The only MCU movie to release in 2024 hits cinemas in just a couple of weeks. Disney, who owns Marvel Studios, is banking on Deadpool and Wolverine being a hit after a disappointing box office last year.

Yet just how are these two superhero characters suddenly in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie?

It all goes back to Disney’s acquisition of Fox, who used to own 20th Century Fox, now returned to its original name of 20th Century Studios.

Film rights to Marvel’s X-Men were with this studio and their movies starring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool were set in a different universe to Disney’s MCU.

However, following the merger, Marvel Studios now has the X-Men rights and has already begun including the superhero team in their content.

Evan Peters’ Quicksilver was in WandaVision and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X cameoed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Meanwhile, Kamala Khan was unveiled to be a mutant in Ms Marvel.

If that wasn’t enough The Marvels end credits scene concluded with Monica Rambeau waking up in an alternate universe with Kelsey Grammer’s Beast.

And now the X-Men are set to enter the MCU with Deadpool and Wolverine properly and here’s how.

The Deadpool and Wolverine trailer opens in the alternate universe in which the first two Deadpool movies (made by Fox) were set.

Due to his time-travelling escapades in Deadpool 2, the Time Variance Authority (from Disney+ show Loki) show up to arrest Wade.

At the TVA he ends up teaming up with Wolverine, but it’s not the one who died in 2017’s Logan. This is a Wolverine variant who let everyone down in yet another alternate universe.

And by the looks of things, the duo will be traversing the Marvel multiverse and presumably will end up in the MCU’s Sacred Timeline.

Deadpool and Wolverine hits UK cinemas on July 25, 2024.