When you hear the words “Disney park,” visions of Mickey Mouse, Dole Whips, haunted mansions, rollercoasters, and spinning tea cups are likely the first things that come to mind. However, upcoming guests will soon be treated to dick jokes, violent imagery, and an onslaught of crude humor as Disneyland unveils a new R-Rated event that will have certain patrons either clutching their pearls or screaming with delight.
Deadpool recently made his debut at Disneyland Paris, exchanging those loaded guns for a pair of French baguettes, but now he and a comic-accurate Wolverine join Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure. That’s all very exciting for Marvel fans, but should Disney really be utilizing one of the most notorious R-rated characters at a family-friendly theme park?
Related: Hugh Jackman Made Grown Men Cry on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Set
In honor of the release of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), Disney is officially bringing both of its lead characters to the Disney parks with two brand new Character Meet and Greet experiences. The Merc with the Mouth and everyone’s favorite clawed mutant officially made their Disney debut, not but a short trip away from Sleeping Beauty Castle in the announcement below.
Parents Beware: Deadpool Goes to Disneyland
https://twitter.com/DisneyParks/status/1816851028333269149
Per the Disney Parks’ official social media pages, Deadpool and Wolverine are now meetable characters at Avengers Campus. While this appearance might only be for a limited time, it feels entirely out of character for the House of Mouse to incorporate Deadpool in such a kid-heavy environment.
Related: MCU Update: Ryan Reynolds “Steps Down” from Deadpool Role for Future Marvel Movies
Deadpool is notorious for his offensive humor, fourth-wall-breaking, and over-the-top acts of violence, essentially being the face of the R-rated superhero motif. As his third film becomes the MCU’s first R-rated feature, should he really be marketed towards the same audience barely tall enough to ride the Matterhorn?
Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure is where guests can mix and mingle with their favorite heroes and villains of the MCU. While visitors can hang out with the likes of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Captain America, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool doesn’t exactly fit that heroic aesthetic.
Maximum Effort?
In recent reports, Disney has desperately tried to rebuild its family-friendly image and regain its immense fan following. That’s practically the reason Inside Out 2 (2024) soon became its most successful animated feature and why things like the Disney Dining Plan and a FastPass-esque Lightning Lane system made a comeback at Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort.
Related:Marvel President Kevin Feige Shares Exciting ‘Spider-Man’, ‘X-Men’ Update
Next to figures like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Thor, Deadpool has one of the biggest fan followings out of any Marvel character, and utilizing his presence in the MCU is still a win for Marvel Studios, but trying to market an R-rated film towards kids might not be the best move for Disney.
It’s not that Disney hasn’t had mature material in the parks before, as fans who recall ExtraTERRORestrial and certain sequences of The Great Movie Ride will know. Still, it feels like a counterintuitive measure, given the recent reports surrounding Disney’s image.
Related: Marvel Cinematic Universe Actor Confirms They Were Cut
If Disney is truly trying to re-establish its classic family-friendly image, bringing a character who beat agents of the TVA to a violent and gory death with Wolverine’s metallic remains might not be the best call. That said, the Disney adults and Deadpool’s intended audience are going to eat it up with a spoon.
Does Disney needs more Deadpool at the parks? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
