Shawn Levy Reveals He Agreed To Direct DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE After Passing On 2013's THE WOLVERINE
Shawn Levy has an impressive list of credits to his name, including Night at the Museum, Free Guy, and Stranger Things. Deadpool & Wolverine will be his biggest movie to date, but it isn't the first time a Marvel project has hit the filmmaker's radar.
Levy worked with Hugh Jackman on Real Steel and Ryan Reynolds on Free Guy and The Adam Project, meaning he was already good friends with both actors.
However, before Reynolds pitched him on helming what was then Deadpool 3, Levy had already passed on the chance to take charge of 2013's The Wolverine!
"On the set of The Adam Project, Ryan asked me if I would consider doing Deadpool 3," he tells Empire Online. "And I remember him saying, 'I know you’re gonna say no, but I’m really going to try and talk you into it.' And my response was, 'I’m not gonna fricking say no, are you kidding? It’s a hard and immediate yes, sir!'"
"When we were making Real Steel, Hugh was looking to do The Wolverine, and he asked me if I wanted to do it," Levy adds. "And like a moron, I said, 'No.' Because I was thinking at that time, 'Well, it’s your fifth time playing the character, I’m doing original films et cetera.' And I regretted it deeply for years."
"And so, when the opportunity came around again, thank God I was older and wiser enough to jump at the opportunity."
James Mangold ended up directing The Wolverine and later returned for Logan, a movie which ended Jackman's tenure as the character...Until Deadpool & Wolverine, of course.
As for what made this movie more appealing than the clawed mutant's second solo outing, Levy says, "These are wildly different characters. You have the Merc With The Mouth, and you have a guy who doesn’t even like words very much. That is not a recipe for a love story, that’s a recipe for conflict. And there’s something delicious about that conflict."
After a rough couple of years for Marvel Studios, all eyes are on Deadpool & Wolverine to succeed and provide the MCU with its biggest hit since 2012's Spider-Man: No Way Home. Levy does seem to be the right man for the job and there's already been chatter about his potentially being enlisted for Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Director Says Cameos Have Purpose - "We Let The Story Dictate The Characters"
As you know, Deadpool & Wolverine is going to have an overload of cameos from Fox’s X-Men films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There have been a lot of rumors regarding who might show up, but regardless of what characters show up, they all serve a purpose in the story.
During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Shawn Levy suggested the highly-anticipated film won’t be packed with mindless fan service and cameos.
He explained: "I'll say we didn't start off with a wishlist. From the day we started devising this Deadpool and Wolverine story, we let the story dictate the characters, not the other way around."
He then used one character as an example with Pyro (Aaron Stanford), the fire-based mutant who appeared in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand. He briefly appeared in the Super Bowl trailer for Deadpool 3.
Levy explained: "Aaron and his return as Pyro was an outgrowth of that, and that applies to pretty much all the characters you'll see in the movie."
In a previous interview, the filmmaker went on to say: "I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world.”
He continued: “But I didn't want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research."
In the film, “After facing some professional setbacks while going through a midlife crisis. Wade Wilson decides to officially retire Deadpool and becomes a used car salesman.
“But when his friends, family, and the whole world are at stake, Deadpool decides to bring his katanas out of retirement. He recruits an unwilling and wary Wolverine to not only fight for their survival but ultimately, their legacy."
It’s also explained: "That f–king irresponsible hero Deadpool will change the history of the MCU with Wolverine!?"
Shawn Levy is directing the movie and the confirmed cast for the movie includes Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Hugh Jackman as Logan, Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic as Vanessa and Colossus, Matthew Macfadyen as a TVA Agent, and Leslie Uggams as Blind Al.
They are joined by Brianna Hildebrand and Shioli Kutsuna, who will also return to the franchise as Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s girlfriend Yukio. It was previously confirmed that Jennifer Garner will return as Elektra in the movie.
Deadpool & Wolverine: The Shattered Bonds
Wolverine, battered and scarred from years of battles, seeks solace in the Canadian wilderness. His adamantium claws have sliced through countless foes, but they’ve also left him questioning his purpose. He’s haunted by memories of lost friends, and the weight of immortality presses upon him.
Meanwhile, across the border, Deadpool—mercenary, wise-cracker, and self-proclaimed “hero”—is up to his usual antics. His R-rated humor and penchant for breaking the fourth wall have made him a cult favorite among fans. But beneath the mask, he grapples with his own demons, including a longing for connection.
Their paths collide when a mysterious organization known as “The Nexus” threatens to unleash a cataclysmic event—a weapon capable of unraveling reality itself. The Nexus believes that by shattering the bonds between dimensions, they can reshape existence according to their whims.
Enter Cassandra Nova, a mutant with reality-warping abilities. She’s the mastermind behind The Nexus, fueled by a twisted vision of utopia. Her plan? To merge all realities into one, erasing pain, suffering, and even death. But her actions come at a cost—the very fabric of existence frays, and chaos looms.
Wolverine, ever the reluctant hero, stumbles upon The Nexus’s plot. He’s drawn into a web of intrigue, facing enemies both old and new. But he’s not alone. Deadpool, tracking down a bounty, crosses paths with Logan. Their initial banter—part snark, part camaraderie—soon evolves into an uneasy alliance.
Together, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure. From the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the mystical temples of Tibet, they follow the breadcrumbs left by Cassandra Nova. Along the way, they encounter mutants, aliens, and interdimensional beings—all with their own agendas.
Themes:
- Redemption: Wolverine seeks redemption for past sins, while Deadpool grapples with his own dark history.
- Identity: Who are they beyond their powers and scars? Can they find purpose beyond violence?
- Friendship: Despite their differences, Logan and Wade discover a strange kinship—a bond forged in battle and laughter.
- A motorcycle chase through a collapsing wormhole.
- Deadpool wielding dual katanas against extradimensional monsters.
- Wolverine’s berserker rage tearing through hordes of Nova’s minions.
Action Sequences:
The Final Showdown: At the heart of the multiverse, atop a shattered spire, Wolverine faces Cassandra Nova. His claws clash with her reality-bending powers. Deadpool, quipping all the way, provides much-needed distraction. But it’s not just physical combat—it’s a battle of ideologies.
In a moment of vulnerability, Wolverine reveals his deepest fear: that his immortality has robbed him of humanity. Deadpool, ever irreverent, counters: “Maybe it’s time to embrace the chaos, bub.”
As dimensions collide, they make a choice—one that defies logic. They sacrifice their own existence to mend the rifts. The Nexus crumbles, and reality stitches itself back together.
The Aftermath: Wolverine fades into the ether, a whispered legend. Deadpool, left behind, raises a glass to his fallen comrade. The scars remain, but so does hope.
And somewhere, in a hidden corner of the multiverse, a yellow-and-blue costume flutters—a symbol of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of heroes.
Deadpool & Wolverine will hit theaters on July 26th!
