Wolverine’s haunting backstory in Deadpool & Wolverine originates in Marvel Comics and was adapted very differently in a previous X-Men movie. Deadpool & Wolverine includes numerous Wolverine variants, with their primary version originating in a different universe than Fox’s X-Men timeline. This Wolverine is haunted by a past incident that shapes his motivations and essential characteristics. This has roots in a famous comic book event, which affected a notable Wolverine variant very significantly.
Deadpool & Wolverine proffers a thrilling multiverse adventure where Fox’s Marvel movies meet the MCU timeline. As such, Deadpool & Wolverine features several incredible cameos and even a litany of Deadpool variants. As the movie navigates the iconic antiheroes’ places in the MCU’s future, it recreated an incident from the X-Men’s past to give Wolverine the most tragic backstory it could.
What Was The Westchester Incident?
In the comic Old Man Logan, Wolverine is tragically deceived by the villain Mysterio. Mysterio, using his masterful illusions, convinces Wolverine that the X-Mansion is under attack by a host of Marvel villains. In a desperate attempt to defend his home and the young mutant residents, Wolverine unleashes his full fury, only to discover too late that he has been tricked. Instead of enemies, he has slain his fellow X-Men, his closest friends and allies. The psychological and emotional toll on Wolverine is immense, as he grapples with the guilt and horror of having killed those he loved most.
This harrowing story was later adapted for the film Logan but with a significant twist. In the movie, it is hinted throughout that Wolverine might have been responsible for a tragic event, with Professor Xavier frequently alluding to something awful that happened. However, it is ultimately revealed that it was Xavier himself who accidentally killed the X-Men during a seizure-induced psychic attack – known as the Westchester Incident. While Logan shifted the responsibility to Xavier, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s reference returned the burden of guilt to Wolverine.
How Deadpool & Wolverine Updated The Westchester Incident
The Westchester Incident was adapted for the second time in Deadpool & Wolverine but with notable changes to the original story. In this version, the X-Men are killed not by Wolverine or Xavier, but by a group of humans. While Wolverine is away at a bar drinking, the humans launch a brutal attack on the X-Mansion, resulting in the deaths of the X-Men. Upon his return and discovery of the massacre, Wolverine is consumed by rage and grief.
Wolverine responds by mercilessly slaughtering numerous Marvel villains, an act that mirrors his actions in the original comic incident where he believed he was fighting enemies. This adaptation brings a fresh perspective to the Westchester Incident by removing the element of illusion and instead framing it as a human-driven atrocity. It retains the core themes of loss and vengeance but shifts the context to explore different aspects of Wolverine’s character. This gave Deadpool & Wolverine the perfect backstory for the alternative Wolverine haunted by his past.
