Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: this article contains spoilers
Even Deadpool himself couldn’t have been prepared for the chaos he met in “Deadpool and Wolverine.” Between Charles Xaviers’ psychotic sister, his universe on the chopping block and one reluctant Wolverine, the titular anti-hero certainly has a lot on his plate.
In this third installment in the “Deadpool” universe, movie watchers will see a continuation of Marvel’s “Multiverse Saga,” which began with the series “WandaVision” and will be completed in 2027 when “Avengers: Secret Wars” hits theaters.
When the Time Variance Authority — TVA — knocks on Deadpool’s door, he learns that his universe’s anchor being is dead and his timeline has been fading ever since. The TVA offers to put him in the “Sacred Timeline,” or the timeline most people think of when they think of Marvel, but Deadpool refuses. Instead, he goes searching across the multiverse for a replacement anchor being, which is revealed to be Wolverine.
When Deadpool finally finds a suitable replacement for his anchor being, the unlikely duo is sent to the Void — where variants are sent for misbehaving in the multiverse or when their universe is destroyed. There they meet variants of superheroes who have already graced the screen or whose movies did not come to fruition, and of course, the fourth-wall-breaking Deadpool knows all about them.
Many of these variants are already well-known. Jennifer Garner returns as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade and Dafne Keen as X-23, a Wolverine variant. Even the canceled 2014 “Gambit” movie was referenced, with Channing Tatum filling the role he was originally intended to play.
A plethora of memes have arisen from the movie, as well as collaborations with the popular video game Fortnite, fast food company Jack in the Box and motorsport company Alpine Racing. Ryan Reynolds has a stake in Alpine Racing, explaining the connection.
“Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC and “Like a Prayer” by Madonna were both played in the movie, and both have once again found themselves on Billboard’s Top 30 chart, with “Bye Bye Bye” sitting at number eight and “Like a Prayer” resting at number 16. Their streams have increased globally by a total of 50% and 62% respectively, thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, as well as the use of “Bye Bye Bye” as an emote and jam track in Fortnite.
“Deadpool and Wolverine” grossed $211 million on its opening weekend at the box office and has earned $1.305 billion globally. It is currently the seventh highest-grossing Marvel movie in both domestic and global earnings.
It has not yet been announced when “Deadpool and Wolverine” will hit streaming services, but fans anticipate a late October or early November date.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
