Kevin Feige Hilariously Drops F-Bomb in Deadpool Interview

Kevin Feige recently opened up to Next Best Picture about the thrill of having Deadpool and Wolverine joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the newfound excitement of using explicit language in movies.

Feige reflected on his early encounters with Hugh Jackman and how their professional paths have come full circle, now that Jackman’s Wolverine is set to appear in a Marvel film. He reminisced, “It’s amazing. It’s something I hadn’t dreamed about. When Marvel Studios started, we had left the X-Men behind since we didn’t have the rights. I enjoyed watching them as a fan without any involvement.”

The Marvel President admitted feeling emotional about regaining access to the X-Men characters. “It felt extremely emotional to get access to all the characters back. There were important historic comics we couldn’t adapt because we didn’t have the rights, and now we can.”

Feige shared an anecdote about Jackman contacting Ryan Reynolds, which he described as “the perfect moment at the perfect time” to solidify the film’s direction. He fondly recalled his earlier days in the industry and working on the first X-Men movie in Toronto, describing how wonderful it is to reconnect with Jackman at different stages in their careers. Feige humorously noted, “Hugh’s the same. I’m not. I’m a colossal jerk now,” before clarifying he was joking.

The interviewer posed an intriguing question about whether the movie might have fared differently if it had been released shortly after Deadpool 2 (2018). The question also hinted at Deadpool potentially criticizing the MCU’s faults in the new film.

Feige responded, “Timing is everything. We couldn’t have done Deadpool earlier because of the Fox acquisition timing. Deadpool always pokes fun at Ryan Reynolds, so why wouldn’t we let them poke fun at us? It’s in the spirit of Deadpool.”

Turning serious, Feige highlighted the uplifting effect the upcoming movie may have on Marvel Studios. “It’s a huge shot in the arm. Great movies solve almost everything. And this movie by Shawn, Hugh, and Ryan is fantastic. Having access to all these characters in the MCU now is immensely motivating as we plan our long-term storytelling.”

He also emphasized the importance of staying true to the characters, particularly with the MCU’s first R-rated film, Deadpool & Wolverine. “It’s less about saying the F-word and more about staying true to the character’s tone. That’s what Deadpool is, and Ryan has done it wonderfully in the past films.”

Feige noted that characters who have had dramatic deaths, like Wolverine in Logan, are often resurrected in comics. “Characters have come and gone all the time in the comics. Imagine if Superman had stayed dead? That would be depressing.”

Discussing Marvel’s approach to character resurrection, Feige pointed out, “It’s about honoring and acknowledging the history without undoing it. We get to keep telling these evolving stories, as comics have done for over 85 years.”

Early reactions to Deadpool & Wolverine have been positive, with many describing it as a much-needed boost for Marvel Studios. Alissa Wilkinson from The New York Times wrote, “It is a film about how successful Hollywood properties are endlessly repeated. Deadpool & Wolverine devilishly plays on this. It’s self-reflective and watchable.”

Reviews mention the “raunchy self-referential humor” that Deadpool is known for, and how it continues to resonate well with audiences. Given its early success, the movie’s box office projections have been rising. Analysts predict a potentially record-breaking domestic opening of $160 million to $170 million, surpassing the earnings of previous R-rated films.

This level of success has been elusive for the MCU recently, but Deadpool & Wolverine seems set to break that trend, with an anticipated $360 million worldwide debut. Feige concluded, perhaps cursing just for fun since he can now.

Source: Next Best Picture, The New York Times