There’s no denying that international blockbusters have traditionally limited LGBTQ+ representation (or made it easier to cut controversial scenes). That said, the two returning queer characters in the new film — Deadpool’s surly pal Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Negasonic’s smiling mutant girlfriend Yukio — are already breaking the mold. In Deadpool 2, the pair (both of whom are more than queer) drink from mugs that say “I’m with her.” No one will miss the passion and sweetness between the pair, and audience reaction has been so positive that it’s unlikely Reynolds, Reese and Wernick will mess with their chemistry (though fans might not be as pleased if they did).
Litman, meanwhile, is excited about the return of Rob Delaney’s talentless everyman Peter, who joined Deadpool’s gang of outlaws in Deadpool 2 because “I saw the ad for it and thought it looked funny.” “I’m thrilled to have Peter in the new movie,” Litman says. “He’s a dad-sized, diabetic Peter!”
Its success proves
Robbie, whose book Box Office Poison will be published later this year, is hopeful that Deadpool and Wolverine will be successful because “the industry is struggling and you need hits to make mid-budget movies.” He also feels the resistance to many of Marvel’s Phase 5 titles is part of a broader trend: “Action movies, once a mainstay for the studios, are no longer reliable. [the underperformance] Fast X [Fast and Furious 10] Mission: Impossible 7 [Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]”Since the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences have only gone to the cinema on special occasions and have started to seek out weaker films,” Robbie argues. Warner Bros.’ R-rated film “Furiosa/Mad Max 3: Furious Strikes Back” lost money “because the filmmakers didn’t understand the audience.”
Despite 2023 being a terrible year overall, Disney has once again proven they understand audiences, cashing in big on the success of Pixar’s Inside Out 2. “Everyone is ecstatic about this record-breaking, fun, heartwarming movie,” Litman enthuses. “It’s been touted as the savior of the year. And then along comes the flip side of that, Deadpool & Wolverine, which could potentially be the savior of superhero movies.”
Both sequels will eventually be available on Disney+. Inside Out 2 has already joined the billion-dollar club, and Deadpool & Wolverine will likely follow. Essentially, Disney has all the bases covered. With his biggest smile, Newman says, “At Disneyland, if you get tired of princesses, they sell you a Disney villain. Instead of Snow White, buy the Evil Queen! That’s how you get tricked. Whatever choice you make, you’re still part of that world.”
Deadpool & Wolverine will be released in US and UK cinemas on July 25th.
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