Last year, Marvel Studios managed to strike a unique deal with Sony Pictures to finally bring Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Surprisingly enough, it seems that Marvel also struck a far less-publicized deal with 20th Century Fox, for the rights to a pivotal character inGuardians of the Galaxy 2, which also benefited this year’s blockbusterDeadpool. The deal first started whenDeadpoolwritersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernickwere convinced they needed the characterNegasonic Teenage WarheadinDeadpool. Here’s whatPaul Wernickhad to say about why this character was included in their story.
“We were looking down the list of the 400 [X-Men] characters that Fox owns, and NTW jumped out and we were like, ‘Yes. I don’t care what her powers are. She’s gonna be in the movie.'”
In theMarvel Comics, Negasonic Teenage Warhead is a psychic, but the writers decided to change her superpowers in the movie, to make the character more explosive, literally. However, this also forced 20th Century Fox to get approval from Marvel Studios to make these changes, which resulted in a “trade,” of sorts. Marvel Studios allowed the changes, if 20th Century Fox gave them the rights to Ego the Living Planet, who will be played byKurt RussellinGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Here’s whatPaul Wernickhad to say about this trade during a Q&A session attended by The Playlist.
“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.”
The trade seems to have worked out for both studios, since Negasonic Teenage Warhead, played byBrianna Hildenbrand, was praised by fans and critics alike. It was first confirmed thatKurt Russellis playing Ego the Living Planet during Marvel’s Comic-Con trailer forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where it was finally revealed that Ego is actually the father ofChris Pratt’s Star-Lord.Deadpoolwent on to make $782.6 million from a $58 million budget, making it the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. As forGuardians 2, that will kick off the summer movie season on August 14, 2025, with this sequel shaping up to be another box office hit for the studio.
