OK, this is very odd, perhaps a strange sign of the times ahead of us where everything is under one branded-content monopoly. Following the Disney-owns-20th Century Fox synergy of “The Simpsons” and Marvel crossovers (the latest being a Loki-themed ‘Simpson’s short), the marketing heads at Disney (or just Ryan Reynolds, probably) have created a genius new marketing plan for “Free Guy” that’s also a little odd.
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Because what does Marvel have to do with the upcoming video-game-centric action-comedy “Free Guy”? Well, absolutely nothing, but Ryan Reynolds stars in it, and so does director/actor Taika Waitii, and hey, they both also happen to play beloved Marvel characters that all live under one roof now. So, to promote “Free Guy”—which again has nothing to do with Marvel, Disney, and the 20th Century Studios (which is putting out “Free Guy”) has enlisted Reynolds to appear as his Marvel/former Fox character Deadpool in a new spot alongside Taika Waititi who plays Korg in the “Thor” movies which he also directs (got all that?).
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Look, it’s a funny, clever spot, and yes, technically, this is the very first crossover between Marvel and the formerly-owned Marvel at Fox (given Evan Peters was not technically playing the same Quicksilver from “The X-Men” in “WandaVision”) with Deadpool meeting Korg. That said, it’s a little disconcerting. Is every 20th Century movie that doesn’t have major IP will get a lift from Marvel, the Simpsons, or another brand? Will Chewbacca and Lando get together to promote “Death on the Nile” later this year, perhaps telling you to forget Armie Hammer’s in it and pretend he’s been CGI’d in by Paul Bettany?
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Yes, it’s funny, but, well, slightly odd. I’m sure fans will love it, though. Check out the new Deadpool meets Korg trailer… er, “Free Guy” video promo below. That movie, which I suppose is also part of this story and is about a background player in a video game that breaks out to become the star of his own story, arrives on August 13 and stars Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Waititi, and more.