It has gone unspoken, but the first rule of the “Deadpool & Wolverine” experience would seem to be “You do not talk about the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ experience.” We assume that’s also the second rule when it comes to this highly anticipated film, which finally is landing in theaters this week. In September 2022, “Deadpool” franchise star Ryan Reynolds revealed Hugh Jackman would reprise the role of gruff-and-tough hero Wolverine in the movie, and we’ve gotten carefully constructed trailers in recent months.
Otherwise, though, Disney-owned Marvel Studio has released little more than a brief synopsis or two, revealing almost nothing of the goings on of this third “Deadpool” outing, following big hits “Deadpool” (2016) and and “Deadpool 2” (2018). Why have we waited so long between installments of such a popular franchise? For that, you can thank Disney’s acquisition a few years ago of 20th Century Fox, the studio that held the big-screen rights not only to the foul-mouthed antihero but also other prominent Marvel characters, most importantly the mutants of the X-Men, such as the big-clawed, quick-healing Wolverine. All the paperwork completed, Disney now oversees a much larger Marvel playground, which has implications for its hugely successful — if stalling of late — Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Let’s table that for now, though. What Disney’s absorbing of Fox means for the moment is that the House of Mouse has its hands on Deadpool, an in.