The Marvel Universe has always tried to be funny. Whether it's Tony Stark's sarcasm or Captain America's aw-shucks, it gives it its best shot. However, it hit its zenith with Guardians of the Galaxy. After their third movie, they will most likely go their separate ways.
With the third installment in the merc with a mouth franchise arriving in 2024, will Deadpool be the best one to fill that void?
Being an MCU Fan Can Be Difficult
The MCU is in a constant state of ups and downs. Ask any enthusiast, and they will tell you the moment they stopped enjoying the films and when they started enjoying them again. It’s a love/hate relationship that is tested every time a new movie is announced. People judge the casting, the trailer, the second trailer, the sneak peeks, and even the posters. They over-analyze and consider. They argue and argue and argue. Then, occasionally, they enjoy themselves.
One of the initial problems was that the snark of Tony Stark became the only real voice of decent comedy in the MCU. The characters were all likable, but they were very in-universe heroes. Pinnacles of the boy scout mentality. It was about being good because good was the way to be. It got boring.
Then, in 2014, James Gunn was handed the Guardians of the Galaxy. He brought us a motley set of weirdos who weren’t in it for the decency of the universe. They were there because they were a bunch of criminals that wanted stuff. And we loved them for it. The fans ranted and raved. Gunn was the new king of superheroes. He had been given the keys to the kingdom and used them to elevate the genre. The fans were back. “Why can’t all MCU movies be like this and why can’t everyone ditch ‘the formula’?”
Goodbye Guardians
After two movies and a few cameos in others, the Guardians as we know them will be saying farewell to the MCU. The actors are moving on, Gunn himself has moved to the DCU, and Marvel may feel the need to stick to their big plan.
What people seem to forget is that these are primarily action movies for children and teens. So for those who were fifteen when the initial Iron Man came out, the films no longer have the same broad appeal at thirty. But that was one of the reasons the Guardians of the Galaxy worked. It was a unifying movie with something for the adults to laugh at that the kids might not fully understand.
There may be further movies under the "Guardians" name, but they will not include the same characters. It may be a legacy title that Marvel will refuse to give up. No matter what, the void left by their disbanding will be felt by everyone who enjoys what has been deemed a “great” Marvel flick.
Hello Deadpool
Then we have the merc with the mouth. The red-suited devil whose movies get a hard R-rating which Fox Studios was very nervous to produce. The film made 763 million dollars and brought Fox acclaim for its “bold” choice. That choice spawned an even grittier sequel and Ryan Reynolds’ insistence on making fun of Wolverine. In turn, Hugh Jackman has brought Wolverine out of superhero retirement, so the two can finally meet on screen in Deadpool 3.
However, the big news reverberating through the MCU is that Deadpool is finally entering the Marvel universe. The problem is that the news is dividing fans (go figure) between those who can’t wait to see his zaniness opposite popular characters and those who don’t want him Marvel-ized. The ongoing discussion, and popular opinion, is that he’ll be less violent, and all Marvel will keep is Reynolds and his 4th wall breaks (a concept they already test-piloted with the oft-maligned She-Hulk series).
How Does Deadpool Fit Into the MCU?
In the end, it will be about how to get him involved. Unlike other characters, he will most likely not get a new origin story or even his own MCU movie. If Marvel uses him at all, it will probably be as an ancillary character brought into the universe during their multiverse saga. This might be their way of test-driving many new characters and seeing what sticks.
Deadpool could be pulled into the universe in an end-credit scene in his own movie, possibly even acknowledging his inevitable personality change as he’s pulled through, only to be seen later narrating some giant fight scene as everyone goes Endgame on Kang’s ass.
The fact is, Deadpool will need to be toned down unless Marvel has decided that they want a bloodier, more violent version of their universe where a character can use phrases like “turned that guy into a ****ing kabob,” which might even fall outside Captain America’s “language!” mentality.
So Does He Fill the Gap Or Not?
Disney
As previously stated, who knows? People are already up in arms about how Charlie Cox’s Daredevil was altered for She-Hulk, and his Netflix show wasn’t nearly as violent as the Deadpool movies. However, he was still allowed to be charming, show off his unique fighting style, and solve problems in his own way. It was just….less Daredevil.
Therefore, what happens when Deadpool is muzzled? What happens when his swords become useless, and his bullets don’t quite hit their bloody mark? That’s why he will most likely be on the side, popping in, giving fan service, and maybe dropping the MCU’s first F-bomb. However, much like other MCU surprises, it won’t be a surprise. If they decide to use him, it will probably become trailer-worthy (perhaps he’ll even narrate a trailer) and nowhere near as surprising as things were back in the olden days of the MCU.
Then again, they got us with those three Spider-Men… so what do you think?