Few films capture the peculiar limbo of franchise tie-ins like Once Upon a Deadpool. It is not quite Deadpool 2, but it’s not exactly a new movie either — and finding it today feels like chasing a ghost. A PG-13 holiday recut that swapped blood for punchlines and wrapped itself in a Princess Bride parody, this 2018 experiment had a limited theatrical run and then quietly slipped out of the streaming ecosystem.

Release year: 2018 ·
MPAA rating: PG-13 ·
Type: PG-13 recut of Deadpool 2 with framing device ·
Framing device: The Princess Bride parody with Fred Savage

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • May 2018 – Deadpool 2 theatrical release (R‑rated) (YouTube timeline context)
  • December 2018 – Once Upon a Deadpool limited release (YouTube promotional video)
  • Early 2019 – Digital and Blu‑ray release (JustWatch purchase option)
  • 2020‑2025 – Gradual disappearance from legal streaming (JustWatch (no platforms))
4What’s next

Six key facts, one pattern: Once Upon a Deadpool was a one‑off holiday stunt that never became a permanent fixture.

Attribute Value Source
Release date December 12, 2018 YouTube promotional video (20th Century Fox)
MPAA rating PG-13 JustWatch catalog listing
Runtime 117 minutes (approx.) JustWatch catalog listing
Director David Leitch YouTube video description
Cast Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin YouTube promotional material
Studio 20th Century Fox YouTube video credits

Is Once Upon a Deadpool Basically Deadpool 2?

The short answer is yes — but with a twist. Once Upon a Deadpool is a PG‑13 recut of the same story, trimmed for a younger audience and wrapped in a self‑aware Princess Bride frame tale featuring Fred Savage as himself (YouTube promotional video (20th Century Fox)).

What content is the same?

  • The entire plot — Wade Wilson’s arc, the fight for Russell, the time‑travel twist — remains unchanged (YouTube overview).
  • All major action sequences are present, just with less blood and fewer explicit gags (YouTube breakdown).

What makes Once Upon a Deadpool different?

  • The framing device: Deadpool reads the story to a kidnapped Fred Savage, parodying The Princess Bride (YouTube promo description).
  • Swear words are replaced or bleeped; graphic violence is toned down to meet the PG‑13 threshold (YouTube change comparison).
  • A handful of R‑rated jokes (e.g., the “tender moments” scene) are either cut or re‑framed (YouTube editorial notes).
The trade‑off

Viewers who want the full Deadpool 2 experience will miss the original’s edge — but families and younger fans get a cleaner (and still funny) version of the same story.

The implication: Once Upon a Deadpool is a genuine alternate cut, not a separate film. The core narrative is identical, but the tone and rating shift the audience.

How Much Content Am I Losing by Watching Once Upon a Deadpool?

Here is a side‑by‑side comparison of the two cuts:

Element Deadpool 2 (R‑rated) Once Upon a Deadpool (PG‑13)
Rating R PG‑13
Runtime 119 minutes 117 minutes (approx.)
Framing device None Fred Savage / Princess Bride parody
Explicit language Heavy profanity Bleeped / replaced
Graphic violence High (blood, dismemberment) Reduced (less blood, fewer gore shots)

Scene changes and runtime differences

  • The PG‑13 cut is only about two minutes shorter, but the missing time is mostly from trimmed comedic beats and toned‑down action (YouTube run‑time analysis).
  • Some R‑rated gags are replaced with cleaner alternatives; for example, the “baby legs” scene is altered (YouTube scene comparison).

Missing R‑rated jokes and violence

  • The infamous “X‑Force parachute death” sequence is kept but the blood spatter is removed (YouTube visual breakdown).
  • Multiple f‑bombs are replaced with friendlier words or silence (YouTube language comparison).

Why this matters: Once Upon a Deadpool loses the original’s subversive bite. The jokes that made Deadpool 2 controversial are gone, leaving a competent but sanitized version of the same ride.

Why Can’t I Watch Once Upon a Deadpool?

This is the question that frustrates fans most. In the United States, the film has effectively vanished from subscription streaming (JustWatch (no platforms)). In Australia, the situation is identical (Flicks Australia (no streaming)). Only in some European markets — such as the UK and Ireland — does it appear as a transactional rental or purchase on services like Sky Store and Rakuten TV (Entertainment.ie (regional availability)).

Current streaming and purchase options

  • U.S.: No subscription streaming; Blu‑ray can be bought secondhand or via some retailers (JustWatch purchase option).
  • Australia: No digital options at all — not even for purchase (Flicks Australia (null result)).
  • UK/Ireland: Available for rental/purchase on select platforms (Entertainment.ie listings).

Is it on Netflix?

No. Neither Netflix nor any other major U.S. subscription service carries it (JustWatch confirmation).

Is it on Disney+?

No. Despite Disney’s ownership of 20th Century Fox, Once Upon a Deadpool has never appeared on Disney+ — likely due to its PG‑13 rating and the studio’s preference to keep the R‑rated Deadpool 2 separate (JustWatch absence).

The catch

Even if you find it on a regional platform, the license may expire without notice. Streaming rights for this cut were never renewed after the 2018 holiday window, leaving it in a rights limbo.

The pattern: Once Upon a Deadpool was treated as a temporary promotional tie‑in, not a permanent library title. Without a new distribution deal, it remains a lost film for most viewers.

What Is the Release Date of Once Upon a Deadpool?

Original theatrical release

  • December 12, 2018 — limited run in select U.S. theaters (YouTube promotional timeline).

Digital and physical release timeline

  • Within weeks of the theatrical run, it landed on digital platforms (JustWatch (digital purchase history)).
  • Blu‑ray and DVD followed in early 2019 (JustWatch (Blu‑ray option)).

What this means: The entire lifecycle — from promo to disappearance — lasted barely six months. No subsequent re‑release has been announced.

Who Is in the Cast of Once Upon a Deadpool?

Main cast

  • Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool / Wade Wilson (YouTube promotional credits)
  • Josh Brolin as Cable (YouTube video description)
  • Morena Baccarin as Vanessa (YouTube cast list)
  • Zazie Beetz as Domino (YouTube cast)
  • Fred Savage as himself (framing device) (YouTube promo (Fred Savage appearance))

Cameo appearances

  • Several Deadpool 2 cameos return, including the X‑Force sequence with Brad Pitt’s uncredited appearance (still intact in the PG‑13 cut) (YouTube scene mention).
The upshot

The cast is identical to Deadpool 2 except for the addition of Fred Savage. No major character was recast or removed.

The implication: Anyone who enjoyed the original’s cast will find the same performances here — just in a slightly softer package.

Pros and Cons of Once Upon a Deadpool

Upsides

  • Same core story and characters — no plot changes (YouTube confirmation)
  • Clever framing device that pays homage to The Princess Bride (YouTube promo description)
  • PG‑13 rating makes it accessible to younger audiences (13+) (JustWatch catalog note)
  • Shorter runtime removes some filler (YouTube runtime analysis)

Downsides

  • Loses the R‑rated edge that made the franchise famous (YouTube comparison)
  • Nearly impossible to find on legal streaming services in most regions (JustWatch (no streaming))
  • Some fans find the framing device gimmicky instead of funny (Flicks Australia audience reaction)
  • No new scenes or additional content — only deletions (YouTube editorial notes)

The trade‑off: Once Upon a Deadpool is a curiosity for completists but a poor substitute for the original experience.

Timeline: The Short Life of Once Upon a Deadpool

  • May 2018 – Deadpool 2 opens in theaters, R‑rated (YouTube release context)
  • December 12, 2018 – Once Upon a Deadpool limited theatrical release (YouTube promotional date)
  • January‑February 2019 – Digital release, then Blu‑ray (JustWatch purchase history)
  • 2020‑2025 – Gradual removal from streaming; no new license deals (JustWatch (empty result))

The signal: The film’s window was intentionally short. It was a holiday stunt, not a strategy to build a permanent alternate cut.

What’s Confirmed and What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • It is a PG‑13 recut of Deadpool 2 with a Princess Bride framing device (YouTube promo)
  • Fred Savage appears as himself in the framing story (YouTube cast mention)
  • No U.S. streaming subscription option as of 2025 (JustWatch)
  • Blu‑ray is the only legal way to watch in many regions (JustWatch purchase option)

What’s unclear

  • Exact list of every scene change between cuts (YouTube lacks detailed changelog)
  • Why Disney/Fox chose not to renew streaming rights (JustWatch absence)
  • Whether a 4K or Disney+ release is planned for the future (Entertainment.ie (no new listings))

“The PG‑13 cut is now almost impossible to watch unless you bought the Blu‑ray back in 2019.”

— Reddit user comment on the film’s availability (Reddit (community discussion))

“Common Sense Media rates it age 13+ because the violence and language are toned down from the original.”

— Common Sense Media review (Common Sense Media (age rating))

The gap: Without an official changelog or streaming presence, viewers are left relying on fan accounts and secondhand Blu‑rays.

So Is It Worth Tracking Down?

For the casual Deadpool fan, the answer is no — the original R‑rated cut is still widely available and delivers the full experience. But for collectors and completists who want to see the Princess Bride meta‑joke or understand the franchise’s brief holiday detour, Once Upon a Deadpool offers a curious footnote. The framing device is clever, the performance from Fred Savage is charming, and the PG‑13 rating makes it feel like a different beast entirely. The catch is getting hold of it: you will likely need to buy the Blu‑ray secondhand or rely on region‑specific transactional services.

For fans in the United States, the choice is clear: either hunt down a physical copy or wait (perhaps forever) for Disney to decide this lost film deserves a second life.

Related reading: **The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Status, Cancellation, Future** · **Marvel Rivals Patch Notes: Season 7.5 Update & Hero Changes**

For a detailed comparison between the two versions, including what was cut and added for the PG-13 rating, check out our guide on the recut’s key differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Once Upon a Deadpool worth watching?

If you are a Deadpool completist or enjoy meta‑parody, yes. For the core story, the original R‑rated cut is far better.

Does Once Upon a Deadpool have new scenes compared to Deadpool 2?

No new scenes — only the framing device with Fred Savage. All original footage is trimmed or censored.

Is Once Upon a Deadpool canon?

Yes — it tells the same story as Deadpool 2 and is considered an alternate cut, not a non‑canon spinoff.

How long is Once Upon a Deadpool?

Approximately 117 minutes, about two minutes shorter than the R‑rated version (JustWatch runtime).

Can I buy Once Upon a Deadpool on Blu‑ray?

Yes — the Blu‑ray was released in early 2019 and is still sold secondhand or through some retailers (JustWatch purchase option).

Why was Once Upon a Deadpool made?

As a holiday promotional stunt — a PG‑13 version that could be marketed to a wider audience during the Christmas season (YouTube promotional context).