“Deadpool” was a surprise success for Fox, bringing in $132.4 million on opening weekend and climbing to a lifetime total of $782.6 million worldwide — all on a budget of $58 million. Its sequel, “Deadpool 2,” had a similar performance on about double the budget. Comparing that to “The Marvels,” which pulled in $47 million on its opening weekend with a reported budget of $274.8 million, the imperative for “Deadpool 3” to be a hit is obvious. It would be a much-needed boost for the MCU while opening the door for characters from the X-Men.
The urgency placed on “Deadpool 3” is underscored by recent comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger, who recently stated, “I’ve always felt that quantity can actually be a negative when it comes to quality. And I think that’s what happened. We lost some focus” (via The Motley Fool). In some ways, the “Deadpool” franchise represents both sides of that equation. In quantity, it allows a slew of X-Men characters to be introduced to the MCU, while in quality, it must impress fans and critics in order to draw audiences back to theaters.
But while “Deadpool 3” may help restore Marvel to good graces with fans, the “Avengers” movies are the promise that keeps the MCU going in the long run. After watching a series of other movies, audiences get to see their investment pay off with epic crossovers between those characters. All of the existing “Avengers” films have been massive hits, so while “Deadpool” may act as a bellwether for the MCU, the performance of the next two “Avengers” will likely determine its future.
