“Deadpool 3” Director Shawn Levy Confirms Crucial Wolverine Backstory

When it was announced that Hugh Jackman was reprising his role as Wolverine for Deadpool 3, the first question was, but how? The Wolverine we all knew and loved definitely died in James Mangold’s masterful 2017 film Logan, in which an aging, sick Wolverine pulled off his last heroic act and sacrificed himself saving the life of the young mutant Laura (Dafne Keen), who had her own adamantium claws and was created using his DNA. So, while fans were thrilled that Jackman was reprising his most iconic role and doing it alongside his buddy and verbal sparring partner Ryan Reynolds, the question remained of how it was possible and whether Deadpool 3 existed in an entirely different universe than Logan.

Now, Shawn Levy himself has put the question to rest. Speaking with BroBible, Levy explained that the Deadpool 3 team has nothing but reverence for Mangold’s film. In fact, he said that Logan is canon:

“I have always said that I can’t wait for Deadpool 3 to come out because all I want to do is give interviews alongside Ryan where we talk about our reverence for the movie Logan. Logan is canon. We love Logan. That happened. I want the world to know, as the producer and director, all of us share a deep love and respect for Logan, every aspect of how it’s crafted, and all the events that take place.”

The question remains just how Levy, Reynolds, and the Deadpool 3 team actually contend with the events in Logan. One very obvious answer is that Deadpool 3 is very likely set before the events in Logan, which took place in 2029 during a 25-year drought of zero mutant births. Logan delivered an absolute masterclass in gritty superhero storytelling, with stakes so high that not one but two iconic X-Men perish. Even if it’s as simple as the events in Logan taking place in the future when Deadpool 3 begins, it’s still in the minds of fans. That reality, and the fact that Levy and the rest of the Deadpool 3 team love Mangold’s movie, makes how they approach handling Wolverine’s arc in their movie so intriguing. Considering Deadpool 2 played around with time travel and MCU’s own multiverse approach to storytelling, there’s even a chance that Deadpool 3 and Logan directly interact.

Deadpool 3 is currently slated for a May 3, 2024 release, but that’s not set in stone. They’ve shot and edited half of the film but had to pause during the strikes. Once those are over, everyone will get back to work, and perhaps Deadpool 3 will make its original date.

For more on Deadpool 3, check out these stories:

Director Shawn Levy on Synchronicity Between His “Deadpool 3” and Secret “Star Wars” Movie

“Deadpool 3” Director Shawn Levy Says Prepare for Epic Wolverine/Deadpool Team-Up

Hugh Jackman Dropped a Big Clue About How Wolverine Returns for “Deadpool 3”

Ryan Reynolds Explains How Wolverine is Alive for “Deadpool 3” After Dying in “Logan”

Featured image: L-r: Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Hugh Jackman is Logan/Wolverine in “Deadpool 3.” Courtesy Ryan Reynolds/Marvel Studios