Marvel Just Hinted Deadpool 3 Is Not In The MCU

Since the Disney/Fox merge, fans have been waiting for Deadpool to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while the announcement of Deadpool 3 seemed to point in that direction, Marvel might have subtly teased he’s not part of the MCU. The rights to the characters from Marvel Comics are scattered, which is why some won’t make it to the MCU in a long, long time, but the Disney/Fox deal makes it possible for many to take part in the biggest connected universe of superheroes at some point.

Some of those characters now have projects in development within the MCU, as is the case of the Fantastic Four, who are getting a new movie with Jon Watts on board as director. Others, however, continue to be left out of the MCU for different reasons, as is the case of the X-Men, while others have fallen into a sort of limbo as they may or may not join the MCU at some point. Deadpool falls into the latter category, as fans have been waiting for his third movie to be his introduction to the MCU and thus make it possible for him to cross paths with characters like Spider-Man and Thor, yet there hasn’t been a word about him being in or out of this universe.

The coronavirus pandemic didn’t make it possible for San Diego Comic-Con to happen, so all those exciting announcements that big studios like Marvel would have normally made at SDCC had to be delayed. Disney found the perfect opportunity to drop those announcements during its Investor Day event, where it revealed 61 movies and TV shows currently in development, including the aforementioned Fantastic Four movie. However, a big name that was missing was Deadpool, who even though has a third movie coming up, wasn’t included in Disney’s long list of projects.

In December 2019, Ryan Reynolds confirmed that Deadpool 3 was in development at Marvel Studios, but it wasn’t until November 2020 where the hiring of Bob’s Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin confirmed to fans that a third Deadpool movie is really happening. Although some might argue that Deadpool 3 is still in early development and doesn’t have a projected release date, the same happens with Fantastic Four, so the reason for Wade Wilson’s third movie not to be included in Disney’s announcements is that the studio is keeping him away from the MCU for a little longer. Although Bob Iger said in March 2019 that Deadpool, along with other Marvel properties living at Fox, would be integrated with the MCU, this universe might not be ready for him and his sense of humor yet.

While many movies in the MCU have had their fair dose of “strong language” and violence, none of them can compare to what the Deadpool movies have done so far, and Wade’s self-awareness doesn’t really fit the MCU right now. If Deadpool really is to join the MCU at some point, it may take a while to happen, mainly because the MCU will have to prepare to welcome such a colorful character.