Kevin Feige Explains Why Marvel Revealed Dafne Keen’s Return as X-23 in Final Deadpool & Wolverine Trailer

Marvel Studios has created quite a buzz with fans regarding the final trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine featuring Dafne Keen as X-23. One wonders as to why this particular move was kept under wraps and was announced at this juncture only. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently elaborated on this decision, explaining the rationale behind this seemingly surprising move.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 22: Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen attend the Deadpool & Wolverine World Premiere at the David H. Koch Theater on July 22, 2024 in New York City.  (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Disney)

Image credit: Getty Images for Disney

The Surprise Return of X-23

If there was any doubt whether “Deadpool & Wolverine” will live up to its expectations, the announcement of Dafne Keen to reprise X-23 in the film should be enough to confirm the opposite.

Kevin Feige’s Reasoning Behind the Reveal

Speaking to Variety at the New York premiere of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Kevin Feige provided two key reasons for the decision to unveil X-23’s return in the final trailer:

Premiere Attendance: Keen said that being able to go to the premiere of the film was very important to him, according to Feige. This helped to avoid a situation when her presence at the event would be considered as a spoiler that she had hinted earlier.

Emotional Core: As per Feige, X-23 adds “an emotional core” to the movie. This means that her role is not a cameo appearance but a part of the story of the movie.

Marvel’s Marketing Strategy

Feige also appreciated Disney’s marketing strategy saying that they always understand when to step a little further and when to step back.

Expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The addition of X-23 in the Deadpool & Wolverine series is another way of incorporating mutant characters into the Marvel Cinema Universe. This has been expected by fans ever since Disney bought Fox, which used to own the license to X-Men characters.

Fan Reactions and Expectations

Some fans may have wished to have been shocked to see X-23 in the theater but others are excited to see Keen again. This revelation has undeniably increased anticipation for the film and stirred the Marvel movie community.

About Deadpool & Wolverine

The film Deadpool & Wolverine is directed by Shawn Levy where Ryan Reynolds returns as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. The film, which is set to be another big addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, came out on 26th of July, 2024.

As fans eagerly await the chance to see how X-23 fits into this new chapter of the Marvel universe, one thing is clear: Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

Conclusion

Marvel’s move to announce Dafne Keen’s casting as X-23 in the final Deadpool & Wolverine trailer is also a good example of how the company is keen to its fans and its marketing techniques. Kevin Feige illustrates the art of walking the line between not spoiling anything but building up hype leading to the release. It also conveniently enables Keen’s involvement in such prestigious events while suggesting that X-23 would have an important emotional angle in the movie.

With the further development of the MCU and the inclusion of characters from previous franchises, the audience can expect a complex and interlinked narrative. With Deadpool & Wolverine now available in theaters, fans can now see how X-23’s inclusion fits into this highly anticipated chapter of the MCU.

FAQs

Q1: Who is Dafne Keen? 

A: Dafne Keen is the actress who played X-23 (Laura) in the 2017 film “Logan” and is reprising her role in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Q2: Who directed “Deadpool & Wolverine”? 

A: The film was directed by Shawn Levy.

Q3: Was there any concern about spoiling a major cameo? 

A: Yes, but Marvel and Disney decided the benefits of the reveal outweighed the potential drawbacks.

Q4: How has the reveal of X-23’s return affected fan anticipation for the movie? 

A: The revelation has increased excitement and anticipation among Marvel fans for “Deadpool & Wolverine.”