He’s sassy, looks great in lycra (and he knows it) and this time he’s dragged Wolverine along for the ride. Yes, Deadpool, one of Marvel’s most unorthodox heroes is back on the big screen for the laugh-a-minute, action-packed slice of absurdly brilliant entertainment that is Deadpool & Wolverine.
What’s Deadpool’s backstory?
Starting out as a very human vigilante crimefighter, a terminal cancer diagnosis would have spelled the end for Deadpool (aka Wade Wilson). A life-saving treatment awakened his own latent mutant powers but ultimately left him physically scarred.
With new-found abilities (mainly an ability to not die) he really really wants to join The Avengers and help save the world. But they don’t want him.
What’s the plot of Deadpool & Wolverine?
In this third film in the franchise Deadpool’s timeline is threatened with annihilation, and the only person who could have helped was Wolverine, but he’s dead (see the film Logan). So Deadpool takes it upon himself to hoik the former X-man out of a parallel timeline to help him out.
The pair’s hate-hate relationship soon blossoms into a full on bromance as they work together to bring down the lethal ‘Time Ripper’ that is set to consume Deadpool’s timeline.
Who wrote the music for Deadpool & Wolverine?
The original score for Deadpool & Wolverine is by American composer Rob Simonsen.
He follows in the footsteps of composers Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL) and Tyler Bates, who each composed the music for Deadpool and Deadpool 2.
Simonsen is a member of The Echo Society, a collective of seven composers whose music for Postcard from Earth was recently performed at the BBC Proms (‘Reel Change – Soundtracks at the Cutting Edge’).
Born in St Louis, Missouri, Simonsen studied in Portland, Orgeon and went on to work with composer Mychael Danna on scores like Life of Pi.
His most recent scores have included Love, Simon, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and The Whale.
What is the score for Deadpool & Wolverine like?
Simonsen has crafted a breathless, colourful and occasionally very funny score for Deadpool & Wolverine. With orchestra and synths he underlines the ‘superhero’ elements with energetic, pulsating rhythms, while his main (and suitably heroic) theme is written for solo horn.
Given Deadpool & Wolverine gives more than a nod and a wink to other films and characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Simonsen references themes and motifs from there, including Alan Silvestri’s for The Avengers.
The eagle-eared will also hear the sound of a cat’s miaow in his score, hilariously dropped in on certain beats.
What songs are in the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack?
Simonsen’s score almost takes a backseat to the songs in the soundtrack, which is wall-to-wall with hits, surprises and tongue-in-cheek needle drops.
From Grease’s ‘You’re the One That I Want’ to songs from Hugh Jackman’s other hit film The Greatest Showman, it’s a brilliant mix.
Other memorable soundtrack moments include the use of *NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’, Chris de Burgh’s ‘Lady in Red’ and ‘The Power of Love’ by Huey Lewis and The News (made famous in Back to the Future).
Perhaps the best song moment in Deadpool & Wolverine, though, comes in the finale as the pair work together to destroy the Time Ripper. They do that to the tune of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’.
Ryan Reynolds himself sought the pop icon’s permission to use her song, but it’s not the version you’ve heard before. Performed especially for the film by the ‘I’ll Take You There Choir’, Madonna’s classic is taken to new, cinematic and emotional heights.
Where can I hear the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack?
Rob Simonsen’s original score is available to stream wherever you listen to your music, as is an EP of Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’. Disney has also created a special Deadpool playlist, featuring songs from all the films.