X-rated drug references to feature in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
For the entirety of its 16-year existence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a staunchly family-friendly and PG-13 operation. However, it’s now gearing up to change in a major way upon the release of Deadpool & Wolverine this summer.
When Disney completed its acquisition of 20th Century Fox and handed Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige the keys to even more comic book favourites, there were questions asked over how Ryan Reynolds’ foul-mouthed and fourth-wall-breaking ‘Merc with a Mouth’ would fit into the equation.
The first two Deadpool movies each became the highest-grossing R-rated release of all time. Now that the sequel is coming backed by the MCU machine and features the hotly-anticipated return of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, there’s a distinct possibility the third movie in the series is going to topple Joker and complete the hat-trick.
Feige appeared at CinemaCon to debut nine minutes of brand-new footage from Deadpool & Wolverine. The teaser assuaged any doubts that the character was going to have his edges softened by the Mouse House.
In fact, in one clip shown to attendees, Leslie Uggams’ Blind Al intimates that she wants to do some cocaine with Reynolds’ Wade Wilson, who baulks at the suggestion. He replies by referring to cocaine as “the only thing Feige said was off limits,” to which Blind Al responds by asking if he wants to build a snowman instead, in a not-so-subtle substitute.
There were also references to pegging and Deadpool telling Wolverine how hearing him break the fourth wall makes his “dick vibrate,” so this clearly isn’t going to be a typical Marvel blockbuster.
There’s even the requisite dig at Deadpool’s former home studio, with the superhero telling Fox to “get fucked” now that he’s a Disney man because he’s “going to Disneyland.” Deadpool & Wolverine may be the 34th instalment in the long-running franchise, but it goes without saying it’s going to be in a league of its own.
Even Feige himself got in on the profanity by describing Deadpool & Wolverine as “fucking awesome” to the CinemaCon crowd, which he said he was allowed to say because it’s an R-rated production. There’s been a growing belief the MCU has been stuck on autopilot for years now, but an offbeat buddy caper with gratuitous violence, bountiful swearing, and plenty of self-awareness is one way to freshen things up.
Deadpool & Wolverine hits cinemas on July 26th, 2024, when audiences will discover whether or not Reynolds lives up his self-proclaimed billing of ‘Marvel Jesus’.
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