Summary
Deadpool & Wolverinehas recently dominated the conversation surrounding theMCU, but the only topic I’m concerned with is the Ryan Reynolds and Tom Holland team-up that was teased by several Easter eggs.Deadpool & Wolverinehas been in theaters for two weeks and now boasts the highest-grossing opening weekend of any R-rated movie. Its success speaks to the effectiveness of its defining characteristics in this uncertain era of superhero movies. Namely, team-ups, callback cameos, and the titular heroes are all apparently winning formulas.
The plentifulcameos ofDeadpool & Wolverineonly comprised a few of its countless Easter eggs. Myriad nods to erstwhile franchises andevents within the MCUarose in set pieces, verbal references, and even fight scene choreography. Spider-Man was among thosereferenced throughoutDeadpool & Wolverine, which helped alleviate my disappointment that he did not appear in a cameo. In fact, these references were plenty to assure me thatDeadpool and Spider-Manis not only a no-brainer but also probably on the cards.
Deadpool & Wolverine Ending Explained
Deadpool & Wolverine’s ending is filled with multiversal stakes, insane cameos, and big teases for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Deadpool & Wolverinewas littered with Spider-Man references, though some are more obvious than others. The lead-up toDeadpool & Wolverine’s release gave rise to a hotbed of speculation surrounding which Marvel characters from movies of yesteryear may appear. Spider-Man was one of them, thoughPeter Parker’s absence could be thanks to the fact that the distribution rights to the character are still owned by Sony, unlike the many Fox characters now under Marvel’s purview. Nevertheless, there were at least 4 references to Spider-Man throughout the movie.
References in Order of Appearance
Specific Spider-Man Variant
The toy Iron Man mask obscures a picture of Tony & Peter in Happy Hogan’s office.
Tom Holland
The fight choreography in Deadpool & Wolverine’s first fight as Deadpool mimics Spider-Man dodging Flash in 2002’sSpider-Man.
Tobey Maguire
Deadpool imitates “Thwip” motions and noises in the car with Wolverine.
All
Tom Holland’s brother, Harry Holland, appears as a masked Deadpool variant in the final brawl with the Deadpool Corps.
While it is true that these references sit among a cavalcade of others, it’s hard to ignore the fact that these practically bookend the movie. They also may appear to be tenuous Easter eggs, but considering howMarvel’s usage of Spider-Man is severely limitedby Sony’s ownership of the character, obscure references including the fact that Tom and Harry Holland’s faces are obscured are potentially all Marvel could work with.
After Deadpool & Wolverine, I Need A Deadpool & Spider-Man Team-Up
Having the two red spandex-clad heroes join forces is just as par for the course as Deadpool and Wolverine, and it has to be the next Deadpool buddy-up movie for Marvel to adapt.
My desire for aDeadpool & Spider-Man team-upin the wake ofDeadpool & Wolverineis far from unprecedented. On the contrary, Marvel Comics set that precedent over several decades of media. Having the two red spandex-clad heroes join forces is just as par for the course as Deadpool and Wolverine, and it has to be the next Deadpool buddy-up movie for Marvel to adapt.
Deadpool and Spider-Man’s first encounter came inAmazing Spider-Man #611where the two engage in a long series of “yo' momma” jokes at one another’s expense. Off the bat, it is apparent how the pair would differ from the dynamic displayed by Deadpool & Wolverine, as both characters are famous for their wisecracks and repartee.This first encounter would culminate in an entire 3-year run of comics entitled “Deadpool/Spider-Man,“which ran from 2016 to 2019 across 50 issues.
The two also have a history in Marvel animation. Deadpool appeared in a family-friendly guise in Marvel’sUltimate Spider-Mananimated series in season 2’s “Ultimate Deadpool.” Between this small-screen team-up and those on the page, the time is ripe for Marvel to follow upDeadpool & Wolverinewith an MCU sequel starring Tom Holland - which is something that both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are on board with.
What Ryan Reynolds Has Said About Teaming Up With Tom Holland
In a recent interview (viaEntertainment Weekly), Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were asked which MCU co-star they would most like to team up with next. Reynolds emphatically responded, “If I could pick one, I’d love to play with Spider-Man. Tom Holland is amazing.” Jackman concurred, stating “I agree. He’s so cool.” It is also a sentiment shared byDeadpool & Wolverinedirector, Shawn Levy, who stated in an interview with Total Film (viaComicBook) that he would love to make a movie with Deadpool and Spider-Man.
Spider-Man has also teamed up with Wolverine in Marvel Comics.
With the Russo brothers returning to directAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, Marvel has set a precedent that Shawn Levy could now follow witha return toDeadpool 4. With that in mind, the fact thatDeadpool & Wolverine’s main players are on board with a Deadpool and Spider-Man team-up movie in the MCUmakes the project look more prudent and possible than ever. With theDeadpool & Wolverineteases, I can’t wait to see when this story can finally come to fruition.
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.
