Deadpool Creator Rob Liefeld Cuts Ties With Marvel After ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Snub

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld says he has “cut ties in all ways” with Marvel after he was slighted at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere.

In the latest episode of his Robservations podcast, Liefeld explained that the final straw came when he learned that he and his family were not invited to the afterparty.

“It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat me,” Liefeld said.

Photo: Deadline

Before the snub, the Deadpool creator says he suffered other indignities at the event. These included the incident where Liefeld and his family posed for professional photos with the Deadpool & Wolverine team but later were told by his publicist that those photos were deleted.

Photo: Marvel

“At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear,’” he said.

The Relationship Between Liefeld and Marvel Has Been Rocky

Liefeld’s problems with Marvel have been simmering for a long time. Last year, he sent Marvel an email requesting a special credit on Deadpool & Wolverine. While Marvel traditionally credits comic book creators after the film, Liefeld wanted more prominent recognition.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liefeld also asked if he could have more access to movie premieres and other promotional opportunities.

“Marvel’s treatment of creators has never been their strength. Without the worlds, the characters and the concepts that we create — and in this specific case, the world of Deadpool — there are no films to shoot. No blockbusters to distribute. … I am not the easy button at Staples. I am the human imagination behind it all,” he wrote.

Photo: Film Stories

“Comic book creators cannot continue to be relegated as afterthoughts. This is easy to address. Unless I reach out to address it, it will never manifest.”

The email also asked these concerns be brought to the attention of Feige or Bob Iger.

According to Liefeld, he never received a response from Marvel. He did, however, learn that the studio was not happy with his email.

Photo: Marvel

“My reps were screamed at today ‘We are NOT Fox!’ Tell me about it. Also hung up on,” he tweeted the next day.

Liefeld now believes the email led to his Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty snub.

Liefeld Blasts Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige

Discussing the current state of Marvel Studios, Liefeld told The Hollywood Reporter that he felt more involved in the creative process of Deadpool and Deadpool 2, which were made by 20th Century Fox.

Source: Fox/ Marvel

“They had me along for the ride, and I caused zero drama. I was happy to be there,” he explained.

On his podcast, Liefeld laid blame at the feet of Kevin Feige..

“Kevin Feige does not treat comic book creators well. That is my personal experience,” Liefeld said on the podcast.

Source: Jessie Grant/ Disney/ Getty Images

“Do I think he can improve his relationship with comic creators? Yes,” Liefeld told The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that he wishes Feige had spent more time with him at the Deadpool premiere.

End of the Road

As Liefeld’s final issue for Marvel, Deadpool Team-Up No. 5, hits stands, the creator admits that he is not angry but sad.

Photo: Marvel

“You can’t always share your hits. Sometimes you have to share your misses. This one was a miss,” says Liefeld, who adds, “It was important for me to do the podcast, so people could hear my voice. You didn’t hear anyone who was angry. At times, it was hard to hide how sad I was.”