Here’s why Marvel should loan Deadpool to Sony’s Spider-Verse instead of bringing him to the MCU. While Ryan Reynold’s Fox movies have been hugely successful, it’s unlikely that the character’s brand of adult comedy would mesh with the MCU.

Deadpool, as a character, has been around since the early '90s, quickly becoming known for his tendency to break the fourth wall in a comedic manner; often subverting the superhero genre by verbally deconstructing its tropes. For years, fans clamored to see Deadpool on the big screen, and - after a disappointing, out-of-character appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine - their prayers were answered in the form of comedic actor Ryan Reynolds who shared their desire to see Deadpool adapted correctly. 2016’s Deadpool was a financial and critical hit, owing to its irreverent spin on the well-established superhero genre. Deadpool 2 followed in 2018 (again, to critical and financial success) before Disney regained the rights to the character following their acquisition of Fox in 2019.

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Now, however, with Disney in the driving seat, Deadpool is said to be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (with Reynolds still attached). While it could be fun to see him interact with established MCU characters - tonally, the Deadpool movies are a very different beast, aiming to please an adult audience who have grown tired of the ubiquity of superheroes within modern popular culture. Instead, the character would be better suited to join Sony’s experimental Spider-Verse franchise; a relatively new venture, without the same baggage as Disney’s MCU.

The MCU Cannot Include Deadpool As He Is

Deadpool

While Deadpool’s meta qualities would be a fun addition to the MCU, his adult sense of humor and violent tendencies would have to be watered-down to maintain the franchise’s PG-13 rating, thus alienating a large portion of the character’s pre-established fanbase. While swearing and gross-out humor aren’t the only things that Deadpool brings to the party, they’ve certainly become a large part of his recent appeal - influenced, it would seem, by Ryan Reynolds’ own comedic persona. In fact, prior to Disney purchasing Fox, Reynolds insisted that Deadpool remain an R-rated character despite his growing popularity - making an exception for Once Upon a Deadpool (a PG-13 re-edit of Deadpool 2), with the caveat that the studio donated a portion of the films’ box-office to charity. Without Reynolds, it’s likely that Deadpool would lose a large part of his appeal but - based on previous reports - the actor is unlikely to participate in a family-friendly reinvention.

Leaving Deadpool As A Stand-Alone Is Wrong

Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool movie test footage

Before the Disney buyout, Deadpool was technically part of the X-Men franchise and both of his films featured cameos from established X-Men characters. Given the popularity of X-Men and Wolverine, Marvel are keen to introduce them into the MCU - but, in doing so, would rob Deadpool of his supporting cast. For Deadpool to continue subverting the superhero genre, he needs to clash with established characters and settings - otherwise, the jokes are likely to become too generalized. Additionally, Disney won’t want to confuse (or exclude) their younger fanbase by having a string of unrelated, adult films amidst their family-friendly slate. As a standalone series, divorced from the other Marvel movies, Deadpool probably wouldn’t work: the antithesis, essentially, of what the MCU has been trying to achieve with its sprawling shared universe.

The Spider-Verse Needs Another Hero

This is where the Spider-Verse comes into play. While Spider-Man, as played by Tom Holland, is part of the MCU, the character is loaned to Disney by Sony - with both companies sharing the profits. Sony have already kicked off their Spider-Verse on the back of Venom, adjacent to the MCU, establishing their own shared universe, largely comprised of Spider-Man-adjacent characters. The difference, of course, was the visually stunning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which brought in Miles Morales, establishing a path for a Spider-Verse hero who isn't Peter Parker. And that presents an opportunity for Deadpool. The franchise has Venom as an anti-hero, but so far, even with a name defined by a hero - Spider-Man - there aren't any true heroes in there. A darker, more adult tone may be the aim, but that doesn't mean heroes have to be left out entirely.

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With the Spider-Verse still in its infancy, Deadpool’s inclusion wouldn’t feel like a massive tonal shift - and he’s often confused for Spider-Man in the comics, so it would be amusing for him to be included amongst a group of alternate universe Spider-People “by mistake”, before spinning off into his own series within the Spider-Verse; stopping the whole thing from being too Spidey-centric. Additionally, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Sony has announced a shift towards more adult-oriented fare from their animation studio - influenced by the growing popularity of adult animation on various streaming platforms - which would obviously align with Reynolds’ R-rated Deadpool sensibilities.

Why Spider-Man v Deadpool Would Be Perfect

Deadpool and Spider-Man from animated series

The relationship between Spider-Man and Deadpool is well-established within Marvel’s comic book continuity, with Deadpool’s anarchic, violent behavior wreaking havoc on Peter Parker’s anxiety. Both characters share a sense of humor and wear pretty similar costumes - leading to confusion between the two that could make for a great “mistaken identity” plot in a future Spider-Verse movie turning it into a significant event movie. That's the kind of billing that would sell a huge number of tickets for the Sony Spider-Verse, particularly if Sony embraces the lead offered by Marvel for exploring the Multiverse a little more. Given the opportunity for Sony to use Jamie Foxx's Electro in a new Sinister Six movie on the back of his MCU Spider-Man 3 return, it would seem likely the conversation will happen.

Via Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, the MCU has introduced the notion of alternate dimensions and looks set to explore a few in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, alongside various streaming projects for Disney+. While they seem to be setting the stage for Deadpool and his ilk to appear, the unavoidable tonal inconsistencies that would arise from such a radical move make the idea less than agreeable. Instead, Sony should be given Deadpool in exchange for Disney’s continued use of Spider-Man, weaving him into their burgeoning Spider-Verse wherein Ryan Reynolds can maintain the character’s outlandish appeal, while also realizing the fabled Spidey/Deadpool relationship onscreen.

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