Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Summary
I’m even more excited aboutAvengers: Secret Warsin Phase 6 after the release ofDeadpool & Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel Studios debut firmly cemented 20th Century Fox’s formerX-Menfranchise as a clear part of theMCU, confirming their universe to be designated Earth-10005, while the MCU’s main continuity follows Earth-616, the Sacred Timeline. I loved this reveal, as it celebrated and paid homage to the two-decade longX-Menfranchise, rather than berating it, but this also left me feeling a little confused.
Deadpool & Wolverineincluded many easter eggsand callbacks to Marvel’s history, and brought back a number of characters from previous Marvel movies to help Reynolds and Jackman’s titular heroes in their adventure.Some of these characters came from Earth-10005, which made sense to me, given the fact thatDeadpool & Wolverinebridged the gap between Fox and Marvel Studios' franchises. However, I was expecting theending ofDeadpool & Wolverineto go very differently for Earth-10005, but this might have actually been the best choice for the MCU.
The Fox X-Men Universe Is Still Intact After Deadpool & Wolverine
In the months leading up toDeadpool & Wolverine’srelease,I theorized that the movie would bid a final farewell to Fox’s X-Men Universe, allowing Deadpool to join the MCU’s main timeline permanently. I was shocked when this didn’t happen.Cassandra Nova almost obliterated Earth-10005, and I thought that was just what was going to happen, but the combined strength of Deadpool and a shirtless Wolverine thwarted the sinister villain’s plan. With Nova seemingly dead, Earth-10005 was surprisingly left intact at the end ofDeadpool & Wolverine.
All the heroes who madecameo appearances inDeadpool & Wolverinewere returned to their home realities, and everyone seemed to live happily ever after. This was baffling to me, as I’d hoped that Deadpool would make the move to the MCU, Wolverine would be recast, and Fox’s former franchise would be destroyed, perhaps in a massive incursion event or due to the loss of its Anchor Being. Instead,Deadpool & Wolverinefelt something like a standalone MCU movie, making me question whether Reynolds would return to the role at all.
Deadpool’s Own MCU Record Makes 1 Deadpool & Wolverine Joke Even More Awkward
Deadpool made many jokes at the MCU’s expense in Deadpool & Wolverine, but the movie’s own record has proven that one of them is simply untrue.
Avengers 5 & 6 Can Be More Faithful To Marvel Comics' Secret Wars Storyline Now
Even though I left the theater feeling a bit confused aboutDeadpool & Wolverine’sending, upon further reflection, I think this was actually the perfect choice. This ending means that Marvel Studios can be much more faithful to Marvel Comics’Secret Warsstoryline when developingPhase 6’sAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. In the comics,2015’sSecret Warssaw a massive incursion between Earth-616 and the alternate Earth-1610 wipe out the multiverse, but in the MCU, this could occur between Earth-616 and Earth-10005.
John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic introduced the concept of incursions inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, stating,“An incursion occurs when the boundary between two universes erodes and they collide, destroying one or both entirely.”
This means thatDeadpool & Wolverine’sopen-ended final moments were deliberate, leaving Earth-10005 in existence so thatAvengers: Secret Warscan feature its collision with Earth-616. Of course,this universe had to remain in existence for a while longer, as Wolverine won’t die until the 2029-setLogan, and there is also speculation thatThe Marvels’post-credits scenetakes place in Earth-10005 shortly afterDeadpool & Wolverine. Featuring Earth-10005 in Phase 6’sAvengersmovies would allow even more X-Men heroes to return in the MCU’s future, which makes me very excited.
I Want Secret Wars To End Earth-10005 For Good
I’ve certainly come around to the idea of Earth-10005 being around for a while longer, particularly since there seems to be more stories to tell before Deadpool officially joins the MCU. However, I don’t want this to be the case indefinitely. In fact,I would love for Earth-10005 to be destroyed during the events ofAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, as this would follow Marvel Comics’Secret Warsstoryline, especially ifRobert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doomforms Battleworld in the MCU’s Phase 6.
Indeed,incursions would also cause the destruction of the MCU’s primary continuity, but a new timeline could be established afterAvengers: Secret Wars. There have been theories regarding asoft-reboot of the MCUafter the Multiverse Saga, and I reckon this could see many heroes continue their journeys, while some fan-favorite or lesser-used actors and characters from Earth-10005, some of whom appeared inDeadpool & Wolverine, could also return permanently. Combining all these stories into one continuity seems to me like the best way forward for the MCU.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
