‘Deadpool 3’ Director Says MCU Knowledge Isn’t Needed To Understand Movie

“Deadpool and Wolverine” is set to be one of the biggest films of the summer, and fan theories are already flying around the internet regarding what Marvel could have in store for what looks like a bonkers trip across a multiverse populated by characters previously owned by 20th Century Fox and now owned by Disney. Whatever goes down in the sequel, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, prior knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will not be a mandatory requirement in order to enjoy it. That’s according to the film’s director, Shawn Levy.

“I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies,” Levy recently told the Associated Press. “I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.”

While Hugh Jackman is playing Wolverine, it’s not the same Wolverine he played on screen for more than a decade. That Wolverine was killed in “Logan,” and Jackman assured fans when he joined the next “Deadpool” movie that his reprising of the X-Men character would not screw with the events of the beloved 2017 movie. The latest “Deadpool and Wolverine” trailer confirmed Jackman is playing a Wolverine who comes from a world that he nearly destroyed.

While the upcoming Marvel tentpole is the third movie headlined by Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, Levy has been adamant in press interviews that his movie is not really a “Deadpool 3” as the press and fans have often called it.

“As far as crafting the ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ story, I just felt privileged every day because you’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles,” Levy told Screen Rant during CinemaCon earlier this month. “It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not ‘Deadpool 3.’ It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool and Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.”

Levy described his movie as “gnarly” and “funny” and said that early test screenings for the film “were extremely, extremely promising.”

“I wouldn’t say that there were any big surprises, but you feel where the pace wants to tighten, you feel where you can afford to slow down and have a deeper, more durable character moment,” he added.

“Deadpool and Wolverine” hits theaters on July 26 from Disney.