Deadpool and Wolverine Marvel universes explained: How new movie fits into MCU

Deadpool and Wolverine features a collision of Marvel universes and here's how the new movie fits into the MCU.

By George Simpson, Senior Film and Arts Reporter

Deadpool & Wolverine official trailer with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman

The only MCU movie to release in 2024 hits cinemas in just a couple of weeks. Disney, who owns Marvel Studios, is banking on Deadpool and Wolverine being a hit after a disappointing box office last year.

Yet just how are these two superhero characters suddenly in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie?

It all goes back to Disney’s acquisition of Fox, who used to own 20th Century Fox, now returned to its original name of 20th Century Studios.

Film rights to Marvel’s X-Men were with this studio and their movies starring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool were set in a different universe to Disney’s MCU.

However, following the merger, Marvel Studios now has the X-Men rights and has already begun including the superhero team in their content.

deadpool and wolverine fighting

Deadpool and Wolverine Marvel universes explained: How new movie fits into MCU (Image: MARVEL)

Evan Peters’ Quicksilver was in WandaVision and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X cameoed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Meanwhile, Kamala Khan was unveiled to be a mutant in Ms Marvel.

If that wasn’t enough The Marvels end credits scene concluded with Monica Rambeau waking up in an alternate universe with Kelsey Grammer’s Beast.

And now the X-Men are set to enter the MCU with Deadpool and Wolverine properly and here’s how.

Watch all the Deadpool movies on Disney+
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Disney+ now costs as little as £4.99 a month for the Standard with Ads plan, but members can get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront on the Standard or Premium plans.

Disney+ is the only place to stream epic shows including The Bear and Shōgun, plus blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Marvel.

wolverine and logan

Deadpool and Wolverine's Wolverine is not the one who died in Logan, he's a variant (Image: MARVEL)

The Deadpool and Wolverine trailer opens in the alternate universe in which the first two Deadpool movies (made by Fox) were set.

Due to his time-travelling escapades in Deadpool 2, the Time Variance Authority (from Disney+ show Loki) show up to arrest Wade.

At the TVA he ends up teaming up with Wolverine, but it’s not the one who died in 2017’s Logan. This is a Wolverine variant who let everyone down in yet another alternate universe.

And by the looks of things, the duo will be traversing the Marvel multiverse and presumably will end up in the MCU’s Sacred Timeline.

Deadpool and Wolverine hits UK cinemas on July 25, 2024.

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