“Deadpool & Wolverine unlocked creative freedom for us—not to shock or misbehave, but to help make the most authentic film possible,” says director Shawn Levy, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells. “It also backstops the emotion as much as the comedy. It will have all the scale, spectacle and grandeur that we all love and want from an MCU picture, but it’s going to do that with a constant and central comedic, tonal edge. And I’m really excited about the prospect of combining those two sides of this amazing, unique coin.”
Since its debut, Deadpool has redefined the superhero genre with its irreverent humor, unapologetic ferocity and a charismatic antihero at its core. With Ryan Reynolds’ masterful portrayal of the titular character, Deadpool was propelled into the realm of pop-culture iconography. Likewise, spearheaded by Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal of Wolverine, the X-Men have dominated at the box office and captured audiences worldwide, cementing Jackman as the quintessential Wolverine for an entire generation.
Deadpool & Wolverine heralds Deadpool’s eagerly anticipated inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—along with the unexpected, jaw-dropping addition of Wolverine. Finally, fans get their wish to see Deadpool and Wolverine unite on screen in a film that remains true to Deadpool’s irreverent spirit and opens doors to exciting new narratives within the expansive MCU landscape.
“We didn’t know for a long time how we’d bring Deadpool and Wolverine together, what that would look like,” says Marvel president Kevin Feige, who is a producer on the film. “But we knew fans were hungry for it, and we knew this team—Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman—was pure magic on screen and behind the scenes. Is the MCU ready for these characters and this story? Absolutely.”
“‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is a story about two friends coming together, backdropped by a universe that is no longer wanted or needed,” comments producer Ryan Reynolds, “and some of the nostalgia and pathos that comes with the idea that it’s not just you, but your entire world that is an outmoded indulgence that nobody wants. And that to me felt like a really nice place to leap into the MCU.”
“At the end of the day, this movie is as warm-hearted as any movie I’ve ever made.” says Feige, “Yes, it’s hilarious, and yes it has epic action sequences unlike any I have seen, but most importantly, it has a warm beating heart at its center—and that heartfelt humanism is the result of a pairing of characters who feel destined to share the screen.”
Adds Ryan Reynolds, “People focus on the comedy, which is wonderful. But the comedy doesn’t work unless backstopped by real emotion, stakes and vulnerability. With ‘Deadpool,’ there’s sometimes a seemingly blurry line between reality and fiction. Some of the more tender and sanguine moments in the film are less Deadpool and Wolverine having a conversation and more Ryan and Hugh speaking as friends who share history and a genuine love for each other.”
In Marvel Studios’ ”Deadpool & Wolverine,” we find Wade Wilson with his past as the morally flexible Deadpool behind him…until he suddenly finds himself in a fight for the survival of his homeworld and must suit-up again—and convince a reluctant Wolverine to help him.
From Page To Screen
Ryan Reynolds approached Shawn Levy to helm a new Deadpool while shooting “The Adam Project.” It was their second film together following Free Guy, and they had become great friends as well as creative partners. “There was this brotherhood, and we shared a vision to create entertaining, thematic films that leave audiences feeling uplifted and hopeful after leaving the theater,” explains Levy. “To be able to tell a story on that epic and anthemic canvas is the dream. I’ve always been a fan of Marvel movies. I was already a fan of Deadpool, and to work with Ryan again and join the Deadpool team was a gift.”
With screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick on board, as well as Zeb Wells, Levy and Reynolds continued to develop the story for the next “Deadpool.” At this point, Hugh Jackman was not involved. But the rivalry and dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine have long been a source of fascination for fans of the X-Men universe, and Levy, Reynolds and Jackman had talked about it over the years. It was Jackman who introduced Shawn Levy, his close friend since “Real Steel,” to Ryan Reynolds, also a close friend.
“Logan,” however, marked a poignant conclusion to Jackman’s journey as Wolverine. It resonated deeply with audiences, and Jackman had seemingly hung-up Wolverine’s claws for good. Says producer Kevin Feige, “I had always been vocal with Hugh that he had one of the best endings of any fictional character ever. But thanks to the irreverence of the Deadpool films and the Multiverse, we thought there was a way to get what all of us want—Hugh’s Wolverine and Ryan’s Deadpool together on screen.”
Indeed. The idea of Jackman returning as Wolverine alongside Deadpool continued to generate huge excitement and anticipation among fans. “Everyone wanted the Deadpool and Wolverine movie for decades,” says Levy, “but maybe had assumed it just wasn’t going to happen. And there was just this moment while we were trying to come up with the right story for ‘Deadpool 3,’ where Hugh and Ryan and I decided to link arms and do it together.”
The prospect of the three pals joining forces to revisit the iconic roles of Deadpool and Wolverine was a dream come true for them, and an opportunity to fulfil the long-held desires of fans eagerly awaiting this collaboration.
With Jackman on board, the story really took shape. Levy says, “Creating a film like Deadpool with Wolverine is about epic storytelling on a large canvas and tapping into decades of character legacy. These characters already have a relationship with us and the world’s culture, giving the movie a mythic scale. It’s about entertaining the audience, and also honoring the incredible history and souls of these characters.”
The paradigms for this “Deadpool & Wolverine” story are the classic two-hander, road-trip films like “Midnight Run,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “48 Hours.” Films featuring unlikely pairs thrust together on a journey, who in normal circumstances wouldn’t choose to spend a single minute with each other, offer up a recipe for great humor and conflict. “But there is also innate potential for something emotional,” says Levy “and the story we wanted to tell is about where the animosity and conflict come from and how their relationship evolves into a brotherhood.”
None of the awesome action is compromised for the comedy and heart. It is as relentlessly violent and visceral as ever, and this time the stakes are huge for Deadpool. Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds understood what they wanted from the action sequences, working with 2nd unit director and supervising stunt coordinator George Cottle to achieve them. Says Cottle, “It is a clash of two fighting titans, and audiences will expect something spectacular.”
Reynolds can appreciate just how much audiences are looking forward to the film’s release. “Early on, when I quietly begged Shawn to dive into this with me, I don’t think either of us expected how excited people would be to see these two characters standing side by side in their full, comic-accurate costumes,” he says. “I’ve never felt anticipation and subsequent pressure like this before. By the end of post-production, Shawn and I were so burned out—yet profoundly sad to finish the movie. As excited as we are to release it into the world, we are also incredibly reluctant to say goodbye to a creative playground that feels unlike anything else in this industry. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ feels like the greatest drug on earth.”
Filming started at Pinewood Studios on June 1, 2023, and shot for 69 days on incredible sets built across six sound stages, a massive backlot, a disused airfield, public parkland and a working quarry.
Shawn Levy’s creative dream-team was carefully assembled, featuring director of photography George Richmond, with whom he worked on “Free Guy,” along with VFX supervisor Swen Gilberg, 1st AD Josh McLaglen and executive producer Mary McLaglen, who have collaborated many times with Levy. Adding to the synergy is the late production designer Ray Chan, whose talent in art direction is displayed across the Marvel Cinematic Universe; 2nd unit director and supervising stunt coordinator George Cottle and costume designer Graham Churchyard, veterans of multiple Marvel Studios films; makeup designer Bill Corso, who previously collaborated with Reynolds on “Deadpool 1&2,” and makeup artist Monica Huppert, also a “Deadpool” alum. The shared histories of this team meant they were perfectly in sync with each other’s creative rhythm.
Rounding out the team, editors Dean Zimmerman, a longtime Levy collaborator, and Shane Reid lent their talents to post production; and Rob Simonsen, who also scored “The Adam Project” with Levy and Reynolds, composed the score.
To create the environments, production designer Ray Chan, set decorator Naomi Moore and their teams approached the design focusing on practical in-camera builds to construct a familiar world to which an audience can relate, and avoiding too much reliance on VFX.
Explains Levy: “We wanted to be loyal to the slightly raw and gritty, real-world-based DNA of Deadpool. Early on we made the decision that we wanted Deadpool to feel of this world: analog, a little bit homemade, low-fi and real, not reliant on digital effects and set extensions. We connect with a movie in a different way when we believe we’re being shown real people doing real things in real places.”