Deadpool

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, which was announced in December 2017 and completed in March 2019, Marvel Studios took control of the X-Men franchise. This shift allowed for the integration of Wade Wilson into the MCU under R-rated conditions, as confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger. In "Deadpool and Korg React," the lore expands on this transition; after reacting to the Free Guy trailer, Deadpool asks Korg about his own chances of joining the MCU. Korg responds by complimenting the possibilities and advising him to keep an eye out for an email from Marvel Studios. This moment references the real-world development delays of Free Guy, which moved from July 2020 to August 2021.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of "Deadpool and Korg React" begins with Wade Wilson having already made a reaction video for the film Cruella (2021) as part of his series "Deadpool's Maximum Reactions." He then invites Taika Waititi, playing the Kronan gladiator Korg, to record a similar video for Free Guy. During the session, Deadpool asks Korg for his opinion on Taika Waititi while joking about his own lack of resemblance to Ryan Reynolds' character in the film. The short culminates with Wade asking about his future in the MCU. Korg's advice to wait for an email from Marvel Studios serves as a humorous nod to the actual integration process, bridging the gap between the X-Men films and the shared universe.

Reader's Guide

To understand Deadpool's current trajectory, one must look at "Deadpool and Korg React," released on Ryan Reynolds' YouTube channel. The short film features Ryan Reynolds reprising his role from the X-Men series alongside Taika Waititi, who returns as Korg from Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). The content was designed specifically to promote Free Guy, a film that stars both actors. Critical reception praised the dialogue and chemistry between the characters, with outlets like Empire and Syfy Wire noting it as a significant step toward official MCU integration. Viewers are encouraged to watch the short on YouTube, where it garnered over 4 million views within its first 24 hours.

Did You Know?

• The short film was originally released on Ryan Reynolds' YouTube channel on July 13, 2021.
• It acquired over 4 million views within the first 24 hours of release.
• Ryan Reynolds had initially pitched a different short featuring Deadpool interrogating the hunter who killed Bambi's mother before this concept was approved.
• The film serves as promotion for Free Guy, which also stars both Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi.