Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has achieved in three weeks what DC failed to in 10 years of Henry Cavill movies. Due to overseeing a long tenure as the face of the DCEU with Superman, Henry Cavill's Marvel cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine caused a lot of surprise among fans. For one, the cameo was somehow hidden from major outlets, meaning Cavill's appearance in the film was not leaked before the release of the film, giving Deadpool & Wolverine a neat Easter egg to unleash on fans.
Secondly, it is rare that an actor who was so integral to one side of the comic book fandom has transitioned to another. Although actors in lesser roles have been in both the DCEU and the MCU, seldom do big stars from one transition to the other. While in an admittedly small role, it was clear that Henry Cavill had done exactly that by Deadpool & Wolverine's ending. With Cavill now a part of the MCU, he has accomplished a feat in less than a month that he failed to do after 10 years of starring in the DCEU.
Deadpool & Wolverine Becomes Henry Cavill’s First $1 Billion Superhero Movie
Deadpool & Wolverine Offers Cavill A Milestone He Did Not Achieve With The DCEU
The feat in question is that Cavill finally has his first $1 billion superhero movie. Deadpool & Wolverine crossed the coveted milestone in its third weekend, meaning Cavill can finally claim he has appeared in a superhero flick to have done so. Cavill first began his superhero cinema career in 2013 with Man of Steel, before going on to appear - albeit in different-sized roles - in four other of the best and worst DCEU movies that were released in theaters. None of these five theatrical films cracked $1 billion, yet Cavill's first appearance in an MCU film did.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Cavill played a variant of the latter character. Deadpool traveled the multiverse searching for a variant of Wolverine who could help him, eventually coming across Cavill's version. The scene was incredibly brief, but nonetheless incredibly satisfying given Cavill's fan-favorite status in the world of superhero cinema fans. Thanks to this cameo and the many others in the film, as well as the overall quality of Deadpool & Wolverine, it managed to surpass $1 billion worldwide and will likely continue to impress in the coming weeks.
Deadpool & Wolverine is the first Marvel Studios-produced MCU movie to hit $1 billion worldwide since Avengers: Endgame.
Deadpool & Wolverine Solidifies The DCEU’s Biggest Mistakes
Deadpool 3 Highlights What Went Wrong With The DCEU
In comparing Deadpool & Wolverine's box office performance to the many Cavill-starring films of the DCEU, the flaws of the latter as a whole become more evident. Deadpool & Wolverine feels comfortably part of a larger universe, blending the worlds of the MCU with the world of the Fox X-Men movie timeline. Unfortunately, the DCEU only felt coherent for the first four movies before Zack Snyder left Justice League, and it became split between two differing visions.
Deadpool & Wolverine was pushed into the public eye by Marvel much more than any DCEU film ever was...
Secondly, linking back to box office gross, the marketing for Deadpool & Wolverine was much more prevalent than any DCEU movie. From the initial teasers involving Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman to the many trailers, TV spots, interviews, and endless merchandising opportunities, Deadpool & Wolverine was pushed into the public eye by Marvel much more than any DCEU film ever was. Finally, Deadpool & Wolverine's cameos were fan-service, yes, but used effectively for the movie's themes, unlike those found in the DCEU's The Flash, for example.
Could Cavill's MCU Debut Success Continue?
Cavill Could Appear In Future MCU Movies
After Deadpool & Wolverine's evident box office success, questions will be raised over whether Cavill can build on his debut MCU feature. Admittedly, Cavill's Wolverine was not a big part of the movie by any stretch. Instead, it was simply a neat way for the film to include a major superhero cinema actor in a fun way, all while poking fun at the DCEU in the Deadpool franchise's signature self-referential way. As such, it is unlikely Cavill will return as Wolverine in the future.
However, if Cavill were to return, he could easily have more billion-dollar-grossing movies under his belt. If Cavill was cast as the MCU's mainline Wolverine for Marvel's X-Men movie, this possibility would become even more likely. That said, Marvel does not even need to go this far and cast Cavill in a major movie role, instead bringing him back for another cameo or supporting role in a multiversal movie. Marvel's upcoming list of movies includes Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, both of which will earn $1 billion, and both of which could see Cavill return.
Will James Gunn’s DCU Avoid The DCEU’s Issues?
Can The New Iteration Of DC On Film Reach Marvel's Heights?
Given the highlighting of some DCEU issues, it is worth exploring whether James Gunn's DCU movie and TV slate can rectify them. Certainly, Gunn's franchise is already off to a good start. This is evident in the plan Gunn and his team of creatives have put together for the DCU's Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Gunn has a clear, distinct plan for the future of the franchise, one that hinges on a central creative vision. This already puts the DCU on better footing than the DCEU considering the latter was split between warring visions for the franchise.
The quality of movies in the DCU is simply expected to be more consistent than the DCEU's vast slate...
Furthermore, Gunn has made it clear that David Corenswet's Superman will be integral to the overall arc of the DCU. This was, unfortunately, not the case for Cavill's Superman in the DCEU, with many agreeing both the actor and his character were shortchanged between 2013 and 2023. Finally, the quality of movies in the DCU is simply expected to be more consistent than the DCEU's vast slate.
As alluded to, studio interference and differences in vision for the franchise caused the quality of several movies in the DCEU to dip below par. Despite some standout projects of greatness, the DCEU as a whole was below average, especially in comparison to the Infinity Saga of the MCU. With Gunn's DCU, this will hopefully change thanks to the filmmaker's singular vision for the franchise, which Deadpool & Wolverine proves will always be important.
