Deadpool Creator Rob Liefeld Says He’s Done Working with Marvel After Feeling Disrespected at the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Premiere

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Rob Liefeld, a longtime collaborator with Marvel, known for co-creating Deadpool, has declared he’s severing all connections with the company after expressing dissatisfaction about several perceived snubs during the creation and distribution of “Deadpool & Wolverine.” He voiced his decision on his “Robservations” podcast and also discussed it in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

As Liefeld tells it, the turning point occurred during the New York debut of “Deadpool & Wolverine” back in July. Despite attending the showing at Lincoln Center along with his family, he discovered later that they hadn’t been invited to the post-screening gathering.

Additionally, he asserts that although he snapped photos with the film’s artistic crew on the red carpet, these particular shots never appeared online and were allegedly erased. He believes this action was calculated to downplay his part and visibility at the event. In his own words on his podcast, “It was designed to humiliate, undermine, outdo me.

Liefeld additionally noted that unlike with the initial two “Deadpool” movies, which were produced under 20th Century Fox, he had never encountered such treatment during production. Back then, he felt valued as he was invited to test screenings and even marketing meetings.

Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, he feels that the studio’s approach towards him changed. He expressed that during his tenure at Fox, he was just a passenger, causing no issues, and he enjoyed being part of the team.

Beyond that initial situation, I’ve shared similar feelings about how Marvel attributes its creators’ work. In June of 2024, I even penned an email to Marvel, asking for a special recognition of my part in shaping Deadpool’s character for their upcoming movie.

Instead of placing creator credits at the end of the movie like Marvel usually does, he desired a more noticeable placement, akin to how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were credited in the 1978 film “Superman.” However, his request was ignored, and he learned later that Marvel executives were displeased by it. He suspects this may have been a factor in him not being invited to the afterparty.

There’s been no response from Marvel Studios or Disney regarding Liefeld’s assertions. However, people close to the situation have shared that Liefeld was invited to the film set in London and encouraged to organize several “Deadpool & Wolverine” fan events following the movie release. Furthermore, he received an on-screen nod with the inclusion of “Liefeld’s Just Feet” store, a humorous reference to his habit of avoiding drawing feet in his artwork.

Even though Liefeld made efforts to be part of the set, he felt snubbed by Marvel executives and claimed they dismissed him. He also perceived that Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President, intentionally overlooked him at the premiere, despite being nearby. In his words, “Eventually, you understand the message, and the message is unmistakable.

As a movie critic, I’ve noticed that Jim Starlin, the mind behind Thanos, isn’t alone in expressing concerns about how Marvel manages its creative talent. America Chavez co-creator Joe Casey and Black Panther writer Ta-Nehisi Coates have also voiced similar issues regarding compensation and recognition. Despite Marvel’s efforts to bridge the gap between its comic and film divisions, Rob Liefeld’s departure suggests that there are still hurdles to overcome.

Moving forward, Liefeld’s final collaboration with Marvel will be “Deadpool Team-Up,” scheduled for release on February 12. Although he appreciates the chances Marvel has provided him, he no longer envisions a future within the company. In his own words, “It’s not always about sharing successes; sometimes you have to share failures too. This was one of those failures.”

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2025-02-07 10:44