Do I Need to Watch Deadpool & Wolverine Before Avengers: Doomsday?
Verdict: Yes, essential. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is the bridge between Fox's X-Men universe and the MCU, and Doomsday is the first Avengers film to bring those Fox mutants onto the same screen as the Avengers.
What it sets up
The TVA operating after Loki, the idea of anchor beings (a universe dies when its anchor does), and the Void, where the TVA dumps whatever it prunes. It is also the first time Marvel Studios treats the Fox films as part of its multiverse rather than a separate world.
What you'll miss if you skip it
How the Fox universe connects to the MCU, what the TVA is doing after Loki, and the setup for one of Doomsday's confirmed cast members: Channing Tatum's Gambit (see our Gambit watch order). Doomsday's other X-Men, played by Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden and the rest of the original cast, come from the same Fox universe, and this film is what makes that crossover possible. Hugh Jackman is not in the announced cast, but his Wolverine is still the emotional core of the film.
Spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine: tap to reveal
The Void is full of Fox-era cameos: Jennifer Garner's Elektra, Wesley Snipes' Blade, Dafne Keen's X-23 and Channing Tatum's Gambit all turn up there, and Tatum's appearance is his first time playing the character.
The quick alternative
There isn't a great one: it's a single film of just over two hours, so just watch it. If you absolutely won't, know that the TVA exists, anchor beings hold universes together, and Fox's X-Men universe is now part of the MCU's multiverse. Our Deadpool movies in order and X-Men movies in order guides cover the background. All verdicts live in our prerequisite hub; the full list is in the Doomsday prep guide.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the old X-Men movies first?
No. Deadpool & Wolverine works without them, though it’s richer if you know the Fox films, especially Logan and the first two Deadpool films. Our X-Men movies in order guide covers all 13 if you want the full history.
Is Deadpool & Wolverine canon to the MCU?
Yes. It’s an MCU film (Phase Five) built around the TVA from Loki, and Marvel put it on its official Need to Watch list for Doomsday.
Will Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine be in Doomsday?
Nothing is confirmed. Hugh Jackman was not part of Marvel’s Doomsday cast announcement. His variant survives the film, so a return later in the saga is possible, but it is speculation for now.