Earlier today, Disney CEO Bob Iger outlines plans to reduce Marvel Studios' film and TV output over the next few years. This is part of a "quality over quantity" approach, which was implemented after several recent MCU projects underperformed.
In fact, the most recent big-screen release, The Marvels, ended up becoming the lowest-grossing MCU movie of all time after taking in just $206 million worldwide at the end of its theatrical run.
While speaking to Empire, studio heads Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito acknowledged that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going through a "rough time," but they both believe that this year's Deadpool and Wolverine will mark a turning point for the franchise.
“If we just stayed on top, that would have been the worst thing that could have happened to us," said D'Esposito. "We took a little hit, we’re coming back strong. Maybe when you do too much, you dilute yourself a little bit. We’re not going to do that anymore. We learned our lesson. Maybe two to three films a year and one or two shows, as opposed to doing four films and four shows.”
As for Feige, he now sees the MCU as the "underdog."
“It’s nice to be able to rally behind one feature project this year. I’m much more comfortable being the underdog. I prefer being able to surprise, and exceed expectations. So it does seem like the last year, which has not been ideal, has set us up well for that.”
“Some of the lines that Ryan and his writers and Shawn worked on have taken on more of a meaning,” he added, referring to Wade Wilson declaring himself "Marvel Jesus" in the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer.
Director Shawn Levy also weighed in on Marvel Studios' problems.
“You’d have to live under a rock not to know that the last few Marvel movies have failed to ignite the world in the way that so many did,” he says. “We do come along at an interesting time. And we are decidedly something different. Whether it is of Messianic proportions, time will tell.”
In addition to Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the title roles, Deadpool and Wolverine will see Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al), Rob Delaney (Peter), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) And Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio) return as their respective characters, and they'll be joined by franchise newcomers Emma Corrin (The Crown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), who will play a TV agent and Charles Xavier's evil counterpart, Cassandra Nova.
A recent synopsis for the movie reads: "After facing some professional setbacks while going through a midlife crisis, Wade Wilson decides to officially retire Deadpool and becomes a used car salesman. But when his friends, family, and the whole world are at stake, Deadpool decides to bring his katanas out of retirement. He recruits an unwilling and wary Wolverine to not only fight for their survival, but ultimately, their legacy."
Shawn Levy directs Deadpool and Wolverine from a script by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells.
The movie is set to open in U.S. & Canadian theaters on July 26, and will be available in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD and premium screens everywhere.