The highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine—which is the only Marvel Studios film debuting in theatres this year—is expected to shake up the MCU. The film will introduce Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe and feature all sorts of Mutant characters from previous 20th Century Fox films. Hugh Jackman will be reprising his role as Wolverine, even though he was thought to be finished after the character died in 2017’s Logan. It was announced Jackman would be returning as the iconic Mutant in a video released by Reynolds in September 2022.
How Long Is ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?
We can exclusively report the current runtime for the next Deadpool outing is 2 hours and 10 minutes. This cut of the film is subject to change in the future, so the runtime is not final. A runtime of this length would land the film as the longest in the trilogy since the first film is 1 hour and 48 minutes long and the second is 1 hour and 59 minutes long.
Poor Box Office Performance
Disney is betting big, with CEO Bob Iger predicting Deadpool & Wolverine will be “one of the more successful Marvel movies we’ve had in a long time.” A box office success is what the studio needs, considering the recent poor performance of popular IP such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, which grossed $476 million and $206 million (a new franchise low) respectively.
The Future Of Marvel Studios
Disney originally had three Marvel films slated for 2024: Captain America: Brave New World, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Thunderbolts. The former and latter were delayed to 2025 as a result of last year’s dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike; Captain America: Brave New World is expected to undergo extensive reshoots in an effort to improve the film following poor screen test results.
Disney is actively aiming to improve its Marvel brand with audiences. CEO Bob Iger stated in a recent Disney Q1 2024 Earnings Call, “We’ve reduced output, particularly at Marvel.” This is the result of a phenomenon dubbed “superhero fatigue,” deriving from an oversaturation of films and shows centred on superheroes.
Additionally, Iger stated, “Marvel is starting to focus on some of its stronger franchises going forward, but I’ll leave it at that.” With the future slate past 2025 being unclear, it can be determined Disney will lean into more well-known characters and take fewer risks with new IP. Only time will tell if Disney can revitalise the MCU brand; the success of Deadpool & Wolverine will determine if there’s any longevity left.
Deadpool & Wolverine will debut in theatres this year on July 26th. Shawn Levy directs the film and stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin and Morena Baccarin. All images used are courtesy of Disney.
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