With Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios has added its first X-Men character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe logo after 16 years. With many upcoming Marvel movies ahead, additional changes are likely to continue.
The MCU is in a state of change and growth, and even the status of the Avengers team is currently unclear. However, seeing the universe grow and bringing in elements from other franchises in Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home is enough to create excitement for the future. Truly, any Marvel hero’s inclusion seems possible.
Marvel has slowly forged an identity, and the heroes serving as its tentpoles have changed over time. During the Infinity Saga, characters like Captain America and Iron Man led an evolving roster. This led to heroes like Black Panther and the Winter Soldier appearing in the Marvel logo. With an MCU group of X-Men set to be cast, more mutant characters will likely be seen in this opening sequence in the future. A precedent has now been set, and other characters and features are bound to follow.
Deadpool Becomes First X-Men Character Added To Marvel Studios Logo
The Character Is Featured In The Opening Of Deadpool & Wolverine
During the opening titles of Deadpool & Wolverine, the Marvel Studios logo features appearances by Deadpool. With big MCU characters highlighted in this way through the years, this simple change helps to make Deadpool immediately more integral to the universe. Notably, only Deadpool appears to be added here, and not Wolverine. This leads to speculation that perhaps Wolverine is one of the many characters Marvel is saying goodbye to. Still, Deadpool’s inclusion suggests that Wade Wilson will likely factor into the MCU’s future.
For years, this scenario seemed far out of Marvel’s reach. In the 1990s, the company was struggling financially. This prompted the comic book publisher to sell off film rights to many of their most popular characters, which resulted in Fox owning the rights to the X-Men. While many of the films that resulted from this were celebrated, it was disappointing not to be able to see the X-Men mingle with the Avengers. In 2019, however, Disney acquired Fox and regained the option to use the X-Men property, thus setting the stage for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Why Deadpool Being Added To The Marvel Studios Logo Is So Important
Marvel’s Greatest Heroes Have Been Featured In The Logo Animation
For some, there may have been an expectation for Deadpool & Wolverine to end with Wade Wilson l being brought into Earth-616, the main universe of the MCU. This would have made sense and allowed the character to be included in future Avengers projects. However, the end of Deadpool & Wolverine heads in a different direction, with Deadpool instead returning to his world on Earth-10005. This ending works for the character and gives him the opportunity to work things out with Vanessa. That said, it doesn’t provide much detail on the hero’s future in the wider MCU.
Rather, it is the Marvel logo that genuinely integrates Deadpool into the MCU. By being featured in this sequence next to other MCU heroes including Ant-Man and Captain Marvel, Deadpool becomes a part of the larger MCU story. Despite ending in a different universe, then, it seems clear that the MCU has plans for the character moving forward. Deadpool is now a part of the MCU, no matter what universe he resides in, and will likely return in future films.
What The Next Fox Marvel Characters Added To The Logo Will Be
The Fantastic Four Releases In 2025
With the modern era of superhero cinema being built around shared universes, it is surprising that a Fox X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover never materialized until Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Illuminati scene. The studio had access to the characters for decades, and despite some plans for a Civil War-inspired movie, no crossover film ever came together. While the Fantastic Four will likely be added to the MCU logo, it will not be either of the Fox incarnations of the classic heroes.
Instead, The Fantastic Four characters will likely be added to the sequence when their film is released in 2025. While few details are known about the film, it has finally begun filming after significant delays and will likely introduced essential components to the MCU going forward. Like Deadpool, characters like Reed Richards and Sue Storm will become increasingly crucial to Marvel storytelling. While a logo update is a small thing, it is, in fact, reflective of the direction of the universe, and a great deal can be garnered from a character’s inclusion.
Logos may not be as exciting as the events of the films themselves, but they can tell a great deal about the brand that they represent. By finally integrating X-Men heroes into the Marvel logo, there is a symbolic reintegration of Fox and Disney under a single banner. With a bright future ahead with a planned mutant reboot in the MCU, the future of the X-Men is promising. Deadpool may be the first X-Men hero to truly become a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he will surely not be the last.
| Upcoming MCU Movies | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine | July 26, 2024 |
| Captain America: Brave New World | February 14, 2025 |
| Thunderbolts* | May 5, 2025 |
| The Fantastic Four | July 25, 2025 |
| Blade | November 7, 2025 |
| Avengers 5 | May 1, 2026 |
| Avengers: Secret Wars | May 7, 2027 |
