Five years after Marvel Studios gains the rights to the X-Men following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019, the mutants are about to make their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The studio is working on its first-ever mutant movie, the X-Men reboot, and their first introduction to the Multiverse will happen in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. On that note, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige discusses the arrival of the X-Men in the MCU.
In an interview with Variety, Feige was asked what excited him the most about the X-Men’s coming to the MCU. There, he admitted that he didn’t expect the Fox characters to be part of Marvel Studios after being with the company for over 20 years. So, when it finally happened, it was a huge surprise for him.
“It felt almost like destiny,” he said. “A huge opportunity. “The Fantastic Four and X-Men alone make a colossal portion of our comic universe that we now have access to for films and shows.
He also answered the question about his conversations with Deadpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy about bringing the mutants into the MCU. As this seemed to be planned, he said, “Almost everything was on the table,” as he revealed what the threequel would be about from Reynolds’ point of view.
“This movie was all about No. 1, Deadpool and Wolverine together for the first time, and No. 2, the exploration of Deadpool and his cast of characters when they have access to this entire other timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” he continued.
Feige also addressed how the mutants would be central to the MCU after Deadpool & Wolverine. Though he didn’t give anything away, he teased that they had hinted over the past few years about the characters who possessed the mutant gene. By the looks of it, he’s referring to Ms. Marvel and Namor, among others.
“I wouldn’t say when, but we’ve already hinted over the past few years at certain people possessing what will one day be known as the mutant gene,” he explained. “We’ll be very excited when we tap into it.”
Kevin Feige Talks About the Importance of Using Real Locations Despite Deadpool & Wolverine Set Leaks
When Deadpool & Wolverine was still filming, the production team used real locations despite being exposed in public and by paparazzi. True enough, several set photos leaked online, showing Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) fighting off Sabretooth (Tyler Mane). However, though they knew it couldn’t be helped, Feige revealed that using practical locations was “very important” to them.
We didn’t want this to be a green screen box for all of the locations. We want it to be out in the real world, and that always comes with potential tradeoffs. We were in a lot of secure locations and places that were far away from prying eyes — with the exception of drones.
Feige added that it was a new experience for him to have paparazzi drones flying repeatedly on the set, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of the movie. However, he’s confident that viewers are smart enough to know that behind-the-scenes photos differ from what they see on the big screen.
“That being said, Wolverine in that yellow outfit looks cool from any angle, drone or shot through the trees,” he quipped.
Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to end Fox’s X-Men universe as the mutants are about to join the MCU. As Feige hinted earlier, it would all start when the threequel finally comes out, so there may be a big reveal that may happen in the movie fans need to see.
Deadpool & Wolverine is set to release on July 26.
