Fans are thrilled to see Deadpool & Wolverine when it hits theaters later this month. One of the film’s biggest selling points is its connection to the 20th Century Fox era of X-Men films. Several returning actors, characters, and concepts establish a firm bridge between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its previous competitor. One of the many interesting crossover moments involves a fight to the death between Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth. What is the grudge between these characters?
One of the weaknesses of a callback is that it becomes wasted screen time for anyone who doesn’t get the reference. People give the Marvel Cinematic Universe a lot of negative attention because many of its outings require watching earlier movies to understand the context. Deadpool & Wolverine might not tie its entire narrative to a dozen other projects, but if its most iconic moments are contingent upon prior research, it still deserves similar criticism.
Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Sabretooth Fight is a Big Deal
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Director |
Shawn Levy |
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Writers |
Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, and Shawn Levy |
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Stars |
Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfayden |
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Release Date |
July 26, 2024 |
The latest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine focuses overwhelmingly on a single fight scene. Wolverine, dressed in his classic yellow suit, squares up to fight Sabretooth. He loudly asks the surrounding figures, “Who’s next?” and sees Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth leap down. Before they can lock claws, Deadpool makes a big song and dance about cleaning Wolverine up and getting him ready. He pulls the knives and swords out of Logan’s flesh, quickly sheathing each of his own weapons. Deadpool offers some advice, treating the match as if they’re about to enter an MMA arena. Notably, he points out the fact that people have been waiting a very long time to see this fight play out. Wolverine silences Wade, then prepares to launch into the battle. That’s a lot of fanfare for one of what looks to be dozens of fight scenes. There must be some suitable backstory to justify this level of excitement, even if it’s an intentional misdirect.
Why does Wolverine hate Sabretooth in the comics?
The problem with tracking Wolverine and Sabretooth’s story is that it has several different beginnings. Wolverine and Sabretooth lose their memories regularly, leaving them to meet again for the first time. Chris Claremont imagined Sabretooth as Wolverine’s abusive father. That element faded quickly, but an abusive family relationship still feels very true to their arrangement. The current continuity suggests that Victor “Sabretooth” Creed first sought out Logan after an ill-fated encounter between the future X-Man and Creed’s siblings. Logan met Creed’s brother, Saul, and sister, Clara, when the duo worked together to turn Logan over to a circus. They changed their minds and helped him escape, but a misunderstanding led Saul to betray Logan. In turn, Logan kills Saul. Creed captures Logan and forces him into a nightmarish human experimentation program for revenge. A werewolf frees Logan, leading to a lifelong grudge between Creed and Logan. Creed assaults Logan’s girlfriend, then they fight on Task Force X together, then Creed brainwashes Logan to turn him into a weapon against the innocent, etc. All of these stories are likely true and untrue, depending on the canon.
From a wider perspective, Creed and Logan hate each other because they have diametrically opposed moral philosophies. For all of his tough talk and wanton violence, Logan has a strong moral code. Creed is a brutal animal who delights in subjugating anyone he considers weaker than him. They’ll come together in every reality. Creed and Logan are often allies and close friends. This somehow strengthens their antagonistic relationship. Sabretooth makes a point of hunting Wolverine down every year on his birthday, just to prove he can still beat Logan in a fight. They’re perfect enemies, drawn together by the forces of opposing animalistic goals. Through any timeline, circumstance, and place on Earth, Wolverine and Sabretooth will find and try to kill each other.
How could Wolverine and Sabretooth fit into the MCU?
There’s something beautiful about the mortal-enemy relationship that Victor and Logan have maintained over the years. The Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t have a lot of these. Thor and Loki might have fit the bill at one point, but their brotherly love eventually brought them back together. Most Marvel villains vanish after their first defeat, making it tough to establish a long-running antagonistic bond. Wolverine and Sabretooth would bring something special to the franchise. Sabretooth would never have to be the primary antagonist. He could be a permanent rival for Wolverine, bringing that unending grudge to every project Wolverine touches. It’s a fascinating dynamic that would be new to the franchise.
Sabretooth and Wolverine have a grudge against each other on an almost spiritual level. Though the film franchise that came before the MCU didn’t properly establish their hatred for each other, the fight in Deadpool & Wolverine will likely still be fun. If the MCU adapts Wolverine and Sabretooth, they could unlock a new kind of hatred for a franchise that isn’t known for its villains.
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