Deadpool: Why is he the one who can break the 4th wall?

You might be wondering why the character Deadpool? Why is he the best example? Before you skim over this article just to learn more about Deadpool and why he is a fan favorite you need to know the form and functions of the fourth wall. Why is it broken? When is the wall best broken? Why is Deadpool the only Marvel character that can break the fourth wall?

The fourth wall: What is it?

The fourth wall is a transparent layer that separates the audience from the characters in any entertainment, whether that is movies, TV shows, etc. The fourth wall was originally brought to the public in the 20th century, by Denis Diderot. Denis Diderot was a philosopher and a very talented critic. He thought that if there was this imaginary line between fictional life and our reality the audience would be more drawn to make the entertainment markets grow in profits. Denis Diderot stated, “When you write or act, think no more of the audience than if it had never existed. Imagine a huge wall across the front stage separating you from the audience, and behave exactly as if the curtain had never risen.” He was most familiar with the theater, and critiquing how well they could make it seem like they were having this fine line between the audience and the stage.

Sometimes others like Diderot call breaking the fourth wall “Metafictional Technique.” The fourth wall was most popularly used in the 20th century, but also in the infamous movies starring Ryan Reynolds: “Deadpool” and “Deadpool 2”. Other references are “We’re The Millers” in the 21st century and the movie “Psycho” from the 20th century. Another example of using the metafictional technique was used by Sir Ian McKellen. He used this technique to describe the painter L. S. Lowry’s work. McKellen explained, “They invite us momentarily into their world, like characters on a stage sometimes do, breaking the fourth-wall illusion."

Why can the fourth wall be broken?

Most directors do not always think to include the audience in a sequence. But in some cases bringing the audience into the plot and allowing them to interact with the fiction world will make their image of the entertainment more creative with the story. The reason is, the director wants to create an intimate bond with two realms; the fiction realm and our realm. Breaking the fourth wall is known to cause the giggle fits and a relationship that sometimes we cannot create with others. The first record of the wall being broken was in 1918 in the silent film “Men who have loved me”. Lastly, something that can be broken was meant to be broken, but also it’s meant to be repaired. In The Office (the US version) the actors portray the characters of these workers as a reality within ours that we think of or we understand.

Now, why is Deadpool the only Marvel Character that can break the fourth wall? Deadpool, played by the great Ryan Reynolds; a beautiful creation, was the first Marvel character to break the fourth wall. Originally Deadpool was never meant to break the fourth wall, he never did so in the comics. But then he “accidentally” broke the wall in the comic Deadpool #28, by becoming his own editor. Now the reason he can break the barrier is that it’s one of his superpowers! Deadpool wants to interact with the audience, he also wants them included in his story. Ryan Reynolds was excited about Deadpool to break the fourth wall, "I promise to break the fourth wall,”- Ryan Reynolds interview for Digital, talking about Deadpool. This seems like an amazing thing, the audience is technically in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but there’s one depressing fact about this. Deadpool is the only character that knows about the pandemic, and about Stan Lee passing away in 2018. Deadpool is burdened with this knowledge of our reality and not one fictional character will believe him.

Now, those last facts were heart-breaking, but it is the truth. Besides just Deadpool, who else deserves to break the 4th wall in the MCU? Who is also worthy enough of this? Not who’s worthy of lifting Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir.