Despite the insane levels of hype currently surrounding Avengers: Endgame, the biggest Marvel-related event of 2019 is really the Disney/Fox merger, which opens the floodgates for a whole load of comic book characters to enter the MCU.
Though it’s generally expected that the X-Men and Fantastic Four will be recast, one hero who looks set to complete the transition more or less intact is Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. But while it’s currently safe to assume that the Merc with a Mouth will be returning to cinemas sooner or later, the question remains of how exactly Wade Wilson could fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The issue came up in a recent interview with Endgame co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo, when Fox 5 asked the pair how they’d approach putting Deadpool in one of their Avengers movies. After Joe Russo acknowledged that Wade’s habit of breaking the fourth wall would change the tone of the work, his brother Anthony then chimed in with a slightly lengthier response:
“I would tell you this, and this is how we craft all of these moments, we would literally lock ourselves in a room for two months and discuss this question before we could arrive at an answer.”
The filmmaker then went over some of the factors they’d have to consider if they were handling Deadpool:
“Philosophically [we’d investigate], are the new rules with the character, ‘Is he not allowed to break the fourth wall? Would that damage the character?’ So you have to figure out how you would incorporate the tone of what’s happening in the MCU with a character like that.”
It’s true that a film like Avengers: Infinity War would have a very different feel to it if one of the characters was constantly talking to the camera and reminding viewers that they’re only watching a movie. On top of that, Marvel will have to consider whether or not the Merc can still be as foul-mouthed and violent as usual when he’s interacting with the PG-13 players of the MCU.
That being said, Disney CEO Bob Iger implied earlier this year that the Deadpool solo movies, at the very least, will stay R-rated. When exactly we can expect to see the character back in theaters is still to be confirmed, but in the meantime, the Russo Brothers are set to bring the MCU’s current era to a close when Avengers: Endgame comes out on April 26th.
