The news thatHugh Jackmanwill be returning to the role ofWolverinein the upcoming thirdDeadpoolfilm has set the internet ablaze with excitement.Deadpool 3has been in various forms of development for several years now. Despite the resounding success of the first twoDeadpoolfilms, there has been a significant gap between the second and third films. The third entry in the series was announced shortly after the release ofDeadpool 2, but Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox’s film and television assets hassignificantly delayedDeadpool 3’sdevelopment. Now the film finally has a release date set for September 2024, meaning by the time the film is released there will have been over six years sinceDeadpool 2hit theaters.
However, Ryan Reynolds is making up for the lost time by bringing out the big guns. Even though Jackman very publicly retired from playing Wolverine with his final outing in 2017’sLogan, Reynolds and Kevin Feige have worked their magic and convinced him to return to play the character once again. Jackman’s Wolverine is one of the most recognizable aspects to come from 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfilms. He was a relatively unknown actor when he was cast in 2000’sX-Men, but after 17 years in the role, it is hard to imagine anyone else brandishing the iconic adamantium claws.
As exciting as Jackman’s return to the character may be, it’s not all great news. While there’s no doubt that the actor will deliver another outstanding performance in the role forDeadpool 3, there are also some aspects that could take away from Wolverine’s on-screen past and his future in the MCU. Here are some of the pros and cons of Jackman returning to play the character again.
Con: Logan was a Perfect Ending
The biggest detractor from the luster of Jackman’s return as Wolverine is fairly obvious. He already hada perfect sendoff to the character in 2017’sLogan. Not only did he give undoubtedly his best performance in the role inLogan, but the film itself was an incredibly emotional, poignant, violent and exhilarating conclusion to that iteration of the character. Spoiler warning for those who haven’t seen it (watch it as soon as you can if you haven’t already), but the death of Wolverine at the end ofLogannot only put the cap on Jackman’s tenure but also brilliantly ended his time in the role with some of the best material he was given for the character in the entirety of his long 17-year run.
Jackman returning to bring the character to life again after that pitch-perfect ending could risk undoing a lot of the emotional weight ofLogan’s final act. Part of what made that ending work, in addition to all the story and character work from director James Mangold, was the fact that it was genuinely intended to be the end of Jackman’s time with the character. Unlike a lot of the deaths in Marvel films, this one felt real, and that version of the character wasn’t going to be brought back again. It was a final goodbye to a character that had been loved by fans for over 15 years at that point. Now, with his return inDeadpool3, Jackman’s end inLoganisn’t actually the end anymore.
Now, these concerns have already been addressed to an extent. Ina video released by Reynolds and Jackman, Reynolds states that “Logantakes place in 2029. Totally separate thing. Logan died inLogan. Not touching that.” Meanwhile,Mangold took to Twitterto show that he’s not terribly worried about the development. He said, “Loganwill always be there. Multiverse or prequel, time warp or worm hole, canon or non-canon or even without a rationale.” So even the director ofLogandoesn’t seem to think that Jackman’s return inDeadpool 3takes away fromLogan.It’s a good perspective to have, asLoganwill always exist as a standalone story no matter what happens around it. Plus, withDeadpoolbeing as meta a series as it is, there’s certainly going to be some sort of reference to the events ofLoganin the new film. There already was inDeadpool 2!
Related:Wolverine: Why Fans Love the Character So Much
Pro: Teaming Up with Ryan Reynolds
One of the big positives about Jackman’s return is who he is working with. Jackman and Reynolds have always had exceeding amounts of chemistry together, even off-screen. They are constantly showcasing their friendship on social media, and the video announcements of Wolverine’s inclusion inDeadpool 3are already leaning into that heavily. They oftenfeign a bitter feudbetween the two of them, which never fails to delight their fans and is sure to play into the new film in some fashion. Reynolds has even included references to their feud/friendship in bothDeadpoolfilms, which could now be interpreted as directly paving the way for Jackman’s inclusion inDeadpool 3.
Their friendship began when they worked together on 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine. That film, which is widely regarded asone of the worstX-Menmovies, served as Reynolds' first on-screen introduction as the Merc with a Mouth. That obviously didn’t pan out very well, and Reynolds has already made numerous jokes about the film in both of hisDeadpoolsolo outings so far. Those jokes are sure to escalate significantly inDeadpool 3, as it is the first time the characters of Deadpool and Wolverine will appear in a film together since that mess of a movie.
Beyond that, it’s actually somewhat surprising that this will mark the first occasion the two actors will have worked together on a film sinceX-Men Origins. Not including a small cameo here and there, their on-screen careers have stayed pretty separate in the years since. Considering how much chemistry they have together, it’s genuinely a little surprising that no studio has paired them up again prior to this. A Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds buddy comedy sounds like an absolute homerun. Now that film is actually happening under the guise ofDeadpool 3, and it is certain to get both casual and die-hard fans immensely excited.
Con: Further Delaying Wolverine’s Recasting
Prior to this announcement, it was widely assumed that there was no chance that Jackman would return to the character of Wolverine. There was endless online speculation as to who would end up playing the character when he is inevitably introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Considering the MCU is a different continuity than the FoxX-Menfilms, the introduction of Wolverine would likely end up being through some multiversal hijinks or a grand introduction of all theX-Menat some point. However, very few people believed that Jackman would be involved with that re-introduction. In addition to that, there were many rumors afloat thatKingsmanstarTaron Egerton had been approached for the role. There have already been numerous indications that mutants do exist within the MCU, and there was even a not-so-subtle reference to Wolverine in theShe-HulkDisney+ series.
However, Jackman’s return inDeadpool 3throws an unexpected wrench into this whole equation. It has already been confirmed that the thirdDeadpoolfilm does take place within the canon of the MCU, but it has yet to be established in what manner. Considering how much the MCU has started playing with the multiverse concept in outings likeLoki,Doctor Strange 2and the upcomingAvengersfilms, that avenue would make the most sense. The most likely scenario is that Reynold’s Deadpool will find some way to hop out of the FoxX-Menuniverse and into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps he’ll find and bring a variant of Jackman’s Wolverine along for the adventure.
It is very unlikely that Jackman is returning to play the character again for an extensive period of time. His return to the role is surely to be a one-and-done forDeadpool 3, with the only other possibility being that he pops up inAvengers: Secret Warsas well. There’s very little chance that his Wolverine will become the primary Wolverine of the MCU moving forward. With that, his inclusion inDeadpool 3means that it will still be awhile before a new Wolverine is introduced into the MCU. It potentially won’t happen untilAvengers: Secret Warsor beyond. As exciting as it is to think about Jackman’s return, there’s a good chance it means the genuine introduction of the X-Men into the MCU is further off than previously imagined, as Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel Studios are likely going to want to build their own brand-new team from scratch.
Related:Deadpool Creator Teases Road Trip for Wade Wilson & Wolverine in Deadpool 3
Pro: It’s Simply a Great Idea
It’s really easy to get caught up in all the minutia of what the announcement of Jackman’s return inDeadpool 3could mean for the MCU continuity. At the end of the day though, it was not the logistics or canonicity of the universe that led to the decision. Reynolds and Marvel Studios are bringing Jackman back because the prospect of a Ryan Reynolds/Deadpool and Hugh Jackman/Wolverine crossover is just too good to resist. Wolverine is one of Jackman’s most iconic and recognizable roles, and a new outing with him is undoubtedly going to get fans excited.
The point ofDeadpool 3is not to be a big universe-defining entry within the MCU. The movie is simply supposed to be entertaining. Bringing Jackman’s Wolverine out of retirement for the film is meant to set the board for an immensely fun, hilarious and exciting movie. Take a step back and consider what this movie is outside the context of the MCU. A Deadpool/Wolverine team-up film starring Reynolds and Jackman is the kind of stuff that comic-book movie fans live for. By getting too caught up in the details or logistics of the universe, it’s easy to lose a lot of the fun and appreciation for the idea of the film.
Bringing Jackman intoDeadpool 3is yet another example of Feige’s willingness to step outside the box that has defined the MCU for the last 15 years. Post-Infinity Saga, Marvel is beginning to really experiment with the kinds of stories they can tell within the MCU. The most recent example of this isWerewolf by Night, which was much more concerned with being a moody and throwback horror romp than it was a thoroughly interconnected chapter of a larger universe. While it’s true that the overall idea of a cinematic universe can get messy by taking this approach, it also gives much more creative freedom to the people involved in the project.Deadpool 3doesn’t need to be a big MCU event film like theAvengersmovies. It just needs to be a greatDeadpoolfilm. Reynolds and Feige know that, and by bringing Jackman back, they’re doing everything they can to make the film as funny and exhilarating as possible.
