Nicepool

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Disney, owner of Marvel Studios, is making efforts to keep confidential documents related to the Deadpool series hidden in the legal dispute between actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Court records show that Disney is resisting a subpoena requesting details about the creation of Ryan Reynolds’ “Nicepool” version in Deadpool & Wolverine. Marvel argues that these documents need to be protected to preserve the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as they contain potential spoilers about upcoming storylines, characters, and connections for Deadpool, which could jeopardize strategic plans for the billion-dollar franchise if revealed. This legal tactic puts Marvel’s well-known secrecy into a high-profile Hollywood court case that originated from allegations during the filming of It Ends With Us.

According to Disney’s legal team, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, the documents being asked for are highly confidential as they concern the development of a character within an ongoing movie series, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The success of the MCU is largely due to its intricate interconnection of storylines, characters, and plots across various titles. Details about how a character like Nicepool was developed, even in a film like Deadpool & Wolverine, could unintentionally hint at future plans for Deadpool or other related elements within the broader MCU. In simpler terms, Disney believes that disclosing such information might inadvertently reveal secrets about what’s to come in the larger MCU picture.

The subpoena that Marvel aims to dismiss stems from the intricate legal consequences arising from the movie “It Ends With Us.” In late 2024, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni strongly denied these allegations and retaliated with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds (who is seeking to be removed from the suit), and their publicist. Baldoni’s legal team suspects that the “Nicepool” character in Deadpool & Wolverine, created by Reynolds, was designed specifically to taunt and harass Baldoni during their disagreement, which they claim led to Deadpool becoming involved in the conflict. They are requesting Marvel’s internal documents to possibly demonstrate malicious intent in the character’s creation and representation.

MCU Secrecy Will Be Tested in Court

Marvel’s legal team’s description of Deadpool as an “evolving movie franchise” with confidential character development materials is quite significant for MCU fans. Though Deadpool & Wolverine was a blockbuster hit, this legal argument hints at definite, ongoing plans for these characters within the shared universe. It implies that Deadpool’s saga may continue and that his future appearances in team-ups, sequels, or crossover events are what the studio is keen to keep hidden from early revelation through these court cases. Marvel believes that the requested information could potentially spoil storylines that stretch far into the future.

Baldoni’s legal representatives have countered Marvel’s effort to dismiss the subpoena by asserting that the requested documents are crucial in proving alleged malice, specifically regarding Reynolds’ role. They argue that these documents would be relevant even if Reynolds himself is not a defendant in this case. Additionally, they have expressed their readiness to limit the scope of the request solely to correspondence related to Nicepool and Baldoni. Furthermore, they are prepared to keep sensitive documents confidential under a protective order, stating that since “Deadpool & Wolverine” has already been released, the potential harm to Marvel is minimal.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m intrigued by the intricate dance between legal battles in Tinseltown and the challenges of maintaining a vast, interwoven cinematic universe like Marvel. It’s unpredictable which side – the need to protect Marvel’s secrets or the quest for discovery led by Baldoni – will take precedence in the courtroom. Only time will tell as we await the court date in March 2026 for the underlying case between Lively and Baldoni.

Is it your opinion that Marvel’s stance on preserving MCU spoilers is valid, or do you believe they should be compelled to disclose the necessary documents? We welcome your thoughts below. Feel free to share!

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2025-04-30 12:40