Thankfully, this new timeline – or alternate reality which is now the reality of the films – features a Deadpool we can embrace and one that’s similar to the comics. The early days of each depiction of character aren’t so different though. In both X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Deadpool, Wade Wilson is a Mercenary with many confirmed kills who loves to annoy allies as much as he does enemies, although in the former, he’s already a mutant who’s fast enough to deflect bullets with swords. Deadpool’s Wade Wilson however, starts out like he does in the comics, as a human who’s dying of cancer an enters a Weapon X off-shoot program to get mutant powers to save his life, but it leaves him permanently scarred.

The origin story of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine can be forgotten, just as it can be for Gambit who’s also getting a reboot (production begins next month)  that’ll  similarly aim to properly adapt the character from the books (yes, with a Cajun accent this time too!) although he’ll be played by a different actor in Channing Tatum. And since Hugh Jackman’s on his way out, the franchise will eventually have to recast Wolverine as well – and that almost happened in the original plan for X-Men: Days of Future Past.

More: How Deadpool Fits in X-Men Universe and What Comes Next

But because Reynolds, director Tim Miller, and writer Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, were all allowed to embrace the comics this time around, that means this Deadpool can break the fourth wall. Once he becomes Deadpool, Wade Wilson knows he’s a comic character played by Ryan Reynolds in a movie. He knows Professor X is played by James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart and that there are confusing timelines, and yes, he also knows the first time he played the character it looked something like this…

Mouth sewn shut, mostly normal skin, laser eyes, wrist blades and natural teleportation… The only thing X-Men Origins: Wolverine got right was the casting of Ryan Reynolds. But that timeline can be considered dead, or at least, it’s a timeline that no more films will be set in.

That being said, things can change again. And they might depending on shifting plans for the franchise (i.e. Fantastic Four 2 is now dead and Hugh Jackman is retiring after Wolverine 3). Deadpool is confirmed to have a sequel already in the works from the same creative team and it’s official that it’ll include Cable, a time-travelling mutant soldier from the future. So, if Deadpool 2 is really Cable & Deadpool, (p.s. called it!) it’s possible we can see more shifts in the timeline.

Stick around for more Deadpool content, including a comparison of his mutant powers and origin stories between the comics and films.

Next: It’s Time to Talk About Cable and Deadpool 2

Deadpool is now in theaters; X-Men: Apocalypse opens on May 27, 2016; Gambit sometime in 2017; Wolverine 3 on March 3, 2017; and an unannounced X-Men film on July 13, 2018. The New Mutants and Deadpool 2 are also in development.

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

The film is directed by Tim Miller, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Ryan Reynolds stars, along with Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Yorick Van Wageningen, Gina Carano and Brianna Hildebrand. Producers include Simon Kinberg, Reynolds and Lauren Shuler Donner.

Source: THR