‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is the First Non-Canon MCU Movie

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is finally upon us, but we’ve got some bad news…

The most highly-anticipated theatrical Marvel project since Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) — no, since Avengers: Endgame (2019) — is almost here. But, unfortunately, though it’s a little mean-spirited, we’re about to douse the smoldering flames of your excitement by telling you that the new movie is not canon with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

(No spoiler warnings necessary)

Deadpool & Wolverine is the third installment in the incredibly successful Deadpool movie series, following Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). The Ryan Reynolds-starring films grossed over $1.5 combined worldwide, so another film was inevitable — despite all the uncertainty that followed Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Studios in 2019.

But who’d have ever thought we’d see Wade Wilson/Deadpool, AKA the “Merc with the Mouth” (Ryan Reynolds) team up with Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) following the X-Men icon’s unforgettable death in James Mangold’s Logan (2017)?

Related: Ahead of Movie Debut, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s Release on Disney+ Explained

Of course, it was teased during Deadpool 2‘s mid-credits montage in which Wade traverses the Multiverse to “clean up the timelines”; one being his DC disaster Green Lantern (2011) and the other being his first appearance as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the equally terrible Wolverine: X-Men Origins (2009) opposite Hugh Jackman.

But if you’re wondering how these two superheroes are able to join forces after the end of Logan, all you need to know is one word: Multiverse. In fact, this is exactly how the MCU is able to welcome Deadpool under its cosmos-spanning umbrella in the first place. And, as revealed in the first trailer, the film’s Logan is a Multiversal variant.

Related: Sony and Fox Gear Up To Take over MCU From Disney: Report

Is Deadpool & Wolverine Canon?

Putting aside all the specifics when it comes to Multiversal variants and what Marvel (and/or Fox) films Deadpool & Wolverine will probably intersect with (aside from the obvious: the X-Men movies), while Deadpool is entering the MCU, to say that it’s canon isn’t necessarily true — and it has nothing to do with the fact that Deadpool was previously Fox property.

This is all about the “fourth-wall breaking”. While an ingenious component to the Deadpool movies (lifted directly from the Marvel Comics, of course), this does raise a pretty big question about just how canon Deadpool really is (the same applies to Disney+’s equally-fourth-wall-shattering She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but that’s another conversation).

Related: Marvel President Kevin Feige Shares Exciting ‘Spider-Man’, ‘X-Men’ Update

Deadpool speaks directly to us, the audience. He even name-drops the likes of Ryan Reynolds (himself), James McAvoy (Professor Charles Xavier), Patrick Stewart (the other Professor Charles Xavier), and Josh Brolin (Cable). And, in the first film, he even wears a Hugh Jackman cut-out mask to hide his scarred face. You get the idea. Need we say more?

Obviously, this makes for many hilarious moments, and, as we already know, Deadpool & Wolverine will be no different. If you’ve seen the many trailers, you’ll know that fourth-wall-breaking isn’t going anywhere, despite the fact that the Deadpool series now forms part of the MCU, joining all its many live-action movies and TV shows. But is it actually canon?

We don’t think it is, and there will likely be many fans who agree (even if, like us, they don’t care either way). Even director Shawn Levy said in a recent interview that the movie “is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research”.

This is reassuring, of course — after all, Deadpool & Wolverine is the thirty-fourth film in the franchise, (there are also several live-action TV shows to consider) which started all the way back in 2008 with Iron Man. Undoubtedly, the new movie will feature cameos from many characters that span all the movies we’ve had over the last 16 years. While many have already been revealed, the film will obviously have many surprises in store.

Still, Deadpool & Wolverine is certainly being adopted by the MCU, and, as such, should technically be viewed as canon, we suppose, but just how canon can something that breaks the fourth wall be? Isn’t it all just a bit of fun; something that’s not designed to be taken seriously in any way whatsoever? Isn’t that the whole point in these movies?

How Deadpool & Wolverine Will Change the MCU

With all that said, the MCU has already “canonized” several Sony movies with previous Multiverse-centric entries such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2021), and The Marvels (2023).

And even if Deadpool isn’t technically canon, it will still serve as a “soft reboot” of the MCU, ultimately paving the way for the “Mutant Saga” and allowing for even more X-Men characters to enter the fold (most of whom we’re sure to be reunited with in the new film).

Deadpool & Wolverine is also the first R-rated entry in the MCU.

Oh, you’re still here? It’s over… Go home… Oh, you’re expecting a teaser for Deadpool & Wolverine. Well, check it out below:

Deadpool & Wolverine will be released in theaters worldwide on July 25.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, and Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova.

Are you excited about Deadpool & Wolverine? Let us know in the comments down below!