the MCU came along. The history of Marvel at the movies is long, complicated, and a virtual multiverse of copyright ownerships and dodgy licensing deals, all competing against each other and jockeying for position until the One True I.
P. God — some call him “Kevin” — had enough divine Disney clout to gather everything under one corporate umbrella. The gentleman’s agreement between Marvel Studios and Sony regarding Spider-Man has been mutually beneficial for both outfits.
More importantly, it’s a boon for fans who were dying to see the Webslinger mix it up with MCU MVPs. Ever since the House of M(ouse) absorbed 20th Century Fox, who got in on the superhero-movie game early, those same die-hards have been salivating over the idea that the Avengers, et al. would trade quips and haymakers with the mutants on the other side intellectual property tracks.
Ryan Reynolds knows this. And Deadpool , the Marvel character he’s played in three films and two different franchises, is happy to tell you, the viewer, that he knows that Ryan Reynolds knows this, because God forbid this snarky fan-favorite leaves the fourth wall unshattered for five seconds. In the comics, the X-Men –adjacent smart ass and alter ego of professional assassin Wade Wilson was known for being horrib.