How Hugh Jackman Saved “Deadpool 3”

Without the intervention of Hugh Jackman, the great anticipation surrounding Deadpool and Wolverine would never have happened after Deadpool 3 in the MCU was almost abandoned. The movie Deadpool & Wolverine, which opens on July 26, is already smashing records in terms of pre-sold movie tickets and trailer views. Deadpool and Wolverine, the only MCU film scheduled for release in 2024, have a lot riding on them to help put a line under a fairly dismal 2023, and the outlook is looking distinctly bright. But things weren’t always looking so good for Deadpool’s MCU debut.

Hugh Jackman gave Ryan Reynolds the core idea for Deadpool & Wolverine over the phone, according to an interview with Vanity Fair. This was just before Reynolds was supposed to call MCU head Kevin Feige to request that Deadpool 3 be postponed. The comeback occurred after Shawn Levy and Reynolds toiled over a potential Deadpool 3 concept that would fit the MCU while adhering to the first two films, ultimately concluding that it was “not the right moment,” owing to a “lack” in narrative – only for Jackman to intervene and turn everything around.

According to the recollection of Hugh Jackman with regards to the events leading up to the meeting, he had a critical epiphany during a week-long vacation, and he quickly pitched the idea to Reynolds. Jackman had a chance to rest after spending nine months as the lead actor in the Broadway production of The Music Man, but he still couldn’t help but think about Wolverine, which led him to make a decision that would change the course of Deadpool 3 and possibly the entire MCU timeline. Jackman recounts it as:

“I was sitting on a beach, not a care in the world, and for some reason, the thought came into my head: ‘What do you want to do?’ … Then, literally, I thought: Deadpool-Wolverine. I want to do that movie. That’s what I want.”

Jackman’s call was a total game-changer since Reynolds pitched Feige the concept right away, saying, “This is a one in a billion chance.” Even though Logan seemed to be wrapping up his time as Wolverine, Jackman was aware that working with Deadpool would allow him to explore a new dynamic with the character because Deadpool’s notoriously carefree personality would balance out his usual harsh approach. Reynolds, meantime, remembered thinking that they had been looking for just this kind of story.

This fortunate coincidence is echoed by the general agreement over Deadpool & Wolverine’s schedule. The Marvels was the MCU’s largest box office flop, raising questions about the franchise’s survival in the absence of a major hit. Deadpool and Wolverine seem ready to achieve just that, and they might even make the first billion-dollar MCU film since Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Source: screenrant.com