Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine has secured a simultaneous release in China and the U.S. on July 26. This approval by Beijing’s film regulators marks the first time that a Deadpool film will be launched in China at the same time as in the United States. Disney announced the release date through Marvel’s Chinese social media channels on Monday.
The original Deadpool (2016), despite Marvel’s immense popularity in China, was not allowed to screen due to its explicit content. Its sequel, Deadpool 2 (2018), did reach Chinese theaters, but only after being edited into a more family-friendly PG-13 version titled Once Upon a Deadpool for the holiday season. Even with the delays and modifications, it managed to earn $42 million in China, contributing significantly to the movie’s $51 million global total for that version.
Although Disney has not publicly confirmed whether Deadpool & Wolverine will undergo censorship for its Chinese release, it is widely expected that some edits will be made to tone down the film’s graphic violence and explicit language. Insiders assure that any changes will not compromise the integral elements that characterize the Deadpool universe.
Regardless of any modifications, the movie’s release will serve as an important indicator of Marvel’s current standing in China, the world’s second-largest film market. As one of the most anticipated superhero films in recent years, industry observers are eager to see if Deadpool & Wolverine can reignite Chinese fans’ enthusiasm for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
In the post-pandemic era, Hollywood blockbusters have struggled to replicate their previous successes at the Chinese box office. This year’s top performers, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($132.2 million) and Kung Fu Panda 4 ($51.6 million), have earned significantly less compared to the peak box office numbers of the late 2010s. Marvel films have particularly felt this decline. Throughout the pandemic, many Marvel movies were either delayed or blocked due to pandemic restrictions and political considerations. Although MCU titles started returning to Chinese theaters last year, none have surpassed the $100 million mark, a milestone that was routine for Marvel releases pre-pandemic. The last MCU film to achieve this was Spider-Man: Far From Home, which earned $199 million in mid-2019. In contrast, current Chinese blockbusters frequently earn hundreds of millions.
The dynamic pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine might be what Marvel needs to rejuvenate its Chinese fanbase. To boost excitement, Marvel announced in a second social media post on Monday that Reynolds, Jackman, and director Shawn Levy will visit China in early July to promote the film. Such promotional tours by Hollywood stars were once common but have become rare in recent years.
