I don’t know about you, but Deadpool and Wolverine was about the most fun I had watching a Marvel movie – hell, any movie – in years.
Perhaps it was the hype surrounding another Deadpool movie. Maybe it was the comeback of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Surely it had something to do with both of things coming together on screen at the same time.
But Deadpool and Wolverine could have failed to deliver. Fortunately, it didn’t. It also blew away any of my hopes or expectations, though, as Ryan Reynolds kept us guessing from the opening sequence, and this movie stirred up a sweltering baba ghanoush of laughs and sappy tears.
If this was the end of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and/or the last time we see Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, it couldn’t have come and gone any better. But does it have to end here? I say no, and I’ve got a few reasons why Deadpool and Wolverine 2 has to happen.
The Movie Jokes About Them Never Stopping
They’re going to do this until Hugh Jackman is 90.
Obviously that’s egregious, but Jackman is 55 as I write this, not 65. Liam Neeson may have shown us about as well as anyone that age is just a number, while Keanu Reeves has been killing people the last few years as John Wicks and he’s almost 60.
Jackman and Reynolds are both in amazing shape still, and another couple years leading into a Deadpool and Wolverine sequel won’t change that.
No, they won’t go until they’re 90, but they also don’t need to call it quits on these iconic MCU characters just yet.
They Just Got to the MCU, Man
A big reason why Deadpool & Wolverine even happened was so these two iconic characters could get together and celebrate the arrival of Deadpool and other characters into the MCU.
It seems kind of silly to stop here, doesn’t it?
Hugh Jackman isn’t young anymore, but it’s not like he’s 60. He can still don the claws and take his pick of whatever Wolverine outfit he likes best. But the reality is the MCU showrunners have a plan here.
Deadpool and Wolverine operated as the merger facilitator, but they can do so much more than that. With Deadpool only now finally entering this world, it only makes sense to let him play around a little.
Jackman and Reynolds Are Having Fun
Speaking of playing around, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have been pals for years. It admittedly took some convincing, but Reynolds found a way to lure Jackman’s Wolverine out of retirement.
Now that he’s back – and realizing how much fun they had making this movie – it stands to reason that Reynolds can convince him to return for at least one more movie.
Heck, even if it’s just a cameo or simply being a piece to the puzzle in future “Deadpool and Friend Here” films, it’d be worth it.
Deadpool and Wolverine Dominated the Box Office
Money talks. You can certainly argue that the first Deadpool & Wolverine movie served its purpose and it can be a one and done. However, it smashed so hard at the box office that Marvel decision-makers will surely hope a sequel comes about.
Remember, the MCU brass didn’t even want to make this movie. Ryan Reynolds made it happen, and then it blew everyone away – both the fans and the people writing the checks.
Deadpool and Wolverine racked up so much cash that it stands in as the 21st best grossing movie of all-time.
If you want to get a bit more granular, it had the best opening weekend we’ve ever seen in July ($211 million!!), and was the best opening weekend across all opening weekends in summertime.
Obviously given the age of both actors and the grueling dedication to maintaining the Wolverine physique, an argument exists that no amount of money is enough to keep bringing Jackman back. But you can’t say the movie did poorly. And when a film makes money, the studio often wants to milk it for all its worth.
The Deadpool and Wolverine Replacements Are Lacking
Another reason Deadpool and Wolverine 2 should happen is the MCU just doesn’t have much juice these days.
Heck, no matter what superhero flick you throw at me, it simply isn’t doing it for me like it used to. That goes for everyone, as we’ve been through a laundry list of villains, origin stories, and poor man’s Avengers-type ensembles.
They’ve all fallen flat.
Moving forward, the DCU is rebooting basically everything, to the point where a new Wonder Woman actress will be cast eventually. The MCU isn’t far off, as most of their stars are aged out of their characters, have been killed off, or they’ve simply turned the page to a whole new chapter.
We have a new Captain America, Iron Man is dead, and the guy who played him is going to be Dr. Doom.
None of this is great, and it might not be getting any better anytime soon.
If the MCU wants to get back to winning, it should double down on the success of Deadpool and Wolverine. Whether that means Deadpool & Wolverine 2 will get made or we just get to see these characters in a new Marvel movie, of course, remains to be seen.
The other thing is nobody knows who would effectively replace these guys. We tried racking our brains over who could play Deadpool after Ryan Reynolds, and the options (or lack thereof) made us sick to our stomachs.
More Wolverine Variants Can Be Introduced
Much like Will Ferrell needed more cow bell, I need more Wolverine variants. The options are endless, and while the first movie admittedly spoiled several already (although who’s sad about that?), there are more ways to go.
Deadpool and Wolverine hit on a bunch of them – some funny, some sobering – but they can basically do whatever they want, pulling any version of Wolverine out of thin air.
Eventually, the MCU will surely pluck Hugh Jackman’s successor out of a random timeline. But it probably makes sense to have Jackman himself be on screen for it at this point, doesn’t it?
Deadpool and “Friends” Can Be a Franchise
Whether I said it firmly yet or not, this whole “Deadpool and Friend” thing can be a franchise all on its own. Kevin Feige reportedly didn’t even want this to happen, and yet here it is, one of the biggest successes we’ve ever seen.
That tells you that the MCU decision-makers don’t always know what’s right – or what the fans want.
Obviously everyone wants more Deadpool if Ryan Reynolds is up for it, and nobody wants to see Hugh Jackman retire again (not yet, at least). Regardless of what his role would be, he’d be welcomed back to future Deadpool & Friend films.
How long would these last? Who else would be added to the madness? It’s irrelevant. As long as they’re funny, unique, and making money, nobody will complain and we’ll get a franchise unlike any other.
Will There Be a Deadpool and Wolverine 2?
As of right now, there is no definitive word as to whether a Deadpool and Wolverine sequel will happen.
Ryan Reynolds has at least half-jokingly said he’d never do another one of these movies, but actors routinely lie or at least fudge the truth. Whether it be contractual obligation or some other reason, which is easy to see since he waited for a long time to let the cat out of the bag about this film.
What we do know is that Deadpool & Wolverine was a ton of fun, and everyone that was part of it had a great time making it. It even spawned interest in numerous cameos, such as Channing Tatum’s Gambit.
But at the end of the day, this movie made major money and also got solid reviews. It, quite simply, was a hit.
It’s not like this is a timeless classic that the actors or studio “won’t touch”, either. Besides, since when has Hollywood really felt bad about digging up something old and putting a new spin on it? They wouldn’t even be doing that here – they’d just need to talk two aging stars into another movie.
Based on the success of the film and the relationship between the two leads, I’d imagine a return is fairly likely. The question for me isn’t if Deadpool and Wolverine 2 gets made – it’s when.
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