Fox and Marvel Swapped Characters for Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2

The relationship between Fox and Marvel Studios has been strained, to say the least. Fox holds the [...]

The relationship between Fox and Marvel Studios has been strained, to say the least. Fox holds the rights to some important Marvel Comics properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four, which means the studio owns movie rights to some crucial Marvel characters.

Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe has risen to prominence, and bigger and bigger storylines from Marvel Comics have come into play, Marvel has attempted to find some common ground with Fox, so that there could be character swaps between the two companies. However, that bridge-building has never really worked out, and in the growing tension there have been some drastic moves, with things like Fantastic Four and X-Men comics put on the back-burner, in order to further characters and properties that benefit the MCU.

With the release of Doctor Strange, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige recently let it be know that a big union between Fox and Marvel was still far off - but as we now learn, the two have managed to work out a deal for two of their respective films: Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2.

The Playlist reported on a special Deadpool Q&A screening held in LA over the weekend, where Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese revealed that, in order to get the movie made the way they wanted to, Fox and Marvel actually had to play nice and allow for a little character fluidity.

Fox Marvel Deadpool Guardians Galaxy 2 Negasonic Ego Living Planet

Specifically, Deadpool's inclusion of X-Men character Negasonic Teenage Warhead had to be cleared with Marvel, since Reese and Wernick practically changed everything about the character. In order to get clearance for the change, Marvel had a price: allow a character in Fox's hands to be included in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. Said Wernick, "Kurt Russell ['s Ego the Living Planet] in the new 'Guardians' movie was the character that Fox swapped with Marvel to [change] Negasonic Teenage Warhead powers."

Ego originally appeared in Thor comics, but apparently he was in the collection of characters handed over to Fox with Fantastic Four / Silver Surfer properties. And while this isn't the "X-Men join the Marvel Cinematic Universe" headline some fans are still hoping for, it is a sign that cooperation is a least possible on some level. That's a foundation to build on.

MORE: Dark Phoenix Saga Movie Happening? / X-Men Reboot Coming? / Deadpool 2 Production Not Starting Next Year / Why We're Worried About Deadpool 2 / Every MCU Movie Ranked / Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Teaser Trailer / Top 5 Mysteries Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Needs to Answer

Doctor Strange is now in theaters; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming– July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; and Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.

Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017, followed by Deadpool 2 on January 12, 2018. Movie versions of Gambit, New Mutants and X-Force are still being developed.

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