Deadpool & Wolverine: Hugh Jackman's Logan: The Next MCU Trickster?
The teasers for Deadpool & Wolverine definitely ignite more curiosity than clarity. The storyline of this highly anticipated third installment of the Deadpool series remains veiled in secrecy, and only with the release of the full trailer do we catch a substantial glimpse of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. Yet, the lingering question persists: which iteration of Wolverine is this, exactly?
That, perhaps, is the paramount inquiry swirling around the latest trailer. So, let's delve deeper into the clues and contemplate why this portrayal of Wolverine may diverge from any we've witnessed before. And while we're at it, what parallels can be drawn between Wolverine and Tom Hiddleston's Loki? Here's the breakdown.
Which Version of Wolverine Is This?
Navigating the labyrinthine X-Men movie timeline proves to be a daunting task. The cinematic universe, in many ways, defies seamless integration. However, the essence lies in the existence of two distinct timelines within Fox's X-Men realm. The first encompasses everything leading up to 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. The events unfurling in Days of Future Past spawn an alternate timeline, paving the way for subsequent installments like X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Dark Phoenix (2019), and the poignant culmination in 2017's Logan. Irrespective of the chosen timeline, it appears the fate of the X-Men is inexorably bound to anguish and demise.
So, from which timeline does this rendition of Wolverine emerge? The visual cues in the new trailer suggest a depiction post-Days of Future Past but pre-Logan. We witness him grieving the loss of the X-Men before an array of monumental gravestones, hinting that this scene transpires after the tragic incident where Professor Xavier inadvertently annihilated his students in a psychic onslaught. It's plausible that Deadpool & Wolverine might delve into this sorrowful event, rather than merely alluding to it.
Another telling indicator is Logan's struggle to unsheathe his claws ("Whiskey d*** of the claws," as Wade eloquently puts it). This echo resonates with the challenges faced by Logan in Logan. While this rendition of Wolverine may not be as weathered and physically fractured as his Logan counterpart, he's undoubtedly on a similar trajectory.
These signs allude to the notion that Deadpool recruits Wolverine several months or years before the events depicted in the Logan movie. However, another hypothesis tantalizes the minds of some enthusiasts. What if this iteration of Wolverine hails from a third timeline, hitherto unexplored?
In the original X-Men movie timeline, Logan takes a hiatus from the team for years following the events of 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, only to be re-recruited by Xavier and Magneto in the post-credits scene of 2013's The Wolverine. Wolverine plays a pivotal role in altering history and neutralizing the Sentinel threat. But what if this particular Wolverine rebuffs the offer to rejoin the X-Men? What if our mutant heroes fail to alter the past due to his absence, leaving behind a remorseful Wolverine to mourn his fallen comrades?
Adapting Old Man Logan
Another conceivable scenario entails this rendition of Wolverine drawing closer to the comic book narrative of Old Man Logan. While the Logan movie loosely drew inspiration from that comic, it adopted a more grounded approach to portraying an aging Wolverine embarking on a final journey. Here, we discern a direct nod to Old Man Logan, with Cassandra Nova ensconced within an oversized Ant-Man carcass. Moreover, the desolate expanse of The Void appears to mirror the post-apocalyptic wasteland depicted in the comic.
In Old Man Logan, readers eventually uncover Wolverine's vow to renounce violence after being duped by Mysterio into massacring the X-Men. Could this be the catalyst for the demise of the X-Men in this movie? Was Logan manipulated into annihilating his beloved allies? Such a revelation would certainly intensify his rivalry with Cassandra Nova, particularly as we witness her telepathically commandeering his body in the trailer. For Wolverine, nothing instills greater dread than a loss of autonomy.
These latter scenarios present compelling conjectures, aligning with Ryan Reynolds' prior assertions about this incarnation of Wolverine being "something entirely novel." Furthermore, they circumvent any concerns regarding potential negation of the events in Logan and the sacrifice emblematic of that narrative's conclusion. This iteration of Wolverine may share similarities with the Logan version, yet that doesn't necessarily imply identity.
It remains entirely plausible that the film will maintain an aura of ambiguity. Should one prefer to view this as Logan's Wolverine, so be it. Conversely, if one favors the notion of a fresh interpretation, that interpretation holds merit as well.
Regardless of the backstory, the essence remains consistent: this Wolverine grapples with witnessing the demise of his loved ones and navigating a world fraught with enmity and trepidation. He is a man burdened by anguish and remorse, and therein lies the realm where Deadpool and the TVA intervene.
Could Wolverine Be the New Loki?
The initial trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine unveiled Wade Wilson's recruitment by the Time Variance Authority. Subsequently, the second trailer provides a slightly clearer perspective on why Wade seeks Wolverine's assistance in combat. Wade lacks experience in safeguarding the world, let alone the multiverse. The preceding two Deadpool movies revolved around narrower objectives, driven by vengeance or the urge to protect those dear to him. In essence, Wade proves too self-absorbed to embody the archetype of a genuine superhero. He aspires that fighting alongside Wolverine will serve as a crash course in heroism. Regrettably, this Wolverine appears too disillusioned and crestfallen to offer substantial aid.
Might Wolverine undergo a comparable transformation upon induction into the ranks of the TVA? Might he, too, be granted glimpses of his future selves or alternate universes as a means of piercing through his despondency?
If this indeed represents the Wolverine from Logan, the TVA could present him with glimpses of the events therein and elucidate how he evolves into the paternal figure and guardian requisite for Dafne Keen's Laura. If this reflects a Wolverine who refrains from rejoining the X-Men in Days of Future Past, perhaps the TVA will shed light on the events of that film and the heroism he could have embodied. And if this incarnates a version of Wolverine inspired by Old Man Logan, the TVA might unveil alternate universes where he emerged as the hero the world necessitated.
