If you’ve ever wondered why the X-Men haven’t crossed paths with Iron Man, Hulk or Thor on the big screen, then it’s simply because the X-Men are owned by 20th Century Fox, and the Avengers are owned by Marvel Studios. Got it?
Marvel’s recent deal with Sony (who have owned Spider-Man since the first film in 2002) has allowed Spider-Man to join his Marvel Comics peers in the latest Captain America film, but as yet the X-Men (and by extension, Deadpool), who exist in a different fictional universe, haven’t been allowed to cross over.
But it appears Fox are keen for a bit of cross studio pollination. Deadpool director Tim Miller has said that he thinks that one day Marvel and Disney (who own Marvel Studios) might bury their differences. Working with writer/producer Simon Kinberg, who oversees all of Fox’s Marvel titles (including Fantastic Four), the director has been "trying to build bridges" between the two studios.
"With all of the deals that have recently started happening, we asked if they could get visitation rights to Sony's friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man," Kinberg said recently. "I would love to see it. Both of us are close with [Marvel head honcho] Kevin [Feige], we respect and love Kevin. If it were even remotely possible, we will find a way because we would love to see it."
Wolverine and Captain America teaming up? Deadpool quipping it out with Iron Man? We’re definitely on-side with this one.
See Spider-Man’s first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when Captain America: Civil War opens on 29 April.