Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” is setting its sights on adding some awards gold to its already colossal box office haul this year’s awards season.
Looking to replicate the success of the 2016 original, Disney is determined to push the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman multiverse spectacle into contention with major awards groups. Shawn Levy’s billion-dollar summer blockbuster will be submitted for consideration at the Golden Globes in the comedy categories, with Reynolds’ performance as Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, vying for one of the six spots in the actor (comedy or musical) category. In a surprising move, Jackman’s return as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, will be positioned in the supporting actor races across all key awards shows, including the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice, and even the Oscars, as confirmed exclusively by Variety.
Additionally, the film is almost guaranteed a spot in the Golden Globes’ recently-introduced Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category. Added last year, it celebrates the year’s most critically acclaimed and highest-grossing films. Last year’s inaugural prize went to Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar phenomenon “Barbie,” which was nominated for eight Oscars, including best picture. To qualify for this category, films must gross at least $150 million, with $100 million coming from the U.S., or achieve comparable digital streaming viewership figures recognized by industry standards.
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As far as Oscars attention, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will also aim for nominations in technical categories, including production design, sound, and visual effects.
The original “Deadpool” (2016), directed by first-time filmmaker Tim Miller, was both a critical darling and a box office sensation, raking in over $780 million worldwide. It also became the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time, coincidentally overtaken by the latest Deadpool entry. The film earned two Golden Globe nominations, including best motion picture (musical or comedy) and best actor for Reynolds. It was also recognized by major industry guilds, including the Directors Guild of America for First-Time Director, the Writers Guild of America for Adapted Screenplay, and the Producers Guild of America for Best Picture. Levy’s film feels like a strong candidate for a PGA nom once again as the guild often embraces box office successes such as “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022), “Knives Out” (2019), “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) and “Wonder Woman” (2017).
Reynolds, a two-time Emmy winner for his FX reality series “Welcome to Wrexham,” is one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. In addition to starring in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Reynolds also produced the film alongside Levy, Kevin Feige, and Lauren Shuler Donner. He co-wrote the screenplay with Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Coincidentally, Levy received his first Oscar nom as a producer the same year as the first “Deadpool,” but for the sci-fi drama “Arrival” from Denis Villeneuve. Feige received his Oscar nomination as a producer for the box office smash “Black Panther” (2018), which went on to take home three statuettes, including historic wins for Black artisans Hannah Beachler (production design) and Ruth E. Carter (costume design).
Jackman, one of the most accomplished actors of his generation, brings an impressive awards pedigree to his resume. With a Tony Award for “The Boy from Oz,” an Emmy for hosting the 58th Tonys, a Golden Globe win, and an Oscar nomination for “Les Misérables” (2012), along with a Grammy for “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack, Jackman is no stranger to accolades. While superhero films typically don’t dominate the Oscars, the Globes and SAG voters have not been shy about embracing genre performances, with past nominees like Globe nominee Tom Cruise in “Tropic Thunder” (2008) and SAG nominee Javier Bardem in “Skyfall” (2012).
“Deadpool & Wolverine” also boasts an ensemble cast that includes Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford and Matthew Macfadyen. The film also features surprise appearances from stars like Chris Evans, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner and Channing Tatum. This summer, the Marvel entry crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, surpassing 2019’s smash hit “Joker.”
In his review of the film, Variety film critic Peter Debruge describes it as an “irreverent send-off to Fox’s X-Men movies,” writing that it “tests Disney standards while giving superhero fans closure on nearly a quarter-century of variable-quality Marvel fare produced across town.”
“Deadpool & Wolverine” comes to digital platforms, including Prime Video and Apple TV+, starting October 1. The film will also be released on 4K Blu-ray and DVD on October 22.
From Variety US