“Deadpool & Wolverine” marks a new direction

Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Marvel is on the mend.

Following its all-time worst box office performance last November, the studio is back on top with “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe grossed $211 million during its domestic debut, the highest debut of 2024 and for an R-rated film ever.

It is also the highest-grossing MCU film since 2021's “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

It is a promising development for the DisneyMarvel-owned Marvel Studios has struggled to maintain box office momentum in the wake of 2019's landmark “Avengers: Endgame.” Pressure from the number of titles in theaters and streaming series led to declining quality and audiences balking.

“Welcome to the MCU,” Reynolds' Deadpool tells Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the film, which hit theaters over the weekend. “You're joining at a bit of a low point.”

That low point is 2023's “The Marvels,” which generated the lowest domestic opening ($46.1 million) and lowest global box office gross ($200 million) for the MCU in history.

At the same time, Marvel Studios was still reeling from pandemic-related production shutdowns and labor strikes in Hollywood. Then his heir apparent, Jonathan Majors, was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment, leading to his firing and questions about the future of the villain Kang.

However, with the recent success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” and several strategic hires, Marvel appears to be on track to right the ship. And that’s good news for a studio that has generated more than $30 billion at the box office since 2008. The MCU is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time and one of the most consistent drivers of ticket sales in movie history.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has brought back Joe and Anthony Russo (the writing/directing duo behind “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”) and has cast Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., to take on the role of Doctor Doom.

As part of the studio's presentation at San Diego Comic Con on Saturday, Feige announced that the Russo brothers will direct “Avengers: Doomsday” (previously titled “Avengers: Kang Dynasty) and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which are set for release in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the only MCU film release of 2024, but 2025 will see the release of “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts*,” “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Blade.”

It's unknown where Deadpool and Wolverine will fit into the upcoming Marvel films — both characters survive the final installment and remain in the Deadpool universe, separate from the rest of the MCU. “Deadpool & Wolverine” seemingly hints that Jackman will return as Wolverine in future films.

“Fox killed him. Disney resurrected him,” Deadpool tells the audience in his typical fourth-wall-breaking tone. “They're going to make him do this until he's 90.”

Many speculate that the duo will return for “Secret Wars,” a comic book story arc first seen in the 1980s and later revisited in 2015. The story involves alternate universes colliding, their destruction, and parts of those universes coming back together into something called “Battleworld.” It’s also where Marvel could incorporate the X-Men.

It's unclear exactly how the MCU will handle the “Secret Wars” storyline, but the Russo brothers have teased that Doctor Doom (Downey) will play a major role in the events. At least fans of the franchise now have a better idea of ​​the direction it will take.

“As Robert said, 'New mask, same job,'” Anthony Russo said during Saturday's San Diego Comic Con panel, echoing Downey's words. “And the job for all of us, including all of us in this room, is to help create the best possible experience that we can all have together in a movie theater.”