Rob Liefeld, the man who gave the world the wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking antihero Deadpool, has officially declared he’s done with Marvel.
The comic book legend announced on his podcast, Robservations, that he has “cut ties in all ways” with the studio after what he describes as a series of slights, culminating in his family being excluded from Disney’s afterparty for last July’s Deadpool & Wolverine premiere.
Liefeld attended the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center, where he walked the red carpet alongside the film’s creative team. But according to Liefeld, the photos of him at the event mysteriously vanished before they could be posted anywhere. “It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat [me],” he said on his podcast.
The real kicker came later that evening when his family was turned away from the afterparty by Disney’s publicity team. “Disney is the deciding factor here,” Liefeld said. “To have them say, ‘You and your family are not welcome here. We tolerated you for the screening.’ At that point, I knew in my heart I couldn’t go forward.”
Liefeld’s reps reportedly tried to get his family into the event, but the studio stood firm. “At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear,’” he added.
A Rocky Relationship with Marvel
This isn’t the first time Liefeld has expressed frustration with Marvel. He’s previously voiced concerns about the placement of creator credits in the Deadpool & Wolverine and what he perceives as a lack of respect from Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
Liefeld contrasted his experience with Disney to his time working with 20th Century Fox on the first two Deadpool films, before the studio and its film rights to the character were acquired by Disney. “I never felt slighted by Fox,” he said. “Maybe you should work on doing better for the next guy.”
Disney’s Side of the Story
While Disney and Marvel Studios declined to comment, a source familiar with the situation disputed Liefeld’s claims. According to the source, Liefeld was invited to the film’s set in London and supported in hosting a series of Deadpool and Wolverine screenings after the premiere.
Still, the damage appears to be done. Liefeld has made it clear that his final collaboration with Marvel will be the upcoming comic book Deadpool Team Up, which will be released on February 12.
Though Marvel owns the rights to Deadpool, Liefeld retains “authorship and creative rights and monetization,” according to a source. This means that while he won’t have creative control moving forward, he’ll still receive a financial cut from any future Deadpool projects.
It’s worth noting that Liefeld didn’t take a buyout for the character, a decision that has allowed him to maintain a financial stake in Deadpool’s success.
A Farewell That’s Been Coming
This isn’t the first time Liefeld has announced his departure from Marvel. In February 2024 and again in October 2024, he publicly stated his intention to step away from the character he co-created with Fabian Nicieza.
“I am retiring from Deadpool. It’s official,” Liefeld wrote on Instagram last year. “After 33 years of not only introducing Deadpool but chronicling many of his most popular adventures, it’s time for the Deadpool Daddy to say farewell.”
In an interview with ScreenRant, Liefeld explained his decision further: “If I have what I believe is five years left doing the work at a level I’m satisfied with, then I need to pour it into my Extreme catalog.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Deadpool & Wolverine was a massive success. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the film opened in July 2024 with$211 million in North America and went on to gross $1.33 billion globally, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history.
The film even included a cheeky nod to Liefeld in a scene where Deadpool and Wolverine battle dozens of Deadpool variants in front of a store called “Liefeld’s Just Feet.” The joke references a long-running gag about Liefeld’s supposed difficulty drawing feet.
Liefeld took the joke in stride, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Being poked at by the premiere funnyman/mega-star of his age is an absolute honor! Make no doubt that this is a thrill and an honor.”
