Buzz
Marvel Studios has embedded numerous details to prepare for Wolverine's appearance since the early projects of the MCU.
Hugh Jackman will officially return as Wolverine in the blockbuster Deadpool 3. This is perhaps one of the most attention-grabbing pieces of information in the film industry in 2022. What's more, since Deadpool 3 is part of the MCU, it's highly likely that this will be the bridge for Logan to officially join the world's largest superhero cinematic universe.
However, even before Hugh Jackman confirmed the above information, the MCU had already 'planted' many details to welcome Marvel's most famous mutant. In other words, Marvel Studios has prepared very meticulously and holds many advantages to justify Wolverine's presence in the near future.
Captain America's super serum has a close connection to Wolverine
Nếu không phải fan ruột của truyện tranh Marvel thì có lẽ ít ai biết rằng có một sự liên kết “nhẹ” giữa Captain America: The First Avenger với nguồn gốc sức mạnh của Wolverine. Trong nguyên tác, Logan được cấy bộ xương adamantium vào trong cơ thể thông qua một thử nghiệm tuyệt mật có tên Weapon X của chính phủ. Đây thực chất là bước thứ 10 trong một chương trình lớn hơn - Weapon Plus.
The first step of Weapon Plus is Project: Rebirth, the experiment that turned a small, frail Steve Rogers into a true super soldier through a special serum. In other words, the experiment that turned Logan into Wolverine was an improvement, or even a breakthrough, from the program that created Captain America in the 1940s.
And through the series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier, we learned that the plan to 'mass produce' super soldiers didn't stop with Steve Rogers. Therefore, this could be the foundation for Marvel Studios to build the origin story for Wolverine in the MCU, not too far from the original, yet still closely tied to the overarching storyline of this cinematic universe.
The city of Madripoor
The city of Madripoor has officially been brought to the screen through the series The Falcon & the Winter Soldier. And in the comics, this is one of the most prominent locations associated with the X-Men, especially Wolverine. The Wolfman often visits Madripoor to drink and even 'exchange techniques' with local thugs.
More specifically, Wolverine spends a lot of leisure time, indulging, at a bar named Princess Bar - as seen in episode 3 of The Falcon & the Winter Soldier. In fact, when this episode aired, many fans hypothesized that Marvel Studios was 'teasing' the arrival of the X-Men in the near future. At that time, Disney had completed the acquisition of Fox, and they could leverage Marvel's mutants anytime. If Wolverine has existed in the MCU for a long time but decided to 'hide' instead of openly fighting like the Avengers, Madripoor might be the place he chooses.
Fox's X-Men Universe
Marvel Studios has taken a big step in bringing Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to the MCU through the blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With the return of Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, the studio has quietly confirmed that the once-iconic X-Men film series from Fox is a reality within the MCU multiverse. If Wolverine and other mutants do not exist in Earth-616, the main timeline of this cinematic universe, Marvel Studios can completely 'pluck' them from another reality, thereby addressing issues such as: Where were the X-Men during Earth's attacks by extraterrestrial forces?
Furthermore, the return of Professor X also paves the way for the return of many mutants from the previous X-Men films. This will help Marvel Studios avoid spending too much time exploring their origins and powers, and instead continue developing subsequent storylines to serve the overarching narrative of the MCU.
Mutants in the MCU
If Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirms the existence of mutants in the Marvel multiverse, then Ms. Marvel series goes even bolder by revealing surprising truths about 'mutants' in the final moments of its first season. In a conversation with Kamala Khan, Bruno Carrelli explained that her superpowers don't come from external factors but are activated by 'mutation' factors deeply hidden in Kamala's genes. And thus, Ms. Marvel becomes the first official mutant of the MCU, although there may still be many other mutants that have existed before or will appear later.
This could be said to be one of the strongest foundations for the arrival of the X-Men, and Marvel Studios won't have to spend too much effort explaining their power origins anymore. Additionally, Marvel has also confirmed Namor - the king of the undersea nation Talokan in the blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Forevers, also a mutant in its cinematic universe.
Wolverine in the She-Hulk series
As mentioned earlier, Marvel Studios can indeed bring Hugh Jackman's version of Wolverine to the MCU through the multiverse, and this mutant will come from another reality. However, the She-Hulk series has shown that Logan, or at least a version of him, exists in Earth-616.
Specifically, in the second episode, if you pay close attention, you can see some very interesting news on Jennifer Walter's computer screen. In the bottom right corner, there is an article titled “Man Fights With Metal Claws in Bar Brawl”, indicating a bar brawl involving a man using metal claws as a weapon. Fans know that metal claws are a trademark weapon, symbolic of Wolverine in both comics and films. Therefore, this could be an easter egg that Marvel has embedded in She-Hulk to prepare for Logan's arrival in its cinematic universe.
The official debut of Wolverine
Deadpool 3 will officially bring the immortal mutant, Wade Winston Wilson, to the MCU, along with the appearance of the Wolverine - Logan. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will both return to continue their respective roles. This suggests that Deadpool and Wolverine are likely to come from another reality in the vast Marvel multiverse.
Hugh Jackman has also revealed that Marvel may use time travel theory to bring the Wolfman to the MCU. In addition, Deadpool 3 will be set before the events of Logan. Therefore, what happens in this film will not affect the poignant ending that 20th Century Studios gave Wolverine six years ago. However, this also means that Hugh Jackman is likely to only return to this role in Deadpool 3 and not be long-term associated with the MCU.
At the end of 2022, director Shawn Levy confirmed that Deadpool 3 will officially start filming in May of this year and will maintain the same level of violence as the previous 2 films. This implies that this may be Marvel Studios' first R-rated (for audiences over 17) labeled work. Deadpool 3 is expected to premiere on November 8, 2024.
Sources: Marvel Studios, ScreenRant
