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BeforeDeadpool & Wolverinereleased, Ryan Reynolds took to social media to clarify that the movie wouldn’t affectLogan’sending in any way. Unfortunately, he was wrong — not just in a meta-jokey way like his character in the film admitted while digging up his remains in the very first scene.
The film, which marked Wade Wilson a.k.a.Deadpool’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), got a lot of things right. It made solid box office numbers, both fans and critics mostly seemed to love it, and it was the most refreshing addition to the MCU in some time, following quite a few duds. Yet, the movie still ruined one of the most emotional endings in superhero cinema, delivered byLoganin 2017.
Deadpool & WolverineBreaks Its Promise ToLoganFans
Before anyone jumps to Ryan Reynolds’ or Marvel’s defense: yes, the logic is airtight. This is an entirelydifferent Logan from an alternate reality, who has nothing to do with the hero who dies fighting X-24 inLogan. The argument in favor ofDeadpool & Wolverineis that everything’s different here: the movie, franchise, treatment, timeline, universe, etc. But it still cheapens the whole point ofLoganand alters how fans will perceive that movie in the future.
In September 2022, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman confirmed in an announcement video that their upcoming film was a “totally separate thing” fromLogan,which takes place in 2029. They reaffirmed that they would not touch the clawed hero’s iconic on-screen death. Fast-forward to 2024, whereDeadpool & Wolverineintentionally throws away this promise. The film starts off with the Merc with a Mouth desecratingLogan’sunearthed remains, and before he butchers the TVA agents with the adamantium-infused bones, he says:
How are we gonna do this without dishonoring Logan’s memory? And I’ll tell you how. We’re not.
Logan’sLegacy Deserves More Than A Multiverse Rewrite
Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverinewas contingent on the new film not affectingLoganin any way. Marvel’s reassurance came through their narrative device of altering multiversal branches.Logandirector James Mangold even gave his nod of approval only after being relieved that the new movie would take place before or outside the events of his film. But the problem is, it’s not as simple as that. Audiences remember faces and emotions, not variants and timelines.
At the risk of upsetting fans of mainstream comic book blockbusters,Logandeserves to be kept on a higher cinematic pedestal in discussions, much likeChristopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight.And it’s not just about taking a darker, grittier approach to the material. The film dealt with complex ideas like mortality, sacrifice, and legacy, borrowing from theOld Man Loganstoryline from the comicsand other masterpieces like Alfonso Cuarón’sChildren of Men.James Mangold went all in and showed what was really underneath the superhero’s metal claws and healing powers: a violent human coming to terms with death.
Logan’sFarewell Feels Diluted After Wolverine’s Return
Hugh Jackman was never meant to return as Logan after his final stint ensured a perfect farewell for the character. His revival andaddition to the MCUmake sense in terms of the sheer fanfare it created. However, all the complex themes and feelings of closure discussed above now feel as though they have been flushed down the drain. And it’s not like someone has erased every copy ofLoganfrom the face of the planet. The movie will remain relevant to newer audiences, but it won’t have the same effect it did when it felt like the X-Man’s goodbye was truly final.
Logic and emotion are two contrasting factors here. Wolverine’s return in the new movie is perfectly logical, whereas his send-off inLoganwas hard-hitting and emotional. As a collective audience, it’s easy to accept why he’s back, but individual sensitivity makes it difficult to acceptLogan’stragic ending now. At first, it all seemed fine, sinceDeadpool & Wolverinedid a good jobcreating a meaningful arc for its “loser” Logan variant. However, upon revisiting the 2017 film, it feels as though Marvel let down the character for a few (billion) extra bucks.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Return Could Repeat TheLoganEffect
This raises more concern, consideringRobert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. While Doom is surely not going to be some Iron Man variant, audiences cannot help but associate the actor with Tony Stark as soon as they see his face. TheLoganeffect might repeat here, and there’s an imminent risk of watering downAvengers: Endgame’snear-perfect ending. Imagine rewatching one RDJ sacrificing his life to save the universe, knowing full well there’s another RDJ who will attempt to bring down the multiverse in the same series of films. MaybeDeadpool & Wolverineis areminder for multiverse moviesto play it safe with returning actors or characters.
