Shawn Levy’s upcoming “Deadpool 3” is set to be a momentous occasion for superhero fans. In addition to Hugh Jackman’s long-awaited return as Wolverine and Ryan Reynold’s third full outing as Deadpool, the film will mark both characters’ entry into Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe following the studio’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
In a new interview with Total Film Magazine, Levy explained that bringing Deadpool and Wolverine into the Disney fold doesn’t have to mean that the new film will negate their history at Fox. The director said that his upcoming film will explore the distinct tones that the characters established during their Fox era rather than simply molding them to fit the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Deadpool and Wolverine are iconic Marvel characters; more specifically, iconic Marvel-of-the-Fox-era characters,” Levy said. “We’re not going to pretend: ‘Oh, we snap our fingers, and suddenly that Fox legacy doesn’t exist, and it shaped a lot of what we now know as the MCU.’ Fox also shaped Ryan’s career, Hugh’s career and my career. So there’s a lot of history there, and there’s a lot of Marvel history at Fox. And certainly that’s a part of our storytelling.”
Levy also commented on the buzz that surrounded photos of Reynolds and Jackman on the “Deadpool 3” set that leaked in 2022. While he would have preferred to avoid showing fans the characters’ costumes until official marketing materials were released, Levy said that he was willing to risk the film’s secrecy for the privilege of shooting on real locations.
“It bums me out that photos have leaked online,” he said. “But this is the price we pay for committing to real locations. I made a decision very early in prep that even though Deadpool is now in the MCU, I didn’t want another Marvel movie shot on a green screen stage with digital set extensions.”
While few expected Jackman to suit up as Wolverine again after “Logan,” the MCU’s multiverse storytelling device creates opportunities to revisit characters without altering old timelines. Jackman recently explained that the character’s entry to the MCU made it easier for him to wrap his mind around reprising the role.
“It’s all because of this device they have in the Marvel world of moving around timelines,” Jackman said. “Now we can go back because, you know, it’s science. So, I don’t have to screw with the ‘Logan’ timeline, which was important to me. And I think probably to the fans too.”
