As Marvel Studios’ only theatrical release in 2024, all eyes are on Deadpool & Wolverine. Following a mostly disappointing 2023, the studio seems to be righting the ship and the upcoming film seems like a crucial step in making that happen. With just over two months to go until its release, the studio has just begun the big marketing push with a new look at the film as tickets went on sale. That meant a shiny new poster was released online as well. While those things took the bulk of the attention, Disney also released an updated synopsis online via its press site.
Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date—”Deadpool & Wolverine.” A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existenal threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to—Fuck. Synopses are so fucking stupid.
Given it is Marvel’s first R-rated film, it’s been surprising just how heavily the studio has leaned into the rating for Deadpool & Wolverine. To that end, it’s certainly strange to see an F-bomb worked into the synopsis but here we are. Nothing surprising in the synopsis otherwise as it seems to match everything that the footage provided so far has shown.
I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies. I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.
When it comes down to prep for Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s Shawn Levy‘s world and we’re not here to argue. So when he says that no homework is required to enjoy the film, we believe him; however, we have selected a handful of projects that might help you maximize your enjoyment come July.
All I ever wanted was to travel off in exotic places and meet new exciting people and then kill them, so I became a mercenary. My name is Wade Wilson. And I love what I do.
-Wade Wilson, X-Men Origins: Wolveirne
X-Men Origins: Wolverine 38% Rotten Tomatoes
By far the worst X-Men movie put to film by Fox, Origins is also the most complete story of Logan’s transformation into Weapon X. While the Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine is most certainly not this Logan, the origin story is almost certainly the same and worth checking out before heading to theaters. There’s also an absolutely atrocious origin of Deadpool tossed in here that is all but a sure thing to be referenced in the new film. In fact, there’s plenty of speculation that one member of the Deadpool Corps is plucked from whatever timeline this disaster took place.
Deadpool (2016) 85% Rotten Tomatoes
The first act in The Tragedy of Wade Wilson, Deadpool is the setup that provides exposition and establishes the majority of the important relationships in Wade’s life. It seems as though Deadpool & Wolverine will see Wade face the threat of losing everything, so it’s good to remember just what everything is.
Deadpool 2 (2018) 84% Rotten Tomatoes
For all of Wade’s mockery of what heroes are and do, Deadpool 2 saw the Merc With a Mouth become one. The second act in the Tragedy of Wade Wilson, the film allowed Deadpool the opportunity to grow and realize his true capabilities. It’s also full of time travel which–one would think–would have to be referenced by the TVA in Deadpool & Wolverine.
For all time, always…and any time is always a good time to rewatch one of Marvel Studios’ finer streaming series, however, there may be good reason to limit your rewatch to Season 1. From what can be gleaned from the first two trailers for Deadpool & Wolverine, that project is seemingly set before Loki ascended to his role as the God of Stories in Season 2. Of course, not everything will be what is seems in the trailers and time is very wonky within the walls of the TVA. At the very least, though, it won’t hurt to catch back up on how things work in the TVA offices and freshen up on the Sacred Timeline.
Tier 2
If you’re out to be a Wolverine completist, Tier 2 is for you. In addition to the Tier 1 projects, working your way through these will provide whatever level of Hugh Jackman fix you need.
McAvoy or Stewart? These timelines are confusing.
-Wade Wilson, Deadpool (2016)
X-Men (2000) 82% Rotten Tomatoes
Revisiting Jackman’s first time as Wolverine won’t really help you understand anything that happens in Deadpool & Wolverine but on the heels of the incredible first season of X-Men ’97, it’s another trip down memory lane worth taking. It should provide some especially jarring juxtapositioning to see Wolverine in the ridiculous black leather just ahead of seeing the big screen debut of his iconic comic book costume.
X2 (2003) 85% Rotten Tomatoes
If you’re going to watch the worst X-Men movie ever made (Origins), you might as well treat yourself to the best X-Men movie ever made. X2 did what few sequels did by surpassing the quality of the original and set the franchise up for a killer third installment. While that didn’t quite work out, you can still enjoy Alan Cumming‘s incredible performance as Nightcrawler and hate Brian Cox‘s Stryker all over again. Certainly one of Jackman’s best turns as Wolverine, rewatching this one will be time well spent.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) 57% Rotten Tomatoes
Notable as the first time Fox dropped the ball in telling the story of the Phoenix, The Last Stand is forgettable and tough to watch. As bad as it is, it does introduce Kelsey Grammer‘s Beast, who recently made his MCU debut, and Elliot Page‘s Kitty Pryde. Is that enough to overcome the trauma induced by seeing Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut? Probably not but at least it served as good meme material.
***NOTE***
As the most recent trailer showed, there will be plenty of characters appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine who first appeared on film in the original X-Men trilogy. A rewatch of the trilogy will serve as a nice refresher course on just who is who.
X-Men: First Class (2011) 86% Rotten Tomatoes
Worth a watch just for the cameo appearance by Jackman, First Class is also a very solid film and is likely to be referenced in some way. It won’t add anything to the story of Wolverine but if it’s been a while, check it out anyway.
The Wolverine (2013) 71% Rotten Tomatoes
The closest Jackman came to suiting up in the blue and yellow suit, The Wolverine is a fun, standalone story that gives a little more background on Logan. Depending on what the Variant in Deadpool & Wolverine has been through, that might be valuable.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) 90% Rotten Tomatoes
The highest-rated X-film, Days of Future Past will always be worth a watch. It’s also going to provide more context to all the crazy time travel that’s always part and parcel of X-Men stories and could end up being referenced while Wade and Logan are in the TVA.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) 47% Rotten Tomatoes
Just a cameo and a reminder of Logan’s tortured past and not worth a watch other than for that.
Logan (2017) 93% Rotten Tomatoes
The film that was supposed to send Jackman off into the sunset, Logan stands as one of the highest-rated and most revered superhero films of all time. Levy, Reynolds and Jackman have sworn that the Logan timeline will not be altered in any way, but there are plenty of rumors about an appearance of an X-23 or two in Deadpool & Wolverine including, perhaps, a grown up version of Dafne Keene‘s Variant.
Time is a funny thing within the walls of the TVA so while Deadpool & Wolverine may not start before Season 2 of Loki concludes, there’s no saying it won’t end somewhere else down that road. If nothing else, the season provides a great reminder of how crazy the multiversal stuff gets and is great sci-fi TV.
Tier 3
Maximum effort! Deadpool & Wolverine is rumored to feature some fun cameos from characters who, like Logan, made their film debuts before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you’ve never seen these films or even if it’s been some time since you have, consider adding these to your pre-Deadpool & Wolverine watch list just in case they show up. The only caveat here is that should you chose to head down this path, you’ll be subjecting yourself to some of the worst superhero movies ever put on film.
I can tell you two things. One, your hairdo is ridiculous. Two, I ate a lot of garlic, and I just farted. Silent but deadly.
-Hannibal King,Blade: Trinity
Blade (1998) 59% Rotten Tomatoes and Blade II (2002) 57% Rotten Tomatoes
Before the live-action X-Men films put superhero in the spotlight, Wesley Snipes‘ Blade opened the door to the world of comic book films. The first film is a classic; the second less so. Why are they on here?
Daredevil (2003) 43% Rotten Tomatoes
Ben Affleck‘s Daredevil has not aged nearly as well as Ben Affleck.
Blade: Trinity (2004) 24% Rotten Tomatoes
Ryan Reynold‘s first role in a CBM was as Ryan Reynolds Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity. With the multiverse open for business, there’s room for a fun joke or two at his expense here.
Fantastic Four (2005) 28% Rotten Tomatoes
A horrible movie with a wonderful cast, it’s quite possible that at least one of those cast members makes a cameo in The Void in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Elektra (2005) 11% Rotten Tomatoes
If you thought Green Lantern was bad…but Jennifer Garner‘s character has been among many rumored to show up in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, so you might have to give it a shot. Think of it this way: if you can watch this and recover in time to make it into theaters, you may have as strong of a healing factor as Deadpool and Wolverine.
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine delivers the ultimate team-up throwdown on July 26.
Shawn Levy directs Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.
Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine opens in U.S. & Canadian movie theaters on July 26, and will be available in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD and premium screens everywhere.
Though Lucasfilm rolled out a trailer for its live-action streaming series Skeleton Crew exclusively for those in attendance at Star Wars Celebration 2023, next to nothing has been made public about the show. Due to hit Disney Plus around Christmas, the series stars Jude Law, Kerry Condon and a group of largely unknown child actors. While fans wait for some kind of footage from the project to be shared, a new listing for a collectible from the show has provided a first look at tht young leads.
Found on the online store Fanatik, via r/StarWarsLeaks, a collectible ingot shows the four children who are the main focus of the series along with an unknown character who is either a droid, cyborg or just wearing a very intricate mask.
The biggest revelation is that one of the leads is an Ortolan, the same species as renowned Jizz-wailer Max Rebo, first seen in Return of the Jedi. And so we have our first look at the four kids who “make a mysterious discovery on their home planet that leads them to get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy.” Their journey will lead them to cross paths with Law’s Force-wielding character, a mysterious Jedi we still don’t know much about at all.
Skeleton Crew will stream on Disney Plus beginning in December.
Marvel Animation has already had a banner year in 2024 and it’s only just gotten started. The 10-episode run of X-Men ’97 might ultimately be one of Marvel Studios’ best projects and fans are already salivating over the potential direction of Season 2. While it’ll be some time before the sophomore season streams on D+, two more projects from the new Marvel Animation banner are due out this year.
Late this year, the first season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will debut on D+ but before that, the four-episode series Eyes of Wakanda will hit the streamer. Kept a secret until the December 2023 red carpet debut of What If…? Season 2, the series produced by Ryan Coogler‘s Proximity Media has still yet to have much officially revealed by Marvel. However, in a recent interview, Executive Producer and Marvel Studios Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation Brad Winderbaum gave fans a bit of info to tide them over.
“This is the history of Wakanda as told through the War Dogs,” revealed Winderbaum, referencing Wakanda’s global intelligence network whose number has included Nakia, Zuri and Prince N’Jobu. This tidbit from Winderbaum fleshes out the show’s previously revealed premise that it would follow “brave warriors” from “throughout Wakandan history have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts.”
Winderbaum also reiterated that “Eyes of Wakanda is an MCU show,” after having previously revealed that the series “fits right into our sacred MCU timeline continuity.“ That provides a lot of opportunity for Marvel Animation to define or redefine periods of the MCU’s history that are currently unknown including the potential inclusion of an Iron Fist from the hidden city of K’un-Lun. If all that sounds good to you, Winderbaum is in agreement. “Todd Harris is the creator,” he said of the new show before adding that it’s “just such a cool show” and “some of the best animation we’ve ever done.” While there’s still no indication when in 2024 Eyes of Wakanda will debut on Disney Plus, the show does sound like it has the makings of another hit for Marvel Animation.
Following the conclusion of the first season of X-Men ’97, Marvel Studios is riding high and once again feeling the love from fans to which they’d grown accustomed. With two more projects from the studio’s newly created Marvel Animation banner due out in 2024, fans have plenty of new content ahead; however, there’s also work being done on future seasons of not only X-Men ’97 but also the studio’s first canonical animated series, What If…?.
The second season of What If…? was warmly received by fans and largely declared an improvement over the studio’s first effort. A first look at Season 3 teased not only that the studio had plans to include several characters who so far had been off limits but also had already done quite a bit of work on it causing fans to wonder how quickly the studio might be able to push it out. In an interview with Comic Book, Executive Producer and Marvel Studios Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation Brad Winderbaum shed some light on the studio’s progress with the project.
“What If…? Season Three is — that might be the one that comes out next, in terms of animation,” said Winderbaum, before calling the project “the culmination of a trilogy.” While that’s hardly a definitive statement, it’s interesting to hear it described that way as it could indicate the third season will be the last.
Though Winderbaum did stop short of revealing exactly when Season 3 could hit Disney Plus, it does sound as though it could be sooner rather than later. “We’re actually close to completing that one, and it really feels like you’ve gone through this amazing emotional experience with Uatu, in a way that’s… What’s great about The Watcher is that he presents himself as uncaring, and cold, and just an observer, but he cares more than everybody [and] anybody. That is on full display in that third season.”
Could What If…? Season 3 find its way on to Marvel Studios’ 2025 streaming slate? It certainly seems possible at this point and if that is the plan, fans could learn all about it during Marvel’s presentation at D23 this August.
Our long global nightmare is almost over. After blowing up the box office with 2018’s Venom, Sony was emboldened to not only make more films in that franchise but to explore other, similarly unnecessary projects. It was thus that Morbius and Madame Web were made as fans around world collectively asked “why?” and meme lords everywhere thrived.
After briefly crossing over into the MCU, a third Venom film is due out this year. Set firmly back in Sony’s live-action non-Spidey-verse, the project simply seems like another example of Sony going to the well one too many times. However, it also seems as thougy Venom: The LastDance will indeed be the last dance.
According to Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman, the Tom Hardy-led threequel is the “third and last Venom.”
Though Rothman didn’t share the reason behind the decision, the news is sure to kick off a series of worldwide celebrations similar to those held by the Munchkins upon the death of the Wicked Witch. And though Rothman didn’t indicate Sony had any intention of pulling back altogether on making horrific films with their roster of Spidey-related characters, there’s always some hope this is the first step in that direction.
While there’s still just under a year until the audience can judge the finished product, the changes to Daredevil: Born Again that came out of the Hollywood work stoppage and a subsequent change in the creative team behind the series certainly seemed to have put a spring in the step of its two stars. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have had nothing but high praise for the new direction of the series under showrunner Dario Scardapane and directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead and during Disney’s TV Upfront presentation, they gave some insight into just how much the new team changed the course of the show.
While talking to TV Insider, Cox noted that Daredevil: Born Again will share “a lot” of connectivity with Netflix’s Daredevil series. While that won’t surprise fans who saw a slew of set photos confirm the returns of Elden Henson, Deborah Ann Woll, Wilson Bethel, Jon Bernthal and Ayelet Zurer, D’Onofrio provided a bit more insight about just how significant the changes made to the series were.
DISNEY UPFRONT 24 – The Disney Advertising Upfront is a showcase event that brings together all the content corners of The Walt Disney Company on one stage. On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at North Javits in New York City, an incredible roster of all-star talent will tout their connections to storytelling, Disney, and each other while showcasing their latest projects for the upcoming year.
(Disney/John Argueta)
CHARLIE COX, VINCENT D’ONOFRIO
“It originally wasn’t going to be at all, but now it’s a lot,” said D’Onofrio about how much the new D+ series was originally intended to reference the Netflix show. D’Onofrio‘s comments confirm what was a contentious point among fans that had been debated since the show was announced. Following a 2022 presentation about Daredevil: Born Again at D23, Cox indicated that Kevin Feige‘s plan was for the series to be about “new stories and new ideas“, saying the series was “A Season 1. It is not Season 4, so it is a whole new thing. Which I think is the way to go. If you are going to do it again, do it differently.” That sentiment was something Cox reiterated just a month later, calling the series “a whole new deal” while indicating he was looking forward to the opportunity to retell some bits of Matt Murdock’s story.
What’s great about that is that we potentially get to tell some of the stories over and over again, in the same way that they do in the comics. Every now and then they start back in the beginning of Murdock’s journey as a little boy and they tell the whole origin story again, so maybe we’ll get to do that. I don’t know.
-Charlie Cox, October 2022
What was true then is clearly not true now, however, and according to Cox, the fans of the Netflix series most definitely had some influence on the changes to the series. “I think [it’s] the fans. I think [it’s] the studio as well,” said Cox. “That’s a really fine balance to strike. If you’re going to remake a show and call it Season 1 and it was a successful show and it was kind of beloved, then you’ve got to do what people liked,” Cox explained. “But also you’ve got to have a reason for remaking it. So you have to change it up a bit. And that’s just a really fine balance to find.”
And just as Daredevil’s enhanced senses include a heightened vestibular sense that gives the Man Without Fear an uncanny ability to center and balance himself, Cox thinks Marvel Studio may have found the sweet spot of balance in mixing old and new. “I think that they’ve done a beautiful job doing that,” he said. “And hopefully, the old fans – the O.G.s – will love it and also, we’ll maybe pick up a few more fans on the way.“
Daredevil: Born Again will stream on Disney Plus beginning in March 2025.
When it debuted in 2021, Hawkeye was a hit with fans and critics alike. The series saw Jeremy Renner‘s Avenging Archer reluctantly take Hailee Steinfeld‘s Kate Bishop under his wing to take on New York City’s criminal underworld run by Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin. The show packed quite a punch, driving a spinoff series focused on Alaqua Cox‘s Maya Lopez, and Steinfeld quickly became a fan favorite as Hawkeye-in-training. Given its success and Steinfeld’s popularity, Marvel fans have been wondering what’s next for the characters and now it seems the studio has figured out their next move.
According to the internet’s busiest bee, My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios has ordered up a second season of Hawkeye. No timeline was given for when the Marvel Television series might head into production or stream on Disney Plus.
In addition to reporting that another season of Hawkeye is in the works, MTTSH also shared some potential plot points. According to the scooper, Season 2 will take inspiration from the 2011 movie The Raid and see the Hawkeyes pinned down in “one location.” Finally, MTTSH alleges that Clint’s brother, Barney Barton, stands to play a “major role” in the sophomore season. In the comics, Barney was an FBI agent who, like his brother, was a high-level athlete. After being trained by Buck Chisholm–the man who trained Clint–and manipulated by Baron Zemo, Barney became a masked villain known as Trickshot and was part of Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts/Dark Avengers. Following an intense brawl with his brother, Barney and Clint have reconciled and worked together on some missions in recent years.
The new season will mark the return of Renner to the role for the first time since a near-fatal accident in 2023. Outside of Renner and Steinfeld, the rumor provided no information on the potential return of other characters from the first season of Hawkeye. Given the positive fan response to his character, Jack Duquesne, it would be surprising if Tony Dalton was not approached about reprising the role.
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