With just days remaining until 20th Century Fox unleashedDeadpoolin theaters, the studio is already doubling down by putting a sequel into development.The Hollywood Reporterreveals that the studio has already given the green light forDeadpool 2to move forward, with originalDeadpoolwritersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernickalready working on the script. While directorTim Millerhasn’t officially signed on for the follow-up, this report claims the studio wants to keep the original creative team intact.
Way back in August, a report surfaced that 20th Century Fox was considering dropping a sequel to the much-malignedFantastic Fourin favor ofDeadpool 2, but the studio didn’t confirm that report. Then just a month later, producerSimon Kinbergteased that talks for the follow-up were already under way with 20th Century Fox, while hinting that Cable, the iconic leader of theX-Forcecomic book series, may make an appearance inDeadpool 2. This isn’t terribly surprising, though, sinceRob Liefeldcreated the comics for bothDeadpoolandX-Force.
Last month, earlybox officetracking projectedDeadpoolto earn anywhere between $55 million and $60 million on its opening weekend, but now that the buzz is higher than ever, some are predicting it could make more than $70 million. Those numbers would be quite impressive, especially considering the fact that it’s anR-ratedmovie. The highest opening weekend for any R-rated movie isThe Matrix Reloaded’s $91.7 million, a record that has stood for nearly 13 years.
Ryan Reynoldswill most certainly return as theMerc With the Mouthfor the sequel, but it isn’t known if any of the supporting cast will return. The cast also includesMorena Baccarin,Gina Carano,Ed Skrein,T.J. Miller,Brianna Hildebrand, Olesia Shewchuk, Style Dayne, Rachel Sheen and Dan Zachary. If the Cable character does in fact show up in the sequel, it could help set up theX-Forcemovie that 20th Century Fox has been developing.
Rhett ReeseandPaul Wernickcame aboard to write Deadpool way back in January 2010, and they remained on board actively developing the script in the six years that followed, while also serving as executive producers. Their other writing credits includeZombielandandG.I. Joe Retaliation. Are you glad thatDeadpool 2is moving forward?
