Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Summary
The future of the X-Men in theMarvel Cinematic Universeonly got more confusing afterDeadpool & Wolverinewasreleased. The Shawn Levy-directed film featured manyDeadpool easter eggsand was expected by many to destroy all of Fox’s timelines, ending with only Deadpool and potentially Wolverine coming through to the sacred timeline.Deadpool & Wolverine’s cameosand easter eggs seemed to say goodbye to the universe, although the film’s ending does not seem to quite support that.
The X-Men are some of Marvel’s most celebrated characters, and anticipation for anMCUX-Menwith new and returning charactersis high. Michael Lesslie, writer ofThe Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes, is attached as screenwriter, and the entry of a new group of mutants in the MCU seems likely to happen sooner than later. No details of a roster or a release date are yet available, and recent events from Marvel’s latest hit film has caused confusion about the franchise’s direction.
Was Ben Affleck Really Supposed To Be In Deadpool & Wolverine?
Ben Affleck’s Daredevil was one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s most heavily rumored cameos - but was he ever really supposed to make an appearance?
How Deadpool & Wolverine Sets Up The X-Men’s Future In The MCU
The Plan For Many Fox Characters Remains Unclear
Surprisingly, the X-Men’s future in the MCU is not made very clear by theending ofDeadpool & Wolverine. Rather than destroying the universe Earth-10005 exists in, the heroes of the film save it before returning to it. Deadpool does not end the movie inside the MCU’s universe, and neither does Wolverine. If anything,this ending seems to set the Fox universe up for even more X-Men stories by bringing in a new variant of Wolverineto effectively undo the ending ofLogan.
Following the end ofDeadpool & Wolverine, more things are unclear. Hugh Jackman’s intent to return for additional films, includingAvengers: Secret Wars, has not been announced, although it has been rumored.Deadpool is back in his own universe with his own friends, so it feels unclear whether the character will be involved in future MCU films.The actual status of these heroes and what this means for the MCU seems to suggest that Marvel has not concretely decided what they want to do with these heroes, and so they are trying to keep their options open.
10 Fake Leaks From Deadpool & Wolverine That Completely Threw Off Expectations
Deadpool & Wolverine was subject to some notorious leaks and rumors, but it turns out that some of these were faked by the filmmakers themselves.
Deadpool & Wolverine Also Bid Farewell To Fox’s X-Men Universe
The Credits Featured A Montage Including The Fantastic Four And Daredevil
Themid-credits scene inDeadpool & Wolverinefeatureda montage of scenes from Fox’s Marvel movies as well as behind-the-scenes footage set to the Green Day song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)".The song is popularly played at graduation ceremonies, and the sequence seemed inserted to say goodbye to the X-Men universe. The mid-credits were sweet and thoughtful, ending the Deadpool trilogy on a joyful and nostalgic note.
This altogether served to provide a wonderful look back at everything that Fox has contributed to blockbuster superhero cinema. Fox has been one of the most important studios when it comes to making superhero films. FromX-Menand its sequels toFantastic FourandDaredevil,the studio’s long list of successes and failures alike made the scene a final capstone for the franchise.This footage suggested that this was the end of Fox’s universe, which is confusing, because that is not what the movie’s plot revealed.
If I Received A Love Letter Like Deadpool & Wolverine, I’d Ask For A Divorce
Deadpool & Wolverine has been praised as a “love letter” to the Fox Marvel movies. A few cameos is a far cry from showing affection.
So, What’s Going On With The X-Men In The MCU
The Plan For Mutants In The Marvel Cinematic Universe Has Not Received Much Explanation
What seems the most likely explanation for this overall landscape is that Marvel does not want to commit either way. By returning the characters into a universe of their own,the film has essentially left the MCU in the exact same state it began in.This is especially confusing after Kevin Feige rated the movie as an 8/10 in terms of importance to the MCU. However, those ramifications will remain to be seen. With noDeadpool 4yet confirmed, the future for these characters is only as limited as what can be imagined.
It seems decidedly likely that the universe was left intact in order for characters to return in the upcomingAvengers: Secret Wars. While full details have not been provided concerning which characters will return for that film, the comics on which it is based have drawn from all across the Marvel multiverse to bring a diverse group of heroes together. The film is likely to do the same, featuring appearances from all throughout Marvel’s history, with rumors suggesting there may be return appearances from figures like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man.
5 Mutants the MCU Can Fix After Fox’s X-Men Franchise Failed Them
X-Men has been incredibly popular since 2000, yet Fox’s franchise did fail certain mutants that can be redeemed in the MCU.
The Marvels Also Complicates The X-Men’s MCU Future
The Film Features A Cameo By Kelsey Grammer As Beast From X-Men: The Last Stand
Marvel’s post-credits scenes have become more confusing recently, as the franchise has been setting up story elements which seem as though they won’t be resolved for a long time.The Marvelsended with a scene where Monica Rambeau wakes up at the X-Men mansion and sees Kelsey Grammar’s Beast.The intention of this scene a year later has not been made clear, andDeadpool & Wolverinedoes not offer any further explanation. It is unconfirmed if the universe Monica wakes up in is Earth-10005, or another world altogether.
Marvel’s trajectory has led to speculation that the studio was planning anAvengers vs. X-Menfilm, but that no longer seems to be happening anytime soon following the announcement ofAvengers: Doomsday.The studio seems to be simultaneously building toward launching mutants in their own universe, as they did inMs. Marvel, while also trying to use the pieces they like the most from the Fox X-Men movies, leading to confusion about the series’ direction.
Maria Rambeau’s Cameo In The Marvels Continues A Strange MCU Trend
Maria Rameau has made several MCU appearances as different characters since her debut in Captain Marvel, and they have one strange thing in common.
Hopefully, Marvel has a concrete, long-term plan concerning all of this; however,after recent major changes to their universe, including the addition of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, there is reason to be uncertain that is the case.The Marvel Cinematic Universe has added additional confusion with its recent X-Men stories and teases, which will hopefully result in a satisfying explanation sooner rather than later. The franchise has only added more confusion withDeadpool & Wolverine, and answers are now sorely needed to understand where the X-Men fit in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
