Make no mistake, the 2016 release of Fox’s Deadpool standalone does more than earn its R-rating. Vulgarity, violence, and an abundance of crude jokes pervade the film’s lengthy runtime. Of course, evidenced by its acclaim, none of these aspects plague the film. In fact, they work to elevate the material and make Ryan Reynolds' take on the Merc with a Mouth all the more compelling. The forthcoming sequel will undoubtedly expand upon this further.
However, there exists a semblance of worry amongst fans that subsequent films may lose what made the first so daring and special. This concern is in regards to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, despite Disney CEO Bob Iger’s reassurance that Deadpool’s cinematic ventures will maintain their R-rating. Regardless of whether Disney or Fox are making the decisions, some facets of Deadpool’s history in comics are unlikely to appear on the big screen. The most notable examples involve some of the characters whose lives Deadpool has taken and the manner in which he’s done these deeds. Other examples include acts of violence inflicted upon Deadpool. In the list below, we recount 15 instances in comics featuring Deadpool’s antics that no one should expect to see in a live-action film.
15 FIGHT DRACULA
Battling the King of Vampires certainly doesn’t count as the craziest Deadpool venture, but it’s up there. Interestingly, nothing explicit is the cause for such a clash being a doubtful big screen event. Rather, the character of Dracula himself is an unlikely candidate for one of Deadpool’s screen-partners.
The story in which this odd pairing occurs, Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet, is formatted around the Vampire King’s hiring Deadpool to find his betrothed, Shiklah. Inevitably, their business deal goes awry, which results in the two fighting. Again, nothing out of the ordinary in terms of Deadpool levels of violence is on display. A theatrical version of the Merc taking on Dracula just seems unlikely. However, were he to duke it out with someone connected to the undead, Blade may be the obvious choice. Dracula’s Gauntlet proves the mutant and the vampire hunter are evenly matched.
14 DESTORY THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
Deadpool’s killing of the heroes of the Marvel Universe, and then doing so again, won’t soon be forgotten. It remains one of the more shocking events in Marvel continuity. Inarguably, it also stands as one of the most violent. But Deadpool’s antics aren’t what land this event a place on the list. The results are the culprit. Would anyone at Disney, Fox, or Marvel Studios willingly let the deranged anti-hero murder any of Earth’s Mightiest? Doubtful is an understatement. Thus, it stands to reason no one would permit the Merc with the opportunity to kill them all.
Should the impending merger allow Deadpool to crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wade may trade blows with a hero or two. However, completely destroy them he would not, especially not in the grisly manner depicted in the comic arc.
13 THROWDOWN WITH CARNAGE
Without knowing who these two are, one can discern all manner of insanity will ensue upon characters named Deadpool and Carnage facing off. Of course, the “vs.” in Deadpool vs. Carnage doesn’t help. Even before the Disney and Fox deal took the internet by storm, fans and pundits were pondering whether Spider-Man characters could ever interact with Deadpool in live-action. The question still stands. Presently, though, despite confusion weighing heavily on us all, the possibly no longer appears far fetched.
What does travel beyond the realm of possibility is the two characters meeting, fighting, and Carnage tearing the Merc limb from limb. Literally. It would be a level of brutality comparable to that of a Saw film or the like. Are audiences ready for a movie of this nature to brandish a Marvel logo? That’s to be determined, but Disney may grimace at such a suggestion.
12 FEED BITS OF HIMSELF TO ARCHANGEL
Deadpool and narcissism go hand-in-hand. Some would argue he’s worse than Tony Stark. This comes to the fore in the Merc’s behavior, how he talks, the manner in which he interacts with others. One of the more disturbing examples of his being a narcissist, and kind of a genius, is his feeding his flesh to Archangel.
During an X-Force mission wherein the team combats the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Archangel is mortally wounded by Famine. Deadpool deduces that the best course of action is to have the downed hero consume his flesh -- Deadpool’s regenerative factor can also benefit others. It’s a good, albeit disgusting, idea, and quick thinking on his part. Nevertheless, such an exchange would not fly in the film universe. However, an indirect reference to the event sounds like just the kind of morbid joke Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool would make.
11 WEAR BEAST'S FUR
Mind-controlled Deadpool is a dangerous thought. Unsurprisingly, it’s far more dangerous in practice. Psycho Man learns this the hard way during Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. Of course, everyone else suffers mightily for the mistake. In the run’s third issue, after having killed Beast, Deadpool confronts Wolverine. They quip, they fight, Deadpool defeats him-- the title of the series requires it, after all. Nothing, however, can prepare anyone for the most startling aspect of this particular scene.
Deadpool’s wackiness makes him an enjoyable character. But Beast probably wouldn’t be too keen on the Merc donning his fur like a winter coat. Further adding insult to injury, he jokes about being a hunter and refers to himself as “A Samurai Mountain Man.” Needless to say, Deadpool wearing a founding X-Men member in a live-action film, especially one produced by the House of Mouse, couldn’t be anymore unlikely.
10 GET BITTEN BY ZOMBIES
In the world of Marvel, Deadpool is just as compelling as he is to audiences. People want to study him, unearth the secrets of his psychological profile, toy with how his powers and abilities function. During Night of the Living Deadpool, these curiosities ruin the world. Scientists in the Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) organization use the blood of Deadpool and other mutants to test regeneration. Their testing takes a turn for the worse; thus, the zombie apocalypse ravages the world.
In an attempt to solve the undead issue, Deadpool consumes the scientists’ regeneration concoction and allows the zombies to devour him. This logic only serves to make matters far worse. The very notion of zombies, while perfect for the character himself, doesn’t seem as though it would translate well to a Marvel film of any kind.
9 DESTROY AVENGERS TOWER
The events of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe remain some of the Merc’s most horrid deeds. An act that is particularly shocking is his destruction of Avengers Tower, while many of Earth’s Mightiest are still inside of it. Making use of Pym Particles, Deadpool plants small bombs in the tower. Of course, some heroes aren’t susceptible to mere explosions so the Avengers’ new found foe must get creative. For instance, placing some of the bombs in Luke Cage’s coffee tears apart the man with unbreakable skin from the inside. Once the tower is down, Deadpool ambles away from the ongoing destruction in merriment.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Avengers Tower has undergone its fair share of close calls. However, with the building now sold and the Avengers operating out of another headquarters, Deadpool ever coming along and wreaking havoc within it seems doubtful.
8 PROVOKE THE HULK
Angering Bruce Banner under any circumstance is usually bad news. Most folks rarely want to see him when the big green guy takes the reigns. Deadpool isn’t most folks, though. The Merc with a Mouth makes it his personal mission to seek the wrath of the Hulk. He wants Hulk to kill him. Understandably, Bruce Banner outright refuses. Therefore, Deadpool resorts to extreme measures to see his vision fulfilled.
Deadpool fibs, saying bombs are wired to go off and the only way to disarm them are for him to die. Not willing to risk the chances, Bruce takes the bait, angrily transforms into the Hulk, and eviscerates Deadpool with ease. It’s one of Deadpool’s more grisly deaths. No one should ever expect to see such a scene translated in a live-action Disney film, especially since the Hulk is so heavily involved.
7 FIGHT ZOMBIE US PRESIDENTS
Zombies and Deadpool are a match made in pop culture Heaven. How could they not be? Zombie stories as a trope have kind of been there and done it all. Yet, we still find ourselves at least marginally interested in the next thing the genre has on offer. For Marvel, marrying a zombie story and deceased US Presidents does the trick. In Dead Presidents, zombified versions of previous Heads of State, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, and more, go toe-to-toe with Wade Wilson.
Upon the ex-Presidents being resurrected, Deadpool is tasked with returning them to a state of permanent death. At the core of the story is a fun premise. However, anyone expecting the Merc with the Mouth to take on a zombie POTUS in live-action need not hold their breath. This is a story neither Disney nor Fox would give much consideration.
6 BRUTALIZE SPIDER-MAN
As one of the wholesome characters in comics, Spider-Man is worthy of protection at all costs. When he hurts, the audience hurts. Any harm done to him is almost tangible whether it be depicted through the page or screen. Therefore, his death in Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe couldn’t be anymore tragic. The tragedy is especially affecting when considering the graphic nature in which it's carried out.
Deadpool aims a gun at the young man’s head and fires without hesitation. Shortly thereafter, he then proceeds to mock the hero who was simply trying to save innocents from Deadpool’s wrath. Suffice it to say, Spider-Man would never die in such a fashion on-screen, regardless of Disney’s involvement. When the hero and the Merc do eventually share a screen together, we hope it won’t be as contentious as the aforementioned event.
5 TAKE OUT HIS PARENTS
If and when Deadpool crosses the line, no one even bothers with acting surprised. He makes mistakes, some of which are deliberate, others incidental. These mishaps are known to occasionally affect the lives on innocent bystanders, people who have no business being a target in his crosshairs. Unfortunately, his mother and father are victims of similar deeds in "Original Sin."
Under the influence of mind-control, which apparently happens to him a lot, Deadpool murders his parents by setting fire to their home. The act isn’t pre-meditated on his part, but it’s still inherently cruel; so cruel, in fact, that the likelihood of it ever occurring in a Disney-branded film seems inconceivable at best. No doubt, the subsequent films in the franchise will receive all the creative freedom under the sun. This is just a line that no one will want to cross.
4 ANYTHING IN KILLUSTRATED
After slaughtering the Marvel Universe’s main line of defense, the off-the-rails assassin takes his talents elsewhere -- literature. Dickens’ characters aren’t safe, Kipling’s Jungle Book is but a playground, and the Three Musketeers stand little chance against a seasoned mercenary. No, this madness does not end here. There are a myriad of other characters from the literary canon that find themselves at the wrong end of Deadpool’s rampage in Killustrated.
The Merc with a Mouth doesn’t simply go after these characters. He brutalizes many of them, all die by his hand or as a result of his recklessness. Instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning to embrace his community, he’s killed. Captain Ahab and his crew are presumably devoured my a massive sea creature. Deadpool teams with Frankenstein’s monster to annihilate the Jungle Book animals. The story offers good fun, but none that can translate from page to film.
3 JOYRIDE IN IRON MAN'S SUIT
Deadpool is pretty convincing when he gives an attempt enough effort. However, Wade Wilson’s joyride in Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit doesn't happen because the Merc’s an infallible wordsmith. No, he first gets Tony intoxicated. As the hero sleeps off his bender, Deadpool steals the keys to the kingdom as it were, and makes off with the suit.
As expected, the joyride isn’t without mishaps and Deadpool-brands of hilarity. In a joke so cruel that it’s horrifically funny, Deadpool mocks Tony’s alcoholism by drinking while flying in the suit. But his “intoxicating adventures” are not necessarily all bad. Deadpool accomplishes a few heroic feats as well, one of which involves his stopping a robbery. Is it possible we’ll see Deadpool steal the Iron Man suit on film? It’s anyone’s guess, but the circumstances surrounding the event are unlikely to be explored.
2 HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH DEATH
Deadpool’s love for Death, the physical manifestation of it, is nothing short of intriguing. After nearly dying a few times, he and the entity meet and he falls head over heels for her. Luckily for him, the feelings are reciprocated. In some instances, he attempts to make his end permanent in an effort to be with Death long-term. To the Merc’s dismay, Thanos thwarts these plans as he, too, is in love with Death. It is all very strange.
A union between Deadpool and Death, while always fascinating, doesn’t seem as though it would pass the green light for a major motion picture. Besides, the love life of Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson is already in a good place. With the first film being a love story at its core, are we really ready to see Wade and Vanessa split? Most certainly not for Death.
1 USE HIS DAUGHTER TO LURE AN ENEMY
Despite often being a nuisance himself, Deadpool has one of his own -- Madcap. After forcing his way into Deadpool’s Mercs for Money group, Madcap begins impersonating the Merc with a Mouth. While doing so, Madcap kills innocents and commits other deprecating deeds which ruin the good will that Deadpool develops with people. Upon learning of Madcap’s behavior, Deadpool crafts a way to bait the man that’s dragging his name through the mud. The trap involves Wade Wilson using his daughter Ellie as a lure.
This decision epitomizes bad parenting to a disturbing degree. He deliberately puts his child, a young child, in harm’s way, using her to a lure a man who’s known for mindlessly taking innocent lives. Disney is bound to let Deadpool get away with plenty on-screen, as Fox has done, but they may draw a line at this particular instance of poor judgement.