Wolverine's New MCU Costume is a Fierce Upgrade – X-Men Fans Go Wild!

The introduction of a new Wolverine costume in Deadpool 3 by the MCU has reignited an old joke from the 2000 X-Men film. When it was announced that Hugh Jackman's Wolverine would make a comeback in Deadpool 3, fans were understandably excited, considering that his character was believed to be permanently retired after his death in Logan (2017). Nevertheless, this hasn't stopped fans from playfully referencing an old X-Men joke about Wolverine's iconic yellow and blue costume, which was brought back to life when set photos for Deadpool 3 revealed Jackman's new suit for the movie.

In the 2000 X-Men film, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine humorously questions the practicality of the X-Men's costumes by asking, "you actually go outside in these things?" James Marsden's Cyclops responds, "what would you prefer, yellow spandex?" This line was a playful jab at Wolverine's original yellow and blue costume from the comic books. Now, with Deadpool 3 featuring a modified version of this iconic suit twenty-three years later, keen-eyed viewers naturally continue to make light of the joke, as it appears that Logan would actually have preferred the yellow spandex costume after all.

Current responses to the modern relevance of the 2000 X-Men joke vary from perceiving the MCU costume as a delightful reference to the X-Men film, to considering the new suit as a demonstration of progress in the superhero genre, and the accomplishments it can now achieve.

Why The X-Men Movies Mocked Wolverine's Original Costume

In an effort to create a suspension of disbelief for its less realistic elements, earlier superhero movies often strived to make their universes more grounded than their comic counterparts. This often involved playfully acknowledging certain aspects of the comics that paid homage to the source material, while keeping a safe distance to avoid alienating broader audiences. For example, the idea of portraying the gruff and tough Wolverine in bright lemon-yellow spandex was deliberately avoided in the 2000 X-Men movie, as it could have undermined the desired level of realism.

Now that superhero movies and universes are highly profitable and extensively developed franchises, these concerns no longer have the same significance. Although a considerable amount of effort is still dedicated to envisioning costumes and designs – which occasionally do not meet expectations, as evidenced by the criticism of The Flash's costume – more costumes faithful to the comics have become increasingly prevalent, especially within the vast roster of characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Therefore, while the 2000 X-Men film may have made a wise decision to only joke about Wolverine's original costume, Deadpool 3 is justified in featuring the iconic suit in all its glory.