Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine has set its sights on this year’s awards season, hoping to add some prestigious accolades to its already staggering box office success. Disney confirmed that they are all set to push the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman-led multiverse blockbuster for major awards consideration, aiming to replicate the success of the 2016 Deadpool original.
Shawn Levy’s billion-dollar summer hit will be submitted for the Golden Globes in the comedy category, with Ryan Reynolds vying for a spot in the Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) race for his performance as Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool. In a notable move, Hugh Jackman, returning as Logan/Wolverine, will be positioned in the supporting actor category across various awards shows, including the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG), Critics Choice Awards, and even the Oscars, as confirmed by Variety.
The film is also expected to secure a spot in the Golden Globes’ Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category, introduced last year to celebrate critically acclaimed, high-grossing films. Last year’s inaugural winner, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, went on to receive eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. To qualify for this category, films must gross at least $150 million, with $100 million from the U.S., or achieve comparable digital streaming numbers.
In addition to performance categories, Deadpool & Wolverine is eyeing nominations in technical areas, including production design, sound, and visual effects, marking a potential return to the awards spotlight for the franchise.
The original Deadpool (2016), directed by Tim Miller, was both a critical and commercial triumph, earning over $780 million globally and setting the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. It received two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Actor for Reynolds. The film also earned recognition from major guilds like the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, and Producers Guild of America (PGA). Given Levy’s proven track record with box office hits, his latest film is a strong candidate for another PGA nod.
Ryan Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and a two-time Emmy winner for Welcome to Wrexham, not only stars in but also produced Deadpool & Wolverine alongside Levy, Kevin Feige, and Lauren Shuler Donner. He co-wrote the screenplay with Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Levy, who received his first Oscar nomination as a producer for Arrival, is well-versed in high-stakes awards campaigns, as is Feige, who scored a Best Picture nod for Black Panther (2018).
Hugh Jackman brings an impressive awards pedigree to the table, having won a Tony for The Boy from Oz, an Emmy for hosting the Tonys, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar nomination for Les Misérables (2012). While superhero films often struggle to gain traction at the Oscars, genre performances have found success with other award bodies like the Golden Globes and SAG. Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine could follow in the footsteps of genre-nominated actors like Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder) and Javier Bardem (Skyfall).
The film also boasts a star-studded ensemble cast, including Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, and Matthew Macfadyen. Additionally, surprise cameos from Chris Evans, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner, and Channing Tatum have helped fuel its box office momentum. The film crossed the $1 billion mark globally, surpassing 2019’s Joker.
Deadpool & Wolverine is being lauded as an “irreverent send-off to Fox’s X-Men movies,” according to Variety critic Peter Debruge, who noted that the film “tests Disney standards while giving superhero fans closure on nearly a quarter-century of Marvel fare.”
The film will be available on digital platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV+ starting October 1, with a 4K Blu-ray and DVD release slated for October 22.