| Deadpool and Korg React | |
|---|---|
 A screenshot from the film depicting Deadpool and Korg | |
| Directed by | Ryan Reynolds |
| Written by | Ryan Reynolds |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Ryan Reynolds |
| Starring |
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Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 4 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Deadpool and Korg React is a 2021 Americansuperheropromotionalshort film featuring theMarvel Comics charactersDeadpool andKorg. The film was written and directed byRyan Reynolds, with him andTaika Waititi respectively starring as Deadpool and Korg. InDeadpool and Korg React,Wade Wilson andKorg react to the trailer ofFree Guy (2021) before discussing the possibility of joining theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Reynolds reprises his role from theX-Men film series, while Waititi reprises his role from the MCU filmsThor: Ragnarok (2017) andAvengers: Endgame (2019).
Deadpool and Korg React was originally released to Reynolds'YouTube channel on July 13, 2021, as promotion forFree Guy, which also stars Reynolds and Waititi. Responses to the short praised it as a tease forDeadpool & Wolverine (2024) and for showing the character's narrative potential in the MCU. Its humor was also highlighted by many critics.
After making atrailerreaction video forCruella (2021) as part of a series calledDeadpool's Maximum Reactions,Deadpool invitesKorg to make a similar video for the trailer forFree Guy (2021). Deadpool asks Korg of his opinion ofTaika Waititi while commenting as to his own lack of resemblance toRyan Reynolds' character in the film. Following the video, Deadpool asks Korg about his own chances of joining theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), to which Korg responds by complimenting the possibilities and telling him to keep an eye out for an email fromMarvel Studios.
Afterthe acquisition of21st Century Fox byThe Walt Disney Company was announced in December 2017 and completed in March 2019, allX-Men films in development were canceled, includingX-Force and Fox'sDeadpool 3, withMarvel Studios taking control of the franchise.[2][3] Disney CEOBob Iger said thatWade Wilson / Deadpool would be integrated into theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) under Disney,[4] and the character's films could remainR-rated "as long as we let the audiences know what's coming".[5]
By Disney's acquisition of20th Century Fox,Free Guy (2021) had been in development since 2016 and was one of the first Fox films to continue production underDisney ownership, as well as under the studio's new name 20th Century Studios.[6]Deadpool and Korg React references the film's release delays, from July 2020 to August 2021.[7][8][9] Reynolds had firstpitched a short film featuring Deadpool interrogating the hunter who killed Bambi's mother fromBambi (1942) and would have seen Deadpool trying to find out how to become a loathed character. After that pitch was denied by Disney, development onDeadpool and Korg React began.[10]
Deadpool and Korg React was released toRyan Reynolds'YouTube channel on July 13, 2021,[1] acquiring over 4 million views within 24 hours.[11]
Upon its release,Deadpool and Korg React received a positive response.Empire praised the dialogue and the chemistry between both characters.[12]Syfy Wire commented that seeing the two "fan-favorite" characters together for the first time was "incredibly cool", and speculated it could be a way to get fans used to the idea of Deadpool becoming a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before an actual introduction,[13] whileNerdist considered it to be "a very unexpected way" for Deadpool to officially join the shared universe.[14] Other outlets expressed doubt over it being an official integration of the character to the universe.[12][15][16]
