Deadpool 3’s Plot Teases Perfectly Flip The Original X-Men Movie

Fox’s original X-Men film may be perfectly mirrored in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool 3, if the Phase 5 film’s suspected storyline comes to fruition. Following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, was the first character confirmed to be making the permanent move to the MCU proper, after his appearances in Fox’s X-Men Universe in 2016’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2. Further Deadpool films had been planned at Fox, which were expected to focus on Deadpool’s X-Force team, but these plans were changed when Reynolds confirmed the development of Deadpool 3 in 2019, with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige reinforcing this announcement in 2021.

Since then, Shawn Levy’s Deadpool 3 has taken some major steps forward, including the announcement that Hugh Jackman would be reprising his role of James “Logan” Howlett, a.k.a. Wolverine. Jackman previously retired from the role after his character’s death in 2017’s Logan, but Deadpool 3 will mark Wolverine’s debut in the MCU proper, and will see him and Reynolds’ Deadpool come together for the first time since 2009’s reviled X-Men Origins: Wolverine. With Deadpool and Wolverine coming together in Deadpool 3, rumors have begun to circulate regarding the storyline for the upcoming Phase 5 project, which may interestingly mirror the events of 20th Century Fox’s original X-Men film from 2000.

Deadpool 3’s Plot Repeats X-Men 2000’s Opening

In the opening moments of 2000’s X-Men, Jackman’s Wolverine forms a bond of friendship with Anna Paquin’s young Marie, a.k.a. Rogue, a mutant with the ability to draw the life force from other individuals. Wolverine’s partnership with Rogue – who would go on to become a key element in Magneto’s X-Men plan – eventually brought him into contact with Professor X and the X-Men team, kick-starting the events of Fox’s entire X-Men franchise. In a way, this is also the suspected storyline for Deadpool 3, though instead of teaming up with Rogue, Wolverine will find himself paired with Wade Wilson’s Deadpool on a journey across the MCU’s multiverse.

Deadpool 3 is set to make one huge change to this storyline, however, as his dynamic with Deadpool will be remarkably different from the one he shared with Rogue. Wolverine became something of a father figure to Rogue, protecting her and guiding her throughout the original X-Men trilogy, yet his relationship with Deadpool will surely be less saccharine. Deadpool’s obsession with Wolverine has been evident since this version’s debut in 2016’s Deadpool, though it’s unlikely that this passion is reciprocated by the clawed mutant, which will flip X-Men’s original Wolverine storyline on its head and make for a hilarious and exciting adventure for the two seasoned antiheroes.

Why Deadpool 3’s Original X-Men Similarities May Be Intentional

The idea that Deadpool 3 is taking inspiration from 20th Century Fox’s previous X-Men projects actually makes sense when considering the Phase 5 project could be the final time this universe is ever seen on screen. It’s not far-fetched to imagine Deadpool 3 will be paying homage to Fox’s X-Men Universe, acting as an affectionate love letter to the franchise before it’s bid farewell. This means that Deadpool 3’s emulation and subversion of Wolverine’s original storyline from 2000’s X-Men could be perfect, as it will create a brilliant full-circle moment for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, while allowing Deadpool 3 to pave the road for new mutant stories in the MCU’s future.